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1. Draw a Lid OR Bottom...
Draw a six sided lid on top of your pumpkin. Center the first straight line high above the area you plan to carve. Draw a "tooth" at the back of the lid as a guide for replacing the lid. Alternatively, draw an oval opening on the bottom of the pumpkin. (With the bottom removed, your pumpkin can sit over a candle or light.)
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2. Cut Lid OR Bottom...
Adults only: Very carefully, cut along lines with the Lid Cutter Saw (available at the Halloween Zone). Keep your non-carving hand safely away from the blade. If cutting a lid, angle the blade towards the center of the pumpkin to create a ledge that supports the lid. If cutting a bottom, saw straight into the pumpkin. Do not use the Starter or Medium saws to cut the lid.
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3. Clean and Scrape...
Clean out seeds and strings with the Pumpkin Masters Scraper Scoop (available at the Halloween Zone). Next, scrape the inner pulp away from the area you plan to carve until the pumpkin wall is approximately 1" thick.
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4. Attach Pattern...
Trim the pattern, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the design. Tape the pattern to your pumpkin as follows: place a piece of tape on the top, the bottom and on each side. Then, to make pattern fit smoothly, make small folds and tape them in place. The slash lines indicate good places to make folds. If folding seems tricky, cut along slash lines and overlap the paper to make a smooth fit.
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5. Transfer Design...
Using the tip of the Poker (available at the Halloween Zone), poke holes about 1/8 " apart along the pattern design lines. Do not push poker all the way into the pumpkin. Make sure all the lines have been transferred and then remove the pattern. If the design is hard to see, connect the dots with a pen or dull lead pencil.
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6. Using the Drill...
Some features, such as eye pupils, are designed to be perfect circles. For these areas, hold the drill near the tip and, with gentle pressure, twist it through the outer skin. Keeping the drill at a 90 degree angle to the pumpkin, continue turning the drill until the hole is through the pumpkin wall. Your pattern will indicate when the drill is necessary.
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7. Learn Sawing Skills...
Choose the Starter or Medium Saw (available at the Halloween Zone). (We recommend the Starter saw for beginners and children.) Hold the pumpkin in your lap so you can comfortably saw at at 90 degree angle to the pumpkin. Hold the saw like a pencil, and saw steadily, with a continuous up and down motion. Only gentle pressure is needed. Be careful not to twist or bend the saw blades. These tools are not knives. Don't attempt to "slice" with them. They are breakable if used incorrectly.
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8. "Saw" Design...
Pumpkin Masters carving is simply a matter of sawing dot-to-dot. Work from the center of the design outward to avoid pressure on areas already carved. Always keep the saw blade straight, at a 90 degree angle from the pumpkin. Remove and reinsert the saw to make corners. Don't twist the blade! Push the cut pieces in or out with your finger, not the saw blade. If a large piece becomes wedged, saw it into smaller pieces.
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9. Teach Children to Saw...
Parents: If you allow your children to carve, use the tools first, then teach your children. Guide their hand in holding the saw straight and developing a steady up-and-down motion, like a sewing machine needle. Make sure they keep their non-carving hand safely away from the blade. Close adult supervision is REQUIRED.
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10. Locate Chiminey...
Anchor the candle, with the Pumpkin Masters Candle Holder (available at the Halloween Zone), towards the back and side of your pumpkin. To light the candle, tilt the pumpkin to avoid burning your fingers. Replace the lid. When candle smoke has blackened a spot on the lid, use the Lid Cutter Saw, (available at the Halloween Zone), to cut a chiminey hole to vent smoke and heat. If you removed the bottom, set the pumpkin over the candle and then cut chiminey in the top. Note: Never set pumpkin directly on furniture. |
