Pumpking Carving/design Tips.

by 21GeeOff21

43K7518

Intro: Pumpking Carving/design Tips.

Helpful things to keep in mind when trying to come up with the coolest jack-o-lantern on your street. This instructable will not get into any specific designs to use or patterns in hopes that you will be inspired to make your own.

*this is just how i carve my pumpkins every year
this is not the only way/process that one could use to come up with a totally awesome design that beats down everything in its path

STEP 1: Getting Inspired

This is really just something that happens. Sometimes you have to go out and look for it; sometimes it comes to you. In this case "it" would be what kind of image you want to put on your pumpkin. MY Nightmare Before Christmas one was brought on by my sister being semi obsessed with all Tim Burton movies for about a month. Just recently I was channel surfing and saw a Star Wars commercial. This year I've already drawn up something I think will be making it's way onto my pumpkin.

So first think of things you might possibly want on your pumpkin then a quick google image search could help you find something close to work with.

STEP 2: Reference Images

Although I am suggesting you come up with your own designs, reference images will help a lot in drawing up that design.

STEP 3: Drawing Up Your Design

This is where the reference images come in handy.
Unfortunately i have lost the original drawing used on my NBC pumpkin, but I do have one I just drew up for my star wars pumpkin.

While drawing up you design, keep it simple. Remember, all you will be seeing is an silhouette too so pictures with very fine details wont really have much of an impact on a viewer. If you're picking something recognizable like I am, make sure it actually is recognizable by the silhouette alone. Be careful too of "islands" or pieces that would be floating. I ran into that issue a bit when drawing up this design.

STEP 4: Get a Pumpkin

I suggest waiting until you've drawn up your design to go get a pumpkin. This way, you'll no what kinda of pumpkin you require. I like going for a good medium sized one with a flat face to work on. The flat side makes for a perfect place to display your design. It's hard to find a flat sided pumpkin at a grocery store (I find) so if you're in the vicinity of a "u-pick" pumpkin farm, I suggest going for that.

STEP 5: Get the Junk Outa Your Pumpkin

DO IT

STEP 6: Transfer Design to Your Pumpkin

There's a couple different ways to place the design on your pumpkin. You can try to just redraw it on the pumpkin. You could also take the design you drew out earlier and use one of the little poker things that come in most pumpkin carving kits.

I prefer the latter, and i use the original drawing to make sure I cut the right stuff.
The only down side is that you destroy your design in the process.

STEP 7: Cut Out Your Design

DO IT.

When cutting out your design, there are a couple things you should remember.
+If there's a really large area you need to cut out, break it up into smaller sections to make it easier to remove. you are also less likely to break a part of your pumpkin if you cut out smaller pieces rather than one huge one.
+Try to cut straight back. It will make your design more clear when you finish.
+WATCH OUT FOR ISLANDS. I know you've checked then checked again, but quite often you don't realize that you're trying to make a piece float in mid air until you're about to cut it like that.

STEP 8: Light Is Up

I prefer candles to lights just because of the cool flickering effect you get.
Tea candles are ok but sometimes they don't give out much light. Using 2 or 3 can help with that.
I like using the pic 2 ones though, because they tend to have a larger flame.

In any case though, more candles will mean more light.

STEP 9: Preserving Your Pumpkin

There are a few simple ways to make your pumpkin, along with your design, to last longer.

+apply vaseline to all areas that you cut. "all exposed areas". Get the inside too.
+Make a lemon juice spray. Mixing equal parts of water and lemon juice and spraying it on the inside and outside of your pumpkin will help keep it fresh.
+If you have room, place it in your refrigerator.

STEP 10: Closing Notes

Remember pumpkin design can and should be simple and fun. Be creative, keep it simple, and post some pics in the comments.

*first instructable

18 Comments

Zem 14 years ago

Will pumpkins go bad if you leave them alone till your reading to cut them? Like if I leave a pumpkin out in my garage till I want to carve it, will it rot?

21GeeOff21 14 years ago

it will rot but it will take a while. it can last for maybe 3 weeks but i would suggest you not hold on to it that long. rotting will vary on conditions and will even change from pumpkin to pumpkin. i usually get my pumpkin 1-2 weeks before halloween and i carve the night before halloween or the day of halloween. because once you carve it, especially if you have small pieces, it will rot fairly quickly.

Zem 14 years ago

Okay! Thanks!

Zem 14 years ago

Reading? Ready*

Goodhart 15 years ago

One method of safety is to no put the candle directly on the bottom of the pumpkin: wither put it on a solid tile, slab (not wood or cardboard) OR you can turn your pumpkin upside down and carve it, then place it over the candle (remove a hole in the bottom, like you do the top, so you don't set fire to it).

MatjazE1974 15 years ago

what ratio of Borax/water do you use for Pumpkins?

bacaboi 15 years ago

part water, and part borax thats the ratio. no but seriously i dont know.

MatjazE1974 15 years ago

50/50 ratio then... okay, I have to try it... thank you... A good trick is also you can coat the carved parts with white glue, If you will have the pumpkin in the flat, where is mostly dry air... I found that information on the internet... but it has been tested by me, and it works...

phapboy 15 years ago

GREAT Instructable! thanks for all the good ideas, and your pumpkins are AMAZING!

crazythinker13 15 years ago

that is a awesome Instructable. great job!!!!

Dorkfish92 15 years ago

Cool. I spray a Borax/water solution on my pumpkins and they last a pretty long time.

GorillazMiko 15 years ago

Awesome! Has a couple of pictures, could use more, but overall, awesome! +5/5 stars.

matt_maples 15 years ago

Spraying the inside and cut surfaces with Lysol ® works very well and is quick and easy. The disinfectant keeps it from rotting for quite a long time

implaxis 15 years ago

Instead of poking holes or just taping the design down, use 3M Remount spray on the pumpkin side of the design, which will help it adhere really well, yet peel off easily. It's like a Post-It spray. This works best if your design is first copied to tracing paper. Also, try to cut all the small areas first. If you are working on a delicate section where a large portion has already been cut out, it tends to break much more easily.

PKTraceur 15 years ago

Nice. Like the stuff. Really wll help!