Fun Fact #429 Pumped Up Kin
#429
Pumped-Up-Kin
For Halloween everyone loves a good Cryptid or Spook but thanks to pumpkin carving you can design your very own cryptids. It makes for a great activity to do with your family. Interestingly it does not even have to be limited to Halloween as there is a whole Hobby devoted to this “Fruit Carving” usually celebrating anything from Birthdays, to gatherings, or even to even carving Watermelons for easter! Just don't trust your pumpkin pie as the FDA allows other squash (Primarily Hubbard squash) to be called Pumpkin, which is why the canned stuff often tastes drastically different. Also congrats as Illinois is the single largest producer of pumpkins in the world.
While there are 4 primary types of “Pumpkin Spooks” (Sketching, Painting, Scratching, and Carving) we’ll be primarily focused on Carving and Scratching for today’s Fun Fact bonus on “Tips to Carve Pumpkins!” Feel free to print this out if you wish, and special thanks to Marc Solomon for gathering much of the advanced knowledge here as well as letting me use some pictures of his pumpkins.
Pumpkin Selection:
Look for a Pumpkin with a large flat side to set it upon
Most people prefer the stem facing up but depending on your intended design this is not necessary
Look for Mold or breaks in the skin, While not a deal breaker you will have to cut away these parts to prevent early rotting of your pumpkin.
Lightly shake the Fruit. If you hear sloshing, don't buy it. Most Fruit as it begins to decay will have a rotten juice pool inside which is usually toxic. Worse yet in the case of Watermelons, it can build pressure and Pop.
Pumpkin Design
You can go wild with designs so have fun!
If drawing it on, try to use a sharpie, any excessive marks can be removed with Nail polish remover (Acetone) after you’re done carving.
If using a stencil you can use toothpicks to indent the pumpkin then connect the dots, referring to your stencil as needed. If you need stencils you can get some from websites like Stoneykins (thanks again Marc), or you can print one off from the internet. Just know that unless you plan to use paints, the design should only use 2-3 colors.
If you want the stencil but not the toothpicks then take some Saral Transfer Paper, put it on your pumpkin then tape the stencil over the top of it. Then use a marker to trace your design so it transfers the marks to the pumpkin.
If you plan to light the interior make sure you know if you’re using candles or LEDs. If you use a candle, plan on leaving a hole at the top of the pumpkin for smoke to escape from. This will also prevent it from drying out the pumpkin too quickly. If you don’t plan on having a large opening for the carving, then add a hole in the lower back for new air to enter, feeding the flame.
Pumpkin Preparation
Gutting – Removing the Guts from the pumpkin is great if you plan to light it, however once you break through into the interior it will rot much quicker.
When removing the top make sure there is a v-shape cut in to so you can easily align the cap so it will be flush, It you don't plan on having the stem be part of the cap (such as a pumpkin on its side) then cut a half-circle to easily lift the cap by.
Save the seeds for another activity as there are several free recipes to make roast Pumpkin seeds in 5-12 minutes for a nice snack.
Clean the Outside, it’s easiest at this stage and if you plan on creating a “Dirty look” for it, that can always be added later to get your desired effect.
Scraping
Scrapping is very useful as it's just removing the outer-skin to create your pattern, and when combined with an internal light you can get some great designs, just know the more you scrap an area the more the lighter it will appear when internally lit.
Cut the outline of the areas you wish to remove, then using a knife scrape towards the line. This will create a cleaner cut, and make it easier to follow your intended design.
There is an argument here to not gut your pumpkin as scrapping that does not break into the interior can last up to 3 weeks if carefully kept as opposed to the usual 3-5 days. This is because the rind keeps in much of the moisture, and evolved to resist bacteria, whereas the insides didn't.
Carving
Start with the smallest holes then work your way to the larger ones. This is because the more you cut the sides of the pumpkin the weaker the walls become, so keeping as much intact for as long as possible helps.
Alternatively If your design has lots of small details and few large chunks being taken out, then start in the middle and work your way to the edges of the design. This way you’re always working near a solid wall.
For smaller holes angle the cut so more light can reach internally to shine out so they don't get too dim when lit.
Preservation
When done use acetone to remove any remaining marks from your marker or transfer paper. Then
For Pumpkins not hollowed out (Rind is intact)
Spray with clear Polyurethane, this will seal in the moisture, and better protect it from cold damage, allowing it to last for 2-3 weeks.
For Hollowed out Pumpkins
Bleech: While some advice (such as that from “Crafts With Ellen” on youtube) suggest bathing your pumpkin in a bleach and water collusion to kill all bacteria initially, others (such as Marc) prefer to use a spray bottle with a 10/1 water to Bleach mix (10 parts water 1 part bleach) then applying every 2-3 days to prevent mold while introducing moisture to the pumpkin to prevent sagging. Alternatively you can use vinegar instead of bleach so it can be composted later.
Squirrel Warfare (siege warfare not included)
Lastly, squirrels really like fruits (darn things stole the acorns from my plant seeder!!) and will eat like crazy trying to fatten up before hibernating this winter. Thus if you find yourself in open warfare just to keep them from eating your kids pumpkins then cayenne pepper is your secret weapon. Just spray a mixture of cayenne and water to your pumpkin when you go to apply the bleach mixture and you’ll be set to go. It primarily deters them via the smell –and even if they do try it– besides a little bit of heat, it won't permanently harm them.
Disposal
Most townships have a drop off for old pumpkins. However the Discovery Center here in Rockford has the Chuck-a-Pumpkin on November 5th this year (2023) where they will be launching pumpkins from a 400 pound trebuchet. You can drop off old pumpkins and watch for free but if your kid wants to fire it, then they will charge you ($10). WREX News will be covering the event as well, so there's a chance you could end up on TV.
I hope this Helps you both this year and in the future. Thank you for reading and please have a fang-tastic Halloween!!
