Oct 22, 2007 / by admin

pumpkin carving: tricks and safety tips

Jackolantern1

Halloween is just around the corner! One of the most popular traditions of this holiday is pumpkin carving or creating a Jack-O-Lantern. See below for a few tips on carving safely, as well as a few general reminders on carving a great pumpkin! For further Halloween safety tips, see the Halloween Safety Guide. For further pumpkin carving tips, see Pumpkin Carving 101.

A neat affect can be achieved by inserting a small cup of water with a bit of dry ice in it so that your Jack-O-Lantern has fog coming out of its mouth. However, if you do this, be sure to use thick insulating gloves when handling the dry ice so you don’t get burnt. Also, make sure the dry ice isn’t too accessible so that no one injures themselves by touching or ingesting it!
Remember that pumpkin selection is key! You should have your carving goal in mind before selecting to ensure you get the best shape, size, etc. Also, before you begin carving, be sure to inspect the pumpkin to determine which is the best side!
Instead of a candle, opt for a battery-powered light. Visit PumpkinLights.com to see the variety! This way, no one will get burnt, no fires will be started, and you can get your pumpkin to glow a variety of colors rather than just white!
Even though kids always want to help with pumpkin carving, small children probably should be limited to helping clean out the pumpkin and draw on the face. Also, instead of a sharp knife to do the carving, many kits are available that come with tiny plastic saws instead. However, these obviously cut and could potentially injure someone too, so still take precautions!
Finally, check out this pumpkin carving site for some excellent ideas! Remember, you don’t have to make just the traditional Jack-O-Lantern: CarvingPumpkins.com. The new carvings are truly that: carvings. Intricate patterns and a myriad of themes abound!