I had this great idea of making a summer melon lantern, after some research I found that I'm not the only genius out there. This is my step by step experience with a spin on the traditional Chinese Melon Lantern.
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Signing UpStep 1: Supplies
Supply List:
1. Nice watermelon. (TIP: Try to find something that fits your design. I picked a nice round watermelon even though ones with flat sides are easier to layout a design.)
2. Marking Tool. (Tip: I used two different styles to make my lantern. First I used a stencil, with tape, and a knife. Second I used a Sharpie marker, then some alcohol, and towels for cleaning up mistakes. You could also use something to poke your design like they do for the pumpkin stencils.)
3. Art. (Tip: can free hand a drawing, or download something off the internet. Look for things that aren't copywritten of course : ) No reason to break the law or steal other peoples work that are not giving it away.)
4. Tape. (Tip: I used clear box tape)
5. Bowl. (Note: You use this for your edible parts.)
6. Knifes. (Note: I used one large slicing knife for cutting open the top, and one small ceramic paring knife for my stencil work and carving.) (Tip: Be careful if you use ceramic, it is very sharp and fragile.)
7. Card stock or business card. (Note: This is for making a protector sleeve and handle for your carving tool, if you use a knife.)
8. Rubbing Alcohol and towels. (Note: As stated above this if for free hand work, so you can clean up messes if you use a sharpie.)
9. Scoop. (Note: I found an Ice Cream Scoop worked the best for me, but you can use what you have.)
10. Light source. (Note: Different light sources create different effects. I used LED lights and a candle to try different effects. You can try more if you like.)
11. Scissors. (Note: Used for cutting out your design and tool sleeve.)
12. Large Cutting Board. (Note: Helps with the mess, or you could go outside!)
12. Some hungry people to help you eat the Watermelon! (Note: Children work well for this!)
OPTIONAL Items
1. Vaseline and something to apply it with. (Note: I know with pumpkins if you coat all exposed fleshy parts with Vaseline it will help to preserve the lantern, I'm not sure about watermelon. I don't see why it wouldn't work though...)
1. Nice watermelon. (TIP: Try to find something that fits your design. I picked a nice round watermelon even though ones with flat sides are easier to layout a design.)
2. Marking Tool. (Tip: I used two different styles to make my lantern. First I used a stencil, with tape, and a knife. Second I used a Sharpie marker, then some alcohol, and towels for cleaning up mistakes. You could also use something to poke your design like they do for the pumpkin stencils.)
3. Art. (Tip: can free hand a drawing, or download something off the internet. Look for things that aren't copywritten of course : ) No reason to break the law or steal other peoples work that are not giving it away.)
4. Tape. (Tip: I used clear box tape)
5. Bowl. (Note: You use this for your edible parts.)
6. Knifes. (Note: I used one large slicing knife for cutting open the top, and one small ceramic paring knife for my stencil work and carving.) (Tip: Be careful if you use ceramic, it is very sharp and fragile.)
7. Card stock or business card. (Note: This is for making a protector sleeve and handle for your carving tool, if you use a knife.)
8. Rubbing Alcohol and towels. (Note: As stated above this if for free hand work, so you can clean up messes if you use a sharpie.)
9. Scoop. (Note: I found an Ice Cream Scoop worked the best for me, but you can use what you have.)
10. Light source. (Note: Different light sources create different effects. I used LED lights and a candle to try different effects. You can try more if you like.)
11. Scissors. (Note: Used for cutting out your design and tool sleeve.)
12. Large Cutting Board. (Note: Helps with the mess, or you could go outside!)
12. Some hungry people to help you eat the Watermelon! (Note: Children work well for this!)
OPTIONAL Items
1. Vaseline and something to apply it with. (Note: I know with pumpkins if you coat all exposed fleshy parts with Vaseline it will help to preserve the lantern, I'm not sure about watermelon. I don't see why it wouldn't work though...)
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I use a needle to poke a stencil design to watermelon and then I carve it using a thai knife. I have never used vaseline for my carvings but a water to spray. I think I will try your hint.
I like your kind sense of humor :)
guest hosted by Fruit Carving Arramgements and Food Garnishes
I just found a fruit carving contest and I thought everyone would like to know about it.
This site also has a lot of information on how to carve all kinds of fruit.
http://www.simplysensationalfood.com/p/simplyfood-events.html
http://garnishfood.blogspot.com/
I like all the suggestions. I was so tiered after five hours of carving it was 2 am before i was done with everything. I might try some of the ideas posted. I really like the sticking the LED light into the melon at hot spots. If I get around to it i will post more photos....Thanks for all the ideas also...Have a great one!
1)Take off the lens, that often focuses it more (depending what kind of LED light it is, though- some are just a bunch of focused LEDS and some are a single LED thats extra focused by the lens, more like traditional xenon flashlights)
2) make one of the flash diffussers that photographers have. The simplest design I can think of is a paper tube ~1.5 inches taller than your flashlight, and add a paper top to it, or cover the top with a layer or two of white tap. Hopefully, this will help diffuse the light.