How to Build an Owl House
Carving a pumpkin needs more tenacity than skill. Then, there is always a pumpkin pie to be made. Therefore carving something like a pumpkin has 2 rewards. For the sake of this article, however, we won't get into the actual cooking of the pumpkin meat for the pie. Then again, most of us buy canned pumpkin when it's time to make a pumpkin pie. However, if you want to get creative and save a few dollars, use the meat from your pumpkin and make a delicious pie. For now let's discuss how to make a cool Pumpkin. The things that you require to carve a pumpkin and make a cool Jack -o- lantern include:
Material needed for this task
- Votive candles (as many as 2 or more depending on how many pumpkins you are carving)
- Paring knives (at least 2; a small one and a large one)
- Cooking oil (about 1 tablespoon, just enough to coat the pumpkin for cutting and for longer lasting freshness)
- Felt-tip pen (a nice black one since most writing on a pumpkin gets smeared)
- Pumpkins (as many as you are going to carve)
- Chef's knife (a nice large one)
- Votive candleholders. (One for each pumpkin)
- Pumpkin carving sets (you can buy this at your local Wal-Mart or drug store)
- Newspaper (to keep the mess off your floors)
Steps that need to be taken:
- Get a pumpkin large or small. You can take it in a low and flat shape or round and oval shape.
- Now be creative and trace a hexagon or a circle on the head of the pumpkin in order to have a nice large opening so that your hand can reach inside to clean it out.
- Cut out the stem with a sharp knife or pumpkin-carving tool. When slicing, make sure you cut through smoothly. Take your time. The pumpkin isn't going anywhere.
- Take out the stem that will serve as a hat, just make sure you take out all seeds and pulp.
- Use the spoon head to get the pulp and any seeds from inside the pumpkin. Make sure you grab the spoon by the neck in order to get the adequate leverage.
- Draw a design for the front of the pumpkin with the pen, or you can do it free hand if you are a reasonably good artist. Some people like doing pets, not just faces. Make sure to draw the nose the eyes, and mouth.
- Follow the pattern while making sure you cut deep into the pumpkin.
- Now you can push gently from inside the pumpkin and throw away any extra meat.
- Put your votive candle inside the carved pumpkin to make it look spooky
Warning:
- Smear the edges of the cut out with the oil to keep your jack-o-lantern burning for a while rather than have it wilt on you.
- Adult supervision is always needed when you work with any sharp objects like the knife or flames.
- Avoid leaving the burning candles overnight unless you have it outside, but then again you may just want to blow it out so you can keep the flame going for a couple of days prior to Halloween.
Carving a pumpkin is very easy provided that you do it with alertness and neatness. You have to be very careful. It takes patience rather than skill and some may even call it hard work. Placing a votive candle inside the pumpkin gives a remarkable glow. Jolly jack-o-lanterns can give a traditional welcome to the trick-or-treaters. So carve a pumpkin and make it look elegant and beautiful.
