best pumpkin decorating contest ideas

looking to excite your neighbors andtrick-or-treaters this halloween? the home depot's got simple spectacularjack-o'-lantern ideas that you can create using a pumpkin carving kit andother tools and materials that will be covered later. this project can becompleted within a few hours depending on the size and number of pumpkinsyou're designing. pumpkins are ready to harvest once the skin turns orange andthe rind hardens. some people pick them in mid-october to ensure they'll lastfor halloween. they're likely to decay within a couple weeks. be sure to pickthe right size. round, medium sized pumpkins are standard for most jobs, butlarge or irregularly shaped ones can be

used for more elaborate designs. yourpumpkin should be free of nicks and bruises, containing a sturdy stem,consistent color and a flat base for easy display. to get started, place a dropcloth or newspaper over a flat surface of a spacious area, like the deck, yard,kitchen or garage. this will help protect the surface and minimize cleanup. alwaysremember safety first. follow all safety precautions when utilizing tools andproducts for this job. also, keep knives away from young kids and monitor olderkids designing their own pumpkins. cut a lid for your pumpkin about two inchesfrom the stem or blossom end, or simply near the top edge. use a straightedgeblade or a serrated knife if it's not

already included in your kit. the lid canbe in the shape of a circle, square or any other shape that's suitable for yourdesign. you'll also need to remove the filling containing strands and seeds,even along the walls. to do this, use a large spoon, ice-cream scoop or yourhands. scrape up as much as you can to ensure illuminated candles or artificiallights that you place inside will be noticeable. do not leave your candlesunsupervised or lit overnight. artificial lights like led lights require minimumsupervision and can be burned throughout the night. also, use a stencil and a dryerase marker to trace a design onto the pumpkin before you begin carving. you canfind stencils online or inside your

carving kit. make sure you collect allthe decorations to complete the design. since pumpkins have a short life span,you can apply petroleum jelly to carved areas and the interior to help preservethem a little longer. you can play your design safe with the classic jack, alsoknown as the smiley jack: a traditional style that never grows old. simply cutout a gap-toothed smile where the triangular nose and eyes are to perfect thelook. or, go for the scary jack if your halloween decor is super eerie. with thisdesign, you have free rein to creep or keep everyone out. if that doesn't do thetrick, simply say it with words. a rotary carving kit like the one shown in thisvideo is useful for engraving letters

and sketches. or power up your drill tocreate an assortment of holes with different drill bit sizes so light canshine through in a swanky way. other ways to brighten up jack's day? add color andmore. whether you create a big or smalljack-o'-lantern this halloween, the possibilities are endless with the homedepot. here's a list of tools and materials you may need to complete theproject. for more detailed information about this and many other projects, checkout the diy projects and ideas section of homedepot.comor talk to one of our store associates. good luck and thanks for shopping at thehome depot.

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