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These tips brought to you courtesy of www.rd.com/home/10-tips-for-perfect-jackolanternsPerfect Pumpkin Carving Tips
It's part of the visual allure, and if it snaps, it can accelerate the pumpkin's rotting. Always carry the pumpkin from below.
Once pumpkins ripen, they will deteriorate fast, and heat and light speed up the process.
Use a solution of 1 gallon water and 1 teaspoon chlorine bleach. This will help prevent mold.
This is easier and cleaner than drawing right on the pumpkin, and makes revisions a snap.
Then either use pinpricks to mark the shapes and lines on the pumpkins, or use a craft or utility knife and cut through the design to score it on the surface.
Moons, stars, cats, and witches are all fun and easy to do. Using a drill to make patterned light holes is a wonderful idea as well.
Often they can be found for just a few dollars. Kits usually contain small scoops and serrated saws that aren't commonly found in the typical toolbox.
They work terrifically well when doing detailed carving work.
Go slowly and gently. A small serrated saw is best for the detail work. Never try to cut your pumpkin with a straight-edge razor, using force; you'll damage the pumpkin,
hurt the knife, and possibly cut yourself!
Four or five small pumpkins in a row have much more visual impact than one large one.
These are becoming increasingly popular, thanks to their realism and their ease in carving. Yes, you carve those soft plastic pumpkins just like a real one; most are made to be about 1/4 inches thick, with inside colors that match a real pumpkin. And they last forever, meaning jack-o'-lanterns for next year!