

Place squash on top of leaf feet and use discarded rind peel to form tongue secure from inside using a toothpick.Nothing heralds Halloween quite like the jack-o’-lantern. Scoop out eye pupils with a vegetable peeler, then use half-toothpicks to stick the eyes onto the top of the gourd. Press to secure.Ĭut out round eyes from extra rind. Press several half-toothpicks into the back and sides of the bottom rind place top of squash onto the bottom so that its edges overlap. Smooth with a vegetable peeler (keep a peeling for the tongue). Carve away at both top and bottom pieces until they rest nicely to resemble an upper and lower jaw. Carve the mouth curve 1" to 2" higher on the top piece, using a vegetable peeler afterward to smooth out the edges.Ĭut about 1/2" all around the bottom piece, then carve a curve another 1" to 2" at the front for the bottom of the mouth. Separate the pieces and scoop out the seeds. Carve off the bottom third of the squash, cutting it so that it curves upward in the front (save some rind for the eyes). (Tip: If the pumpkin isn't completely ripe, try using the tip of the knife to create small notches in the pumpkin where you'll be inserting the teeth.) Complete the look by turning the mini pumpkins upside down and placing them in front of the zombie head to look like hands.ĭecide which side of the squash will be the front.

Press the cleaned seeds directly into the mouth, positioning them in different directions. Gently press a peppercorn into the center of each to create pupils.

Spear each eyeball with a toothpick and attach them to the tops of the eye cutouts. Use a melon baller to carve out two round eyeballs from the fleshy side of the pumpkin scraps. Wipe away any excess marker with a damp paper towel.

Carve out with the craft knife and save the scraps. With a washable marker, draw two large ovals for eyes (position them slightly tilted towards each other for a sweeter, less scary look) and a wide, slightly lopsided mouth. Rinse a handful of the seeds (about 16 or so), pat dry, and set aside. Scrape away any extra flesh with the spoon. Using a craft knife, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and hollow out the inside. Place the witch hat on top, securing with bobby pins at the back if necessary. Create the witch's mane by pressing on Spanish moss, adding enough so the orange rind is covered. Spread a bead of hot glue along the top and sides of the pumpkin where you want the hairline to be. Press each acorn into the flesh of an eye socket until it's secured. Remove the cap from two acorns and discard. Be careful not to poke all the way through to the inside of the pumpkin. With the tip of the craft knife, scrape away the top layer of rind to reveal the lighter flesh underneath. Try following the natural ribs of the pumpkin as a guide when deciding where to place the facial features, like the raised eyebrows or the curved mouth. Using the washable marker, draw on eyes, eyebrows, and a mouth. (Tip: If the pumpkin wobbles, try securing an acorn or two at the base with hot glue to create anchoring feet). Position the pumpkin so the stem is centered where the nose should sit.
#Scary jack o lantern how to
Once you have chosen one or more of the best pumpkin carving ideas, read up on how to best preserve your carved pumpkin so you and your family can enjoy your handiwork for as long as possible. And if there will be little ones helping you with the carving, we have also included some pumpkin painting ideas as well as faces that require a stencil so that all ages can be involved. If you don't already have a pumpkin carving kit, there are inexpensive tools online that you can purchase to use for years to come. Although some of these pumpkin faces are so adorable, they are just as likely to say "Aww!" as they are to shout "Ahh!"īefore you even decide which carving idea to pursue, it's probably a good idea to do an inventory check of necessary supplies you may or may not have on hand. There are countless pumpkin carving ideas out there, but we've rounded up some of the best looks so you can spook all those who ring your doorbell on October 31. Plus, it makes for a super cute fall date idea. But there's something so fall about decorating a pumpkin to put outside on your stoop (along with a DIY Halloween wreath!). Yes, there's finding the cutest DIY Halloween costumes and buying all of your favorite Halloween candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters. Carving pumpkins is perhaps the quintessential kickoff to spooky season.
