DECORATING PUMPKINS FOR HALLOWEEN – Ahhh, fall is here. The air is cool and crisp, the leaves are turning color, and the children are back in school.
Here’s some more fantastic ways for Decorating Pumpkins for Halloween
This time of year with all its colors brings many activities. School dances, hay rides and corn mazes, trick-or-treating and parties to name a few. If you fill your home with the colors of fall, then you must include some pumpkins as well as a scarecrow. When decorating your pumpkins you can choose to either use acrylic paints or carve out a design. Traditionally you would carve your pumpkin with a knife. But why not try something new this year? A safer, more precise way to fashion your pumpkin. Etch your design-using a dremel. The videos below show you all about the dremel along with some clever design ideas and techniques for that perfect pumpkin.
A dremel is a hand-held tool like an engraver, commonly used for woodworking and etching glass. I use mine for trimming my dog’s toenails. They are sold with different sets of tips and one is sold that is perfect for use on pumpkins. A dremel may be bought at your local DIY store as well as online and runs anywhere from $20 and up.
Now let’s talk pumpkin. When choosing your pumpkin color is important. There is of course the traditional orange but many stores now offer a truer yellow variety as well as white. Look for one that sits well and has a shape you find appealing. Next, check the skin for soft spots, bruising or cracks. After you have made your selection, bring your pumpkin home and keep it out of the sun, in a cool place until the week before Halloween. When you are ready to decorate your pumpkin, rinse it to remove any dirt and pat dry. Prepare an area to work in, laying out a newspaper or a sheet of plastic.
If using your pumpkin whole, work on the covered surface and with a sharp knife lightly trim the bottom until it sits flat. Then decide on your design and paint. Don’t forget you can put stickers, a hat or even arms and legs made out of wire and cloth for something different.
If you will be etching your pumpkin cover your work surface, keep a roll of paper towels handy and a wastebasket nearby. You will need a sharp knife which you will use to cut off the bottom of the pumpkin. Check and see that it sits level. If not, trim lightly until it does. Then, scoop out the insides and be sure to get all the pulp and seeds removed. Any filling left inside will begin to rot within a day, so you need to clean it out completely. Blot with paper towels.
Making a stencil will help the job go easier and neater. There are many examples found online, but I bet you know just what you want and you can make your own stencil from a drawing. Etch in your design.
When you are done engraving you will want to seal the exposed areas where you cut. This can be done easily with WD40 spray. Take your pumpkin outside. Turn upside down and spray the inside and then the cut bottom. Allow to dry for 30 mins. Next, set your pumpkin upright and spray all areas that were cut away. Allow to dry completely. This can also be done with petroleum jelly if you prefer. Simply put your hand in a sandwich bag and covering your fingers with jelly, coat the inside well, getting all edges and the bottom rim covered. Petroleum jelly will not dry so be sure to place a piece of wax paper or cardboard underneath if you are setting it on your porch or patio.
To light your pumpkin please be safe and use a battery operated candle. They come in a range of sizes and can be bought virtually anywhere.
