At FloHawks, we decided to celebrate Halloween by carving a pumpkin using an image inspired by our company logo. Follow the steps below to create your own jack o’lantern masterpiece.
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1.Choose a pumpkin
When you’re picking out your pumpkin, think about what shape might work best for your design. A pumpkin with a smooth front sometimes works best for carving in larger artwork. The shape of the pumpkin may even help influence the design you want to make.
2.Prepare Your Pumpkin
With a sharp knife, cut a circle around the stem at an angle to the center. This will be the lid. After that, use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds from inside the pumpkin. We suggest putting down a drop cloth or newspaper for this step to make cleanup easier.
3.Trace Your Design
The easiest way to transfer your design to the pumpkin is to print out your design on paper and then tape it on. Follow the design lines with a rotary tracing wheel or use an awl or thin screwdriver to make holes along the design lines about 1/8-inch apart. Remove the stencil pattern when you’re all done tracing it. If you would rather freehand your design, we suggest using a washable marker so you can wash off your lines once you’ve made your cuts.
4.Start Carving
There are several different types of tools you can use to carve your pumpkin. We recommend using a pumpkin carving kit that you can get at a store. The tools in the kit are specially designed to cut and shape your pumpkin. They are safer to use than kitchen knives as well.
5.Get Creative
After you carve the shape of your design into your pumpkin, try getting a little creative by just removing the pumpkin skin on some parts of the design. This will add depth and variation in color.
6.Light It Up
Depending on where you plan on displaying your freshly carved pumpkin, you can either light it up with a candle up using a tea light OR a battery powered LED light. Then, step back and enjoy your new piece of pumpkin art!
