It’s that time of year again. And obviously carving a pumpkin is a must-do. But the question is: How do you properly carve a pumpkin?

You have basically three options. Do the old-fashioned way and just grab a marker and sketch your idea on your pumpkin. Pin a stencil paper to your pumpkin and poke out your idea. Or if you’re really good, actually carve it out.

But since you’re reading this article, let’s go with the first or second option.

1. The first thing you want to do is get a pumpkin and proper utensils to carve the pumpkin.
2. Second, you want to cut the bottom of the pumpkin out and take out all the seeds and mucky stuff. Don’t cut off the top because then you’d have to place the candle inside. If you cut out the bottom you can just place the pumpkin on top of the candle.
3. The next thing you want to do is pick the design you want to do. Keep it simple if you’re just starting.
4. Next, take a marker and sketch your design onto the pumpkin.
5. Then you want to take a poker and poke little holes along your drawing. The holes help if the pumpkin is thick. It will also help you to be able to cut along the line.
6. Then take your knife or carver and cut along the holes.
7. Then you want to push out all of the pieces that you’ve cut along, or if you already did you’re in good shape.
8. After you have all the areas cut out then you want to take your knife again and scrape along the top, bottom, and sides of mouth, nose, and eyes to file it down but also remove any excess pumpkin guts.
9. Finally you have your pumpkin completed. The last thing to do is wipe off your pumpkin with a wet paper towel.
10. You can then place a candle under it and place it outside or wherever desired.

Hopefully you know how to properly carve a pumpkin now. And even if you did mess up a little bit oh well, it’s a pumpkin just roll with it. But hopefully this was helpful.