Pumpkin Carving Tips

Posted by GladGirl Team on October 30, 2015

You’re a pro when it comes to painting your perfect face, so why not show off those skills by carving the most smashing pumpkin on the block? You’ll be able to pull it off with the pumpkin-carving tips below! #1 The Pumpkin Is Everything Set yourself up for success by choosing a fresh pumpkin ready for the knife. It should have a sturdy stem, no bruises, and a flat bottom, which will keep it from rolling down the street to the house next door. Never lift a pumpkin up by its stem. You might damage it, and doing so accelerates aging! Should you choose short, tall, wide or narrow? The choice is up to you, but if you’re feeling really creative then why not choose an “uglier,” misshapen pumpkin…which promises to be spookily interesting when carved. #2 Angle the Lid If you carve out the lid of your pumpkin straight up and down it will fall right through when you put it back on. For this reason, you always want to carve out the lid on a slant. #3 Scoop It Out…and then some Don’t get lazy when it comes to removing pumpkin guts. In order to carve it up pretty, you need to scoop it all out. Scrape the sides from top to bottom. An ice cream scooper should do the trick! Leave the face side of the pumpkin about 1 to 1 ¼ inches thick. This will make it easier to carve in the details. #4 Get Cozy with Your Pumpkin The more detail you wish to carve, the closer you’ll want to get. Hold your pumpkin in your lap facing towards you when you’re carving the features of the face. If your design is intricate, consider investing in a pumpkin carving kit. You’ll want to carve the facial features up and down, not at an angle. Bonus Tip: Before taking the knife to your pumpkin, draw on a face with dry erase markers. That way you can easily wipe off any mistakes. #5 Keep It Fresh You’ve worked hard, so let’s make that pumpkin last. Lovingly apply petroleum jelly to your pumpkin’s cut edges in order to lock in moisture. When your pumpkin starts to shrivel at the corners, revive it by soaking it in a cold-water bath for up to 8 hours. #6 Let It Breathe If you light a candle inside and put on the lid, it’s bound to get scorched. Create a chimney by carving a small hole in the blackened area of the lid. Or just leave the lid off whenever the pumpkin is lit. ​ Bonus Tip: Sprinkle the inside of the lid with cinnamon and enjoy the delicious aroma. Smells like Halloween! For more Halloween fun don't forget to enter our Halloween After-Care Kit Giveaway, here!