Under the Knife

A well-designed jack-o-lantern can be the talk of theneighborhood, friends or family.

The first step to any pumpkin carving is starting with a fun,creative idea. Discovering your audience is an important step.

In some cases, depending on the mood - a humorous pumpkin willwork for a Halloween party but the humor may get tiresome if thepumpkin is displayed daily. In other cases, a safe, easy pumpkindesign will appeal to young children. Creatively using householdproducts on the pumpkin may also provide unique pumpkin artworkwithout ever needing to cut into the pumpkin.

Remember to think creatively. Perhaps a carved pumpkin will beused as a votive candle holder, a candy dish, a lamp shade ornighttime lamps for a driveway. Not every pumpkin carving is thesame.

One thing is for sure though, no matter what you carve yourpumpkin for - if you are set on carving, then starting by mid-October allows enough time to enjoy the pumpkin and keep it fromfalling apart.

The following pumpkin carving tips have been scraped from theinsides of the Internet and delivered by various pumpkin carvingexperts.

In order to go wild with a design, a large pumpkin is needed.

First steps

--Wash off the dirt and cut out a lid, big enough to reach in andclean it out. Angle your cut toward the center of the pumpkin,creating a ledge to keep the lid from falling in. You might alsowant to cut a hole in the bottom to allow for a candle to be placedsecurely inside.

--Scrape out the inner ooze so the pumpkin face is about one inchthick. For detailed designs, a half-inch is recommended.

--Draw your design with a dry erase marker. Just make sure toerase the design after an hour or two, or it will become hard toremove. If you would prefer a more subtle way to draw, pick up agrease pencil at a craft store.

--The most basic thing to remember when designing is to useshapes with areas around them cut out. All shapes must be connectedto the edge of the pumpkin, or they will fall out.

--For a quick patterned design which might even go all the wayaround the pumpkin, use a sharp cookie cutter.

Setting up for carving

--Use a poking tool like a nail and poke holes about 1/8 inchapart along the pattern. Or use a toothpick or thumbtack to makevery fine holes, densely spaced.

--If you cannot see your pin holes, rub flour over the pumpkinface, and they will appear. If you can't see the holes through thepaper, use a marker to designate areas you have already done.

--Make sure you poke all the way through the skin to allow for asmooth carve.

Carving/illuminating

--A detail carving saw will cut through the pumpkin easily ifused at a 90-degree angle and if enough holes are created. A thinboning knife also will work.

--Using glow sticks in the pumpkin casts an eerie light at night,according to www.familycircle.com.

--Candles always are an option, as are modern battery poweredlights, which aid in preservation.

--If using a candle, insert a small white votive through a holein the bottom. Then, poke a small chimney hole in the top. Thiseliminates scorching on your pumpkin lid, which smells and shortensthe life of the pumpkin.

--To add some spice, sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg or pumpkin spiceon the bottom.

Preserving it

--The Web site www.jack-o-lantern.com recommends using a planthanger to keep the pumpkin away from animals while keeping yourcreation easier to see.

--Setting the pumpkin on cool concrete works very well.

--Take the pumpkin inside to help avoid animals eating it orfrost from destroying.

--Spread petroleum jelly over the carved areas to keep moistureinside and help preserve it.