How To Carve the Perfect Pumpkin

Halloween's around the corner and it comes with one of the most popular October traditions: carving pumpkins and transforming them into spooky jack-o-lanterns. Whether you're a professional or a rookie, these tips  can help you create that ideal Halloween decoration:

• Select a pattern you'd like to carve. You can buy a patten book, many come with the carving tools. If this is your first time, select a pattern that's fairly simple. You can always get fancier with the second pumpkin.
• Keep your selected pattern in mind when choosing the size of your pumpkin. Don't choose one with soft spots, browning spots or dents. Try to get one that stands up straight. Avoid small pumpkins because they're difficult to carve.
• If you pumpkin pattern is a rectangular design, you can use an ordinary kitchen knife. Or purchase an inexpensive pumpkin carving kit sold during the Halloween season.
• Begin cutting the lid at a slight angle. This keeps the lid from falling inside as it dries out and shrinks. Carve a hole in the lid for a chimney if you plan to use a candle. After finishing, clean out the pumpkin with a large metal spoon or the scraping tool supplied with the carving kit until the wall thickness stands one inch around.
• Draw the pattern on paper and tape it to the pumpkin. Take a pointed object such as a pen, poker, or tip of a knife and poke holes along the lines of your pattern. Remove the paper.
• To help support the pumpkin's wall structure, start cutting in the middle of the design and work your way out slowly and carefully, connecting the holes in short up-and-down strokes.
• Carve out an area in the base of the pumpkin to insert a small candle. You might want to place some aluminum foil underneath the candle as added protection. An alternative is to use a small flashlight. Now your pumpkin has become a jack-o-lantern!
• Don't leave lit jack-o-lanterns unattended or easily accessible to young children
• During the day, it's important to leave the finished jack-o-lantern in a dry, shaded area. This helps prevent mold and decay.

AND MOST OF ALL ENJOY THIS FRIGHTFULLY SPECIAL HOLIDAY WITH YOUR FAMILY!!