Make Your Own Jack O' Lantern

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Make Your Own Jack O' Lantern - By: Jim Brown, Posted on: 2007-06-06

What would Halloween be like without Jack O' Lanterns? The streets would be boringly dark. Houses will appear dull and teachers and parents will have to think of an equally interesting project.

But we know nothing could ever beat Jack O' Lanterns. It's not only entertaining it also brings out creativity and craftsmanship from everyone who makes them. It is also a very good group activity where children socialize with other children and families bond with its members. Want to make your own Jack O' Lantern? Here are simple easy steps to follow. Take some caution though. An adult should always supervise children when doing this.

The first step is to get a pumpkin with just the right size, not too big and not too small. It must be rounded like an egg or ovoid in shape. Once you've chosen the right pumpkin, remove its top by chopping it off with a knife. Don't cut off the stem for it will serve as a handle for the top cover. However, you may also leave the top untouched but with the bottom cut off.

Lift out the interiors of the pumpkin. Take out its seeds and the soft sponge-like insides of the fruit. You don't have to throw them away though. If you may know, the seeds can be eaten lightly by having them salted and browned over by exposure to heat. And if you want to make your lantern appear almost transparent, scratch out some of the fruit's pulp to make it hollower or thinner on the sides.

Decide on what design you'd like for your lantern. If you don't like to do it freehand, prepare the desired design by having it printed using a computer or by having it drawn on a piece of paper so that you can trace them onto the fruit. For various pumpkin designs, search the World Wide Web. There are hundreds available in the net that's free for you to print and use.

Start carving. Make sure to use a knife that's sharp enough to serve as your tool. You may also use other tools such as the ones for drilling.

If done carving, place a light inside the pumpkin. You can use an electric bulb or a candle, whichever is your preference. Then, place it in the stoop of your house where it's visible to everyone. Just make sure you keep it away from curtains or highly flammable items especially if you opt to use candles on it.

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