Preparation Place your pumpkin on several layers
of newspaper before carving. Remove dirt and debris by wiping the
outside of the pumpkin with a rag moistened with water.
Cut
Lid Draw and cut a six-sided lid, big enough so you can reach in
and clean out all the pumpkin guts. Use a saw or knife angled toward
the center of the pumpkin to create a ledge that supports the lid.
Make sure the hole is large enough to reach in and pull out the seeds
and stringy membrane. The bottom of the pumpkin could also be cut off
instead; this will allow the pumpkin to sit up straight and make
removing the seeds easier.
Clean and Scrape Using the
flat-edged ice cream scoop or a special pumpkin scoop, clean out the
seeds and strings. Where you plan to carve, scrape the pumpkin wall
until it's about one inch thick. If carving a challenging pattern,
scrape the pumpkin so that the wall is about one-half inch
thick.
Create and Attach Pattern If the pattern is too
large or too small, you can use a copier to reduce or enlarge. Tape
or pin your pattern onto your pumpkin. If you
use pins, place them on the design lines so you don't end up with
holes you don't want! The pattern may need to
be slightly folded to fit on a rounded pumpkin. Fold the pattern so
that the pattern lines match up.
Transfer Design Using
a pushpin or an awl, make pinpoint marks 1/16" to 1/8"
apart along the design lines. Check to see you have transferred the
design completely, then take the pattern off the pumpkin.
Saw
Design Using the carving saws saw dot-to-dot using a gentle up and
down motion. Saw gently, the saws can break if they are forced.
Learn Sawing Skills: To learn
sawing skills, hold the pumpkin in your lap. Hold the saw like a
pencil and saw steadily with a continuous up-and-down motion. Saw at
a 90-degree angle to the pumpkin. Use gentle pressure. Saws are
breakable if used incorrectly.
Saw Dot to Dot: Saw dot-to-dot, following your pattern. Work from
the center of the design outward. Remove and reinsert the saw to
make corners.
Smallest Pieces First: Saw and remove smallest pieces first. Push
the cut pieces out with your finger, not the saw blade.
Drill the Small Holes: Small holes (such as pupils of the eyes and
stars in a flag) should be drilled, not sawed.
Long Thin Sections: With long thin sections, you can drill closely
spaced holes if you have difficulty sawing or removing the section.
Locate the Chimney Locate and cut a chimney for the
candle. If a flashlight or battery candle is used, a chimney is not
needed. Place the candle in the bottom of the pumpkin. If candle does
not stand on its own, place it on a small, non-flammable plate or
bore a small hole in the bottom of the pumpkin to hold the candle.
Contest Rules
Carve your best pumpkin and enter it in the contest at Pioneer Park. Or just bring your pumpkin for display in the lighting event. All Pumpkins will be lit and displayed at dusk that day.
How To Enter:
Submit Entry Form with your pumpkin at Pioneer Park on Sat Oct 24, 2009 between 11:00 and 11:30. Late entries will not be considered for the contest. However, we do invite everyone to display their carved pumpkins as part of the lighting ceremony at dusk whether or not they choose to participate in the carved pumpkin contest. Please include a tea lite in your pumpkin.
Judging Criteria:
Pumpkins must be carved, hollowed and contain a candle or tea light inside for lighting. Soaking the carved pumpkin overnight in water will help to preserve it longer. Pumpkins will be judged on Originality and Creativity.
Other Rules:
Decisions of the judges are final. The Pumpkin and Music Celebration Association reserves the right to use contest photos for promotional and commercial purposes. Prizes awarded for separate categories (1) Adult Grand Prize Package and 2)Youth Package.
