Halloween in Paris

Although Halloween and the magic of carving pumpkins, dressing up, eating candy and donuts and wandering around at night is not a well followed holiday in France, us expats can always find a way to celebrate. This year I will be making homemade pumpkin pie (from frozen picard pumpkin goo so wish me luck) carving pumpkins with Michel, dressing up and heading to the cinematic orchestra concert at the pompideu. Below are some ideas for carving amazing pumpkins. Happy Hauntings!

Materials

• pumpkin or squash
• linoleum cutter kit
• knife
• power drill
• nail or pushpin
• tea lights
• template for ornate pumpkin pattern
• template for leaf pumpkin pattern

Instructions

1. Using a knife, cut a hole at the bottom of the pumpkin big enough to allow you to scoop out the seeds and pulp. Smooth down the inner walls of the pumpkin.

2. Choose the pattern you would like to carve out, print it and tape it on the pumpkin. Since pumpkins vary in size and shape, you may have to enlarge or reduce the size of your pattern to fit the pumpkin.

3. Using a nail, trace the pattern on the pumpkin by punching holes along the lines so your pattern is printed directly onto the pumpkin once you remove the paper.

4. With the linoleum cutter, draw your pattern by linking all the dots made with the nail. Do not carve completely through the pumpkin meat.

5. Following the outline just cut, remove the outer layer of the pumpkin while remaining inside the pattern’s lines. Do not carve completely through the pumpkin; leave a portion of the meat to give a frosted glow to your pumpkin once it is lit.

6. Drill holes wherever you want the light to shine through.

7. Place a tea light inside. If you did not carve through the skin of the pumpkin at any point, it is necessary to cut a hole at the back of the pumpkin for safety and ventilation.
Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/10/diy-project-janices-illustrated-pumpkins.html#more-67794#ixzz13ZzkhSvj