UPDATE September 19, 2015: Want to learn how to carve pumpkins like these? I’m creating a set of step-by-step video tutorials. Check out Carve Awesome Pumpkins for more info!
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I added a couple of new pumpkin carving patterns on the FREEBIES page:
UPDATE September 19, 2015: Want to learn how to carve pumpkins? I’m creating a set of step-by-step video tutorials. Check out Carve Awesome Pumpkins for more info!
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Hard to believe it’s October already! It’s time to start carving pumpkins, if you haven’t already! Because I like to carve foam pumpkins I can display year after year, I start carving in September or earlier. The foam pumpkins require a different carving process than real pumpkins. Check out these tips and gather your supplies!
This year, I added a new toy:
MOTO TOOL FOOT PEDAL for power tools
This allows me to not only turn my dremel on and off with my foot, but also control the speed. Now I can keep a hand on my pumpkin while turning the dremel on or off!
The main reason I picked up a foot pedal for the dremel was so that I could finally use the flex shaft attachment:
But before I can use the flex shaft attachment, I need a place to hang the dremel. When you use the flex shaft attachment, the dremel must be located above you for it to work properly. Earlier this spring, we replaced our deck with a patio, so now I carve outside. (Makes for much easier clean up!) But, there’s nothing above me to hang the dremel on.
I’m going to have my husband help me build a stand to hang the dremel on, much like this one, only taller:
You can find the instructions on how to build your own on the forum at Stoneykins.com.
Speaking of Stoneykins.com, don’t forget about this coupon:
For more info about getting starting with pumpkin carving, see:
Happy Carving!
Amazon links are affiliate links
UPDATE September 19, 2015: Want to learn how to carve pumpkins? I’m creating a set of step-by-step video tutorials. Check out Carve Awesome Pumpkins for more info!
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It’s that time of year again!
I’m running behind this year already. I’m not even sure what I’m going to carve yet, never mind the carving itself! I don’t have a long series of posts planned for this year, but I will search out any new YA-themed pumpkin patterns and share them with you in October.
In the meantime, here’s last year’s series to get you started:
And here’s a coupon for stoneykins.com — the web’s best pumpkin patterns!
Have you started carving yet? How about planning what to carve?
UPDATE September 19, 2015: Want to learn how to carve pumpkins like these? I’m creating a set of step-by-step video tutorials. Check out Carve Awesome Pumpkins for more info!
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Welcome to seventh and final post of my Carving Pumpkins series for 2012. I can’t believe Halloween is over already. Sometimes I wonder why I put so many hours into creating these pumpkins for just a few hours of display one night of the year. Then I look at them all lit up and smile. 🙂
This week I’m just going to post pictures of the pumpkins I’ve carved this year. Some you’ve already seen, some you haven’t. I did take pictures of my progress while carving the real pumpkins, but I’ll save them for a How-To/Tips post for next Halloween. They probably won’t do you any good now.
In case you missed any of my previous posts in this series:
These Paper Towns and Divergent patterns were created by Kate Hart and are available for free download. (Yes, I carved 2 different Divergent pumpkins.) All 3 of these pumpkins were given away as part of contests.
This pumpkin was also given away as part of a contest. I created the pattern and it’s available for free download on my FREEBIES page.
Both of these patterns are from Stoneykins. The Harry Potter pattern is free for download, and the Dumbledore pattern must be purchased.
My favorite carve of the season! This is the most intricate pattern I’ve carved so far, but the effort was so worth it. Pattern from Stoneykins.
Although I carve mostly for me, I try to do at least one pumpkin for everyone in my family each year. (Sadly, my husband got left out this year because I ran out of time, but he can appreciate the Hunger Games and Harry Potter pumpkins. 😉 )
This one I did for my son, who is a fan of WWE Wrestler John Cena. “You Can’t See Me” is Cena’s catch phrase and this is the logo on the hat he wears.
I created the pattern by hand. If I had a digital file for it, I would share it for free download. It’s a simple pattern to make yourself, though. You can find an image of the logo on the internet to use as a basis for the pattern. Cut out the letters and shade the circle crossing out the “C”.
I’m a huge fan of Damon on Vampire Diaries (I’ve loved Ian Somerhalder for a long time…since he was a “freak of the week” on Smallville way back in Season 1 or 2) and really wanted to carve a Damon pumpkin last year but couldn’t find any patterns.
So I was really excited when I saw that Ultimate Pumpkin Stencils added a Vampire Diaries set to their store this year!
This is the pumpkin I did for my daughter who is 2. She would have loved a Caillou pumpkin, but I couldn’t find a pattern and didn’t have the time/energy to make my own. Elmo was the next best thing. 🙂
This pattern is from Ultimate Pumpkin Stencils’ Sesame Street set. The characters are also available separately.
Usually one of the real pumpkins I carve has something that represents the year for our family. For example, last year I did a Mickey and Minnie pumpkin because we took the kids to Disney for the first time. This year, I couldn’t think of anything that really symbolized “2012” for us, so I went with a generic Halloween pattern. I’m really pleased with how it came out.
The pattern is from Stoneykins, and warning: I did leave off part of the pattern to make it more family-friendly. 😉
I have carved a Twilight pumpkin every year since 2008. I have done a pumpkin for the movie poster of each Twilight movie, but when I saw the poster for Breaking Dawn Part II, I was too busy laughing to try to make a pattern from it. (Seriously, what were they thinking?!)
Still, the night before Halloween I was feeling sad that I wouldn’t have a Twilight pumpkin this year. Then I saw this pumpkin from the Miller Tree Inn and was inspired to carve one myself.
(Side note: in less than 2 weeks I’m going to visit a friend in Seattle for the Breaking Dawn Part II premiere. We’ll be spending one night in Forks, staying at the Miller Tree Inn aka “the Cullen House.” Very excited!)
Okay, here’s the REAL reason I carve real pumpkins! 😉
I made two batches:
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds with Sugar and Spice (very yummy, but too sweet. Cut down the sugar.)
Spiced Pumpkin Seeds (yummy!)
