Here are some great tips to help you carve that perfect jack-o'-lantern.
Draw and Cut Lid
• Draw a cutout on the bottom of your pumpkin. Be sure you keep the cut even so the pumpkin can balance. Cutting the bottom looks way better then a lop sided lid.
• Very carefully, cut along lines with a Lid-Cutter Saw or a kitchen knife.
Clean and Scrape
• Clean out the seeds and strings with a Pumpkin Scoop. This will save lots of time using this handy little tool. (you'll get this in any Pumpkin Masters pattern kit.)
• Scrape inner pulp away from the area you plan to carve until the pumpkin wall is approximately 1" thick. This is important if your pumpkin has lots of detail or you plan to use a scrape method on the outside.
Attach Pattern
• Trim the pattern, leaving about a 1/2" border around the design. Tape the pattern to your pumpkin.
• Make pattern fit smoothly with small folds to smooth out the pattern. Tape folds in place.
Transfer Pattern
• For long lines, roll a Super Poker along design lines from end to end. Use the longer, middle tip to poke along tight corners. (Again Pumpkin Masters)
• When all the lines are transferred, remove the pattern.
Learn to Saw
• Use the Detail Saw.
• Hold pumpkin in your lap. Hold the saw like a pencil and saw steadily with a continuous up-and-down motion.
• Saw at a 90° angle to the pumpkin. Use gentle pressure. These saws are breakable if used incorrectly.
Experiment with different types tools. You'll be surprised just how much fun this can be. I recommend starting out with
Pumpkin Masters tools. They work really well for me and they are really inexpensive.