Pumpkin Ready? Start Carving!

Choosing a design to carve on your pumpkin can be one of the most important parts of Halloween.

Karol DeWulf Nickell, editor-in-chief from "Better Homes & Gardens," visited The Early Show last season to provide safe and creative ways for all family members to be involved in pumpkin carving this Halloween.

Basic materials for successful pumpkin carving:

Pumpkin, water based marker, paring or chef knives, large spoon/ice cream scoop, potato peeler, votive candle/light bulbs/flashlight, newspaper/garbage bag to cover work area, hand wipes.

Tools can be bought from craft and discount stores.

Pumpkin carving safety tips:

1. Always supervise your child during carving. It is up to parents to decide whether their child is able to use a knife.
2. Do not carve toward yourself
3. Do not work with a dull knife
4. Have a strong grip. Do not have wet or slippery hands (wash hands to get pulp off before carving). It is important to clear workspace before you begin carving
5. Never leave a burning candle unattended or in the reach of children.

• Select pumpkin of choice. This process is like picking tomatoes. Pick the one that you can respond. Think of each pumpkin's shape as its unique personality. Vary shapes and sizes when grouping several pumpkins together.
• Wash pumpkins
• Prepare work surface with black garbage bag and newspaper
• Make a choice - Use an electrical light coming from underneath or drop a candle from the top. If you decide on the traditional pumpkin, cut the top off with an angle of 45 degrees. DO NOT cut perpendicular. Carve at an angle toward the pumpkin's center. This creates a ledge to support the lid.
• Scoop out pumpkin, using a ladle/soup spoon/ice cream scoop. Children love to scoop out using their hands.
• Scrape inside so fibrous objects are all cleaned up
• Put top back on. Decide what type of pumpkin you want to carve. You can consider the face or design by looking at the shape of the pumpkin. Do you want a long scary pumpkin or a short fat pumpkin?
• Make a sketch first or immediately start drawing the face on the pumpkin with water soluble markers (erase if do not like)
• Once you like the shape, use a kitchen paring knife and CARVE!

  Note: When carving the teeth, go slowly. It is very easy to pull the knife and knock off a tooth. It is important to gauge the pull of the knife. Go from the top of the tooth down like a tee-pee when creating the shape of the teeth.

Bat Pumpkin - Trace the bat shape on the pumpkin and carve accordingly. You can also use other Halloween shapes like ghosts and spiders. Use cookie cutters for tracing. Shapes are available at drug or Halloween stores.

Monogram Pumpkin - Longer pumpkins are best for this activity because they can accommodate a single letter.

1. Cut out the top of the pumpkin. Scoop out the insides
   
2. Tape a copied monogram to the pumpkin surface. Lightly trace the monogram into the pumpkin's flesh.
   
3. Using a knife, carefully cut out the letter.

Pumpkin on its Side - This pumpkin is turned on its side. The stem is used for the nose and the face is carved on the top of the pumpkin.

Pumpkins All Aglow - -Drill is needed for this pumpkin design.

1. Drill a desired pattern or random holes in the pumpkin.
   
2. To make a pumpkin with a carved face, enlarge and trace a pattern to the desired size and drill.

Mummy Pumpkin - Gives families another fun option by using different colored gourds and different slit designs. Materials needed are toothpicks, 2 black marbles, white pumpkin.

1. Cut the slits, as many as you want, making two for the eyes, one for nose, one for mouth. Cut slits around the gourd and on the edges of the lid.
   
2. Place toothpick vertically into each eye opening in the gourd, where the marble is desired. Glue the marble to the toothpick.