Oct 15, 2018

Get the Scoop on Pumpkin Carving from Windsong Place Apartments

A collection of lit up jack o'lanterns

Carving pumpkins for Halloween is a time-honored tradition for many members of our community here at Windsong Place Apartments, and this month we’ve got the scoop on how to create amazing pumpkins, not only by carving them but with other techniques too. Read on for how to have the best Jack o’lanterns in all Williamsville, and perhaps WNY!

Tips for Carving Pumpkins

Pumpkin carving is a fall tradition. Heading over to the pumpkin patch, trudging through the vines and the dirt, and then spotting the pumpkin that will sit in your home for the next couple of weeks can be a momentous event. Choose a pumpkin that is fresh, has a sturdy stem, a flat bottom, and no bruising. Once you have it home, the fun continues. Follow these tips for a successful venture.

When you are cutting the lid, cut it at an angle (not straight up and down) for a better fit.
After you have scooped out all of the pumpkin guts (an ice cream scoop works well for this task), rinse your pumpkin out with lemon water and then coat with petroleum jelly (Vaseline) to help it retain its freshness.
Burn a candle in the pumpkin with the lid on; remove the lid and notch a “chimney” in the area where smoke has blackened the lid.
Sprinkle a mixture some pumpkin pie spice on the inside of the lid, or spike it with whole cloves, and when you light a candle the heat will release the delicious smell of pumpkin pie!

Alternatives to Carving Pumpkins

Chalkboard Pumpkins

Cover your pumpkin in black chalkboard paint and decorate as you please with chalkboard markers. The best part is you can erase it just like a chalkboard and create a brand new design or image! What you will need: pumpkins or gourds of any size, black chalkboard spray, a chalkboard marker, masking tape, and newspaper to protect your surface.