HALLOWEEN
VIDEO: How to carve a cool Halloween pumpkin
October 15, 2009
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Ever wondered how little McKenzie's super-crafty mom manages to carve a jack-o'-lantern that makes all the trick-or-treaters "ooh..." and "aah..."?
It's easier than you think, says Toronto Star Living designer and parentcentral.ca carver-in-chief Jo-Ann Dodds.
Watch the video to see Jo-Ann in action, but here are the basic steps:
1) Start by selecting a design that works with the shape of your hollowed-out pumpkin. Be sure you have a decent-sized hole in the top.
2) Sketch your design on a piece of paper, or choose a stencil to help you.
3) Use a marker to copy the design onto the pumpkin.
4) Using a melon baller, small paring knife or other implement that you're comfortable working with, start to carve the outline of the design into the pumpkin, taking just a little of the pumpkin flesh away at a time.
5) Vary the depth of your scoring so that different amounts of light will filter through in different parts of the design. For instance, if you're making a cat or ghost, you might penetrate all the way through the pumpkin's flesh for just the eyes.
6) Try a blinking bicycle light in your pumpkin instead of a candle. It's safer, doesn't blow out and looks cool.
Note: a jack-o'-lantern like this takes a little more time, so doing a whole Martha Stewart pumpkinscape using this method would be a bit of a commitment. Instead, try these fun tips for decorating your pumpkin without picking up a knife.