Carving For Fun!

Photo Provided by DigsDigs.com

Here at RIO Group we are in the Halloween spirit and we want you to be in it too. Carving Pumpkins is one of the best ways to get into the spirit of Halloween. However, carving a pumpkin could seem like a daunting task, especially if it’s your first time. But the outcomes are definitely worth giving it a try.

Here are 5 tips for Pumpkin Carving

1. Select Your Pumpkin: Pumpkins come in different shapes and size, from small to extra-larger. When shopping for pumpkins keep in mind the shape and what sort of a face you could carve to really bring the pumpkin to life.

2. Open it Up: The traditional way of getting inside of a pumpkin is to cut off the top where the stem is. However, you don't have to take off the top, consider taking out the bottom or even the back of the pumpkin. Regardless of where you choose to make your lid, you just want to be sure you have a big enough space to get in there and remove all of the seeds.
 

3. Scoop the Goop: A large metal spoon or an ice cream scoop works well for this. Forget about purchasing those Pumpkin carving kits that include the plastic scoops. For one thing the, the handle on those are way to small and for another, the thick plastic makes it hard to really get all of the goop out. Also, keep your arms fairly clean by starting the scraping from the lid hole, down the sides and then then bottom.  Then, after all of the walls are scraped, dump the pumpkin goop into the trash.

4. Design the Face: Grab a sharpie or any markers that works best for when drawing on the face. Using a dry erase marker is highly suggested, because if you don't like your work, you can erase it! 

5. Cut it Out: An old kitchen knife with a serrated edge works best. Small, paring knives are great for carving detailed designs into the pumpkin. But for the young carvers in the family, a carving kit knife will do the trick.

Now that you've got an awesome looking pumpkin it times to take it to the next level and bring your creation to life. Remember that you scooped the pumpkins insides clean, you can now place lighting inside to brighten things up. Candle-free options are the safest and are great for showcasing your pumpkin designs. These days you can find color-changing strobe lights, battery-operated tea lights and rainbow LEDs that are made specifically for pumpkins. 

Be sure to place your pumpkin on your porch Halloween night and showoff what you made to “trick or treaters”. Also post pictures on our Facebook and we will share with our friends!