How to Carve

Carve out a reputation as the ultimate pumpkin artist with these 10 easy steps and your new Holiday Arts™ Pumpkin Power Carver tools!

1. Choose A Pattern
Choose a pattern from the enclosed Holiday Arts designs or download one at holidayarts.com. You can also sketch your own design and use a photocopier to reduce or enlarge until it’s the right size.

2. Select A Pumpkin
Pumpkins can range in size from tiny to enormous. We recommend a medium-sized pumpkin, about 8-10 lbs., for the best carving results.

Select a pumpkin that is smooth and uniform in color. You’ll find that besides shades of orange, pumpkins also come in white and green! Some people even paint their orange pumpkins white, so the orange flesh will provide a nice contrast when carved and illuminated. Make sure your pumpkin has no mold, bruises, cuts or soft spots. It should be large enough to accommodate your pattern and of a similar shape. If you find the perfect pumpkin, and it doesn’t have a stem, never fear! You can cut an opening on the bottom just as you would the top. Then simply sit your carved pumpkin over your Holiday Arts Multi-Colored Pumpkin Light.

Take care not to nick or bruise your pumpkin when transporting it home, as this will shorten its life span. When you get home, clean your pumpkin with a damp cloth.

3. Prepare Your Workspace
Pumpkin carving is as messy as it is fun, so prepare your workspace. Cover a table with newspaper, so you can simply roll up and dispose of the mess when you’re finished. Set out a bowl to collect seeds for roasting later. Don’t forget your Holiday Arts patterns, tools, tape, and paper towels.

4. Cut A Lid
Draw a circle around the stem of your pumpkin, about two thirds of the diameter of the pumpkin. To make the lid easier to replace, you can also make a 5 or 6 sided shape. Using a sawing motion, carefully cut along your line with a large kitchen knife, or your Precision Saw Blade (see Step 8 for tips on operating), angling the blade toward the center of the pumpkin. If cutting a bottom, simply cut straight into the pumpkin.

5. Scrape Out Your Pumpkin
Using your Holiday Arts Pumpkin Gutter or a large spoon, scrape out the seeds and strings from your pumpkin. The side you plan to carve should have a pumpkin wall about 1" thick, so scrape any excess inner pulp from that side. Save the seeds for roasting using the tasty recipe we have provided. Make sure that you have scraped the bottom of the pumpkin flat, so that your light source will sit level.

6. Attach Pumpkin Pattern
Choose the side of your pumpkin you want to carve. Make sure your pattern is the right size for your pumpkin. You might need to use a photocopier to enlarge or reduce the pattern to fit. If the pattern you have selected is challenging, it will be easier to carve if you enlarge it. Reducing it will make it more difficult to carve. Trim the pattern, leaving about 1/2” from the outside edge of the design. Tape your pattern to your pumpkin, taping the top first, then the bottom and lastly the sides. The pattern should fit smoothly, so make small folds or cut slashes on the outside edge of the paper to fit it to your pumpkin.

7. Transferring Your Pattern
Use the Holiday Arts poker tool to poke small holes along the lines of your pattern. (Push pins can also work well if you’re hosting a party with lots of carvers.) Simply press the pointed tip through the design lines on the paper stencil into the pumpkin’s surface, spacing holes about 1/8” apart. Complex and thin designs may require the dots to be a little closer together. For quickly transferring long or straight lines, carefully roll the Holiday Arts Pattern Tracer tool along them. When all the lines of your pattern are transferred onto the pumpkin’s surface, remove the pattern and take a look at your work. If the pattern is hard to see, connect the dots with a marker or pen. Save the paper pattern to refer to while carving your design.

8. Carve Your Design
The Precision Saw Blade is the best thing to happen to Halloween since candy corn! You can use it to carve your pumpkin design by connecting the dots made by your poker or tracer tool. To use the saw blade, hold the tool like you would a flashlight. Before pressing the power button, place the tip of the saw blade into a hole drilled at the center of your design. Press the button, and insert the blade all the way through the pumpkin’s skin and use a gentle sawing and dragging motion to connect the dots. Let the blade do the work, and keep the blade fully inserted to keep it from bending or breaking. Hold the tool at a 90º angle to the pumpkin so pieces can be easily removed, and your carving will stay true to the original pattern. Continue connecting the dots of your pattern, working from the center of your pattern toward the outside edges. You can use the pattern poker to push out the cut pieces; do not use your blade for this purpose. To make a tight corner, take your blade out and insert it again. Carve out smaller pieces first, saving the biggest for last.

While Holiday Arts Pumpkin Power Carver tools are designed for those ages 8+ to safely use, an adult should always supervise their use.

The Multi-Directional Carving Tool allows you to quickly and easily drill holes in your pumpkin. You can also use this tool just as you use the saw blade, allowing you to carve the most complicated designs. This is especially helpful for carving pumpkins with thicker walls. You can also use this tool to add deeper holes along your pattern before using the Precision Saw Blade to carve your design. This makes carving easier and faster.
The Etching Tool is the expert pumpkin carver’s dream, as it allows you to remove just the surface of the pumpkin’s shell to create a 3-D effect. This allows for intricate designs that let light shine through the remaining pumpkin shell. Place the tip of the etcher at a 45º angle against the pumpkin’s skin where you want to etch. Press the button while firmly holding the tool. Let the etcher do the work and avoid using force, as it could damage or break the etcher. You may find holding the multi-directional tool with both hands allows for better control, as the etcher can easily skim across the pumpkin’s surface once it is turned on. Practicing on the backside of your pumpkin is also helpful.

• To change cutter tool heads, simply give them a half turn and remove. Select the next tool you want to use, and use a half turn to secure it in place.
• Thoroughly clean and dry your tools after use. Simply wipe with a damp cloth, followed with a dry one.
• Never immerse your tools in water or place them in the dishwasher.
• Remove the batteries before storing the tools for next Halloween.

Holiday Arts Power Carver Tools will work equally well on artificial pumpkins made for carving. Be sure not to use a candle to illuminate artificial pumpkins.

9. Preserve Your Creation
Pumpkins are 90% water, so your carved pumpkin can easily shrivel up or grow mold. There are ways, however, to prolong your jack-o’-lantern’s life.

• After carving, coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly, vegetable oil, or 1 cup of water mixed with lemon juice.
• Storing your carved pumpkin in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap or a damp towel can also prolong its life.
• Make sure your jack-o’-lantern doesn’t become a victim of Jack Frost by bringing it indoors if the temperature dips below freezing.
• Soaking a shriveled pumpkin in a bucket of water for up to eight hours can revive it. When you remove the pumpkin from the water, drain it for thirty minutes and then carefully dry it off.

10. Illuminate Your Pumpkin!
With the Holiday Arts Multi-Colored Light you can illuminate your pumpkin so that it glows red, blue, green and purple without the mess. For safety purposes, never leave a candle-lit pumpkin unattended. Make sure your pumpkin sits on a flat, non-flammable surface, away from curtains and other flammable objects. Never use a candle to illuminate an artificial pumpkin.