Halloween is a busy time of the year in Nottingham.
With festivals, trick or treating, scream parks, and haunts, there’s no shortage of ways to stay busy. But if you’re looking for a fun Autumn activity that also let’s you relax at home, look no further than pumpkin carving.
Carving pumpkins ranges from two triangle eyes and a mouth to award winning masterpieces. It’s a great activity for a variety of age. If you’re new to pumpkin carving, or are looking to up your carving game, here’s a few tips and tricks. This isn’t a comprehensive guide, but gives some pointers that you may not think about when you bring your gorgeous gourds home.
Safety First
Before you get do any carving, make sure to have the proper equipment. While it’s easy to grab kitchen knives, they aren’t suited for this activity. AOL has a full gallery explaining the risks but wet working surfaces, large sharp objects, and children are not a safe combination. Pumpkin carving kits, including items like stencils, are available at many supermarkets for as little as £1.
Use Crayons to Draw Patterns
Pumpkins aren’t paper. They don’t like to be drawn on. Crayons don’t make indents like a pen would and show up on the skin of the pumpkin, unlike a pencil.
Make Your Own Stencils
Most carving kits come with some basic stencils. But you can easily make your own by tracing a pattern and taping it onto the pumpkin. You punch holes through the stencil and play a game of connect the dots. This can be used for carving holes in the pumpkin or shaving letters in like we did with the Notts TV pumpkin.
Don’t Throw Out the Insides
Before you throw out any of the gross-looking insides, consider using them for some tasty treats. The Lenton Centre chose to make a dessert out of their massive 372kg pumpkin. You can roast the seeds or make a pie. There are even recipes from pumpkin soup.
Consider Using Lights Instead of Candles
Candles provide a unique flicker of a dancing flame. If you’re leaving your pumpkin outside to show off to trick-or-treaters then a candle is great. But if you’re leaving your pumpkin indoors or want to be extra safe, try battery-powered candles.
Place a Mat or Plate Under Your Pumpkin
Pumpkins rot. They are a fruit (at least when it comes to technical classification) so they decompose and can leave a spot on your porch.
Be Creative and Try New Styles of Carving
While it’s always fun to make a face in a pumpkin, you can spice it up by carving people, letters, logos, and much more.
Some of these involve using more advanced techniques and tools but they keep the activity from becoming boring.
With half term falling just before Halloween, there are still a few full days to carve your pumpkin before the big day. Make sure to share your best creations with us.
