Preparing your Jack-O-Lantern 

Choosing the Pumpkin:
No matter the size, always pick the smoothest pumpkin possible with minimal grooves and no bruises or cuts. Small: Perfect for traditional, easy patterns Medium: Work best for most stencils that you can make or buy. Large: Can be carved with elaborate designs and used as “center pieces” on your porch or tables.

Preparing the Pumpkin:
Cut a small hole in the bottom, which works especially well if your pumpkin doesn’t stand up straight.  Discard the cut portion.  Alternatively, you can cut out around the top stem, but be careful not to cut in a circle or the top will fall through when you try to replace the lid after carving. Instead, cut at a 45-degree angle and make a six-sided shape with the stem in the center.

Use a large scoop to remove the seeds and strings and continue to scrape away on the inside of the pumpkin until the walls are no more than 1” thick.
Tip:  Save the seeds. Toasted pumpkin seeds make a healthy, tasty snack.

Carving the Pumpkin:
Take your pattern and cut off excess paper.  Tape the template onto the pumpkin.  An alternative is to wet the pattern so it will stick to the pumpkin.  Allow the pattern to dry on the pumpkin before carving.

Use a nail or large pushpin to score the pattern’s outline onto the pumpkin.  Connect the dots as you carve.  A long serrated knife or a pumpkin-carving knife with teeth will be necessary to cut through the thick flesh.

Lighting the Pumpkin:
If you will be lighting your jack-o’-lantern with a candle, follow these steps: Light the candle inside the pumpkin. Close the lid for a short time period.  Take the lid off and put out the flame.  Check the lid for the blackened spot and cut a hole there as a chimney for the candle.  A hole at the back of the pumpkin can also serve as a chimney.

A small battery-operated touchlight is a safer choice for lighting jack-o-lanterns.

Spicing the Pumpkin:
Sprinkle the bottom side of the pumpkin lid with ground cinnamon, nutmeg and/or cloves so your jack-o’-lantern can serve as an air freshener.