Jazzed Up Jack-o-Lanterns

Written by: Mrs. Murphy’s Class

Plain old pumpkins are out, and jazzed up jack-o-lanterns are in this Halloween season.  If you have a dull pumpkin on your porch year after year, the following directions will guide you through creating a cool new jack-o-lantern to change your Halloween spirit forever!  Don’t worry if you are not a creative or crafty person, the steps are simple to follow and easy for even the most uncoordinated.  So, grab your scraping spoon, carving knife, and boring old pumpkin to give it a total Halloween makeover.

To begin your makeover, cut around the top of your pumpkin approximately two or three inches below the stem and remove.  Be sure to cut your circle holding the knife at an inward angle, so that your top will not fall inside your pumpkin.  With a spoon, or your hand if you’re the extra adventurous type, scoop out all the mushy gushy gunk from inside.  Making sure to gently scrape the inside walls of the pumpkin, removing the majority of the pulp and seeds. 

Now, it’s time to let your imagination go, to create a jazzy jack-o-lantern face!  Completely dry the outside of your pumpkin with a paper towel.  You may want to sketch your jack-o-lantern face onto paper first.  This will minimize any mistakes that you make, like overlapping lines or lines that are to close together.  Then, with a permanent marker trace the outline of your face of choice, with two eyes, one nose, and a gigantic mouth.  After completing the outlines, now it’s time to get carving! 

With a knife or a jagged carving tool, slice through the pumpkin following your outlines.  Make sure to start with the eyes and work your way down the pumpkin face, or else the face may cave in at the mouth.  Then, punch out each piece, from the inside out, that you have carved one at a time.  If you have a piece that will not punch out, follow your cut once again to make sure the slices go all the way through the pumpkin wall.  If you still have trouble, section the piece into smaller chunks and push one at a time.  After all of your strenuous work, step back and check out your jazzy creation. 

Don’t you think your work paid off?  Just think of the smiles on the faces of trick-or-treaters that knock on your door this year.  There is no doubt, that your jazzy new jack-o-lantern will bring the spirit of Halloween to your home this season.