How to Make a Pumpkin into a Jack-o-Lantern
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Jolly jack-o-lanterns are a traditional welcome for trick-or-treaters, an invitation to stop by for a Halloween surprise. But Pumpkins are traditionally made to scare off wandering evil spirits.
To make a Jack-o-Lantern or a Pumpkin you will need...
A pumpkin, a knife, a tablespoon, and a tea light candle, a marker pen, Skewer or a long nail, some Sellotape, Petroleum jelly and a pumpkin pattern (See the Free Pumpkin Patterns Below.)
First you need to cut a circle in the top of the pumpkin. Take out this piece and scrape the pumpkin flesh from it. Cut a small triangle in the 'lid' to act as a chimney when the candle is lit.
Then scrape out all the seeds and insides of the pumpkin. You also need to scrape away the flesh of the pumpkin. The big tablespoon is a great tool for this. Work your way around the inside, scraping the spoon from the bottom of the pumpkin up the side to the top.
Draw a spooky face on the surface of the pumpkin. These will be the shapes that you cut away. Traditionally people cut triangles for eyes and a nose, and a zigzag mouth.
You can also use a pumpkin pattern. See the Free Pumpkin Patterns Below.
Simply tape the pattern that you want to use onto the side of the pumpkin. It's just to hold it in place whilst you work from it, so it doesn't have to look very neat. Then with a Skewer or a long nail poke holes along the black lines of the pattern. The Skewer or a long nail should go through the paper and then into the pumpkin. Pull the Skewer or a long nail back out and make another hole further along the line. Then with a pen join up the dots.
Carefully with a sharp knife, cut along the lines that you have drawn on the pumpkin, taking away pieces of the pumpkin skin.
Once your carving is finished, seal the edges of your design with Petroleum jelly. This helps to stop the lantern from drying out and shrivelling up.
Do Not put Petroleum jelly on the inside of the pumpkin.
Then put a lit tea light candle inside the pumpkin and replace the lid.
Free Pumpkin Patterns for Making Jack-o-Lanterns
Click the Pumpkin design you like to see a free printable pattern in a new window, then hit print.
Cut away the grey areas from the pumpkin.
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| Witch's Face |
Laughing Skull
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Spooky Owl
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| Howling Wolf |
Grim Reaper
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Spider & Web
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| Ghostly Spirit |
Flying Witch
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Vampire
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