Pumpkin Carving Time!

It's fall.  My favorite time of year.  We may have some warm days but we all know it's going to be cool soon!  I love carving pumpkins and watching them glow after the sun goes down.

Boo!

We invited a few friends over and grilled chicken while we all got to town carving pumpkins.  Everyone had their own methods but here are a few tips to make sure your pumpkin looks it's best!

• Buy a few packages of tea lights from the dollar store!  They don't last as long but at 16 for a $1 you can use as many as you want!
• Make sure to sketch out what you want to carve first!  Remember, always carve the 'negative'.  I like to draw squiggles in the areas where I'm going to cut so I know what needs to be removed!
• China markers or wax pencils make the best marks and clean of easily.
• Feel free to use stencils that you print online.  Use an Xacto knife to cut out the stencil.  I found my favorite Owl stencil here. HGTV Pumpkin Stencils .  Be sure to keep the stencils you like for next year!
• If you're going to use a stencil a bit of double sided tape along the top of the page will help keep it steady.  You can't just lay it flat against the round pumpkin so just do your best. You can always wipe of the mistakes!
• Always be sure to cut the top at a 45 degree angle.  This will prevent the top from dropping into the pumpkin when it begins to dry and shrink. 
• Use a metal spoon to scrape out the inside.  You don't have to scrape a lot, just enough to get the pulp.
• The smaller the serrated knife the better for small rounded cuts.  The kits they sell at Walgreens, etc are actually worth the money, just be sure to wash them and store them properly so you'll have them for next year!

Most of all , HAVE FUN!  

I'm looking forward to next year!  We'll have an 8 month old and I'm sure she'll love to play in the squishy pumpkin pulp!

My cute owl pumpkin (Don't forget the stencil!)

My friend did this witch and cat freehand

 (well, he sketched it out first!)

A few glasses of wine, good friends and some large orange gourds!

Some funny, some scary but all had a good time!

What's your favorite pumpkin carving tip?

Next on Fabrycate Mom: Roasted pumpkin seeds!  (You must have seen that coming!)

XOXO
-Lisa