Carving pumpkins is a long-standing tradition around Halloween, and the end result is often called a “jack-o-lantern.” Traditionally, the pumpkin is carved to depict an evil or frightful face or some other hallmark designed to instill fear such as a bat. However, you do not have to adhere to carving your pumpkin in a morose manner. There is no limit to what you can carve in your pumpkin, including a variety of cute subject matter. If a cute pumpkin is more to your liking, then let your imagination show no bounds.
Cute Take on Traditional
Instead of making a traditional “scary” jack-o-lantern face with jagged teeth and evil eyes, try using rounded eyes and blunted teeth in a smiling mouth. Even traditionally scary subject matter such as ghosts, skeletons and witches can be carved in a cute fashion. Any traditional horrific icon can be transformed into a cute and harmless version, normally indicated in the facial expressions and lack of sharp edges.
Cartoon Characters
Your favorite cartoon characters can be carved into your pumpkin. Whether you carve a close-up of the face or the entire body, cartoons offer an endless array of alternatives to a traditional scary jack-o-lantern. Film companies like Dreamworks Pixar have countless cartoon characters from which to choose, and comic book companies like DC, Image and Marvel provide no shortage of superheroes for carving. Carving patterns are available in stores around Halloween time and online year round for many characters.
People
Choosing a figure from popular culture or from history to carve into your pumpkin is another alternative to scary subject matter. People like a past or present president, a movie star or even a sports star make excellent subjects for pumpkin carving, and many are available online and in stores in the form of carving patterns. There are even companies that can turn your individual photos into carving patterns so you can carve a pumpkin with your own likeness.
Outside the Carving
Don’t be constrained to simply carving into the pumpkin. You can use carving to create something new out of the pumpkin. Carving out a large mouth from one side can be attached to the opposite side to craft a fish with a fin. Three pumpkins of descending sizes can be stacked on top each other, held together with a metal stake and then carved to resemble a snowman. Be creative with the shape of the pumpkin and don’t be afraid to experiment with changing the shape of the pumpkin.
Scenery
A house doesn’t have to be haunted to end up carved on a pumpkin. Try replicating your house or apartment, or try a mountainous or oceanic scene instead of a graveyard.
Written Message
You can also use pumpkin carving as a means to communicate as opposed to simply a picture. A “Welcome” pumpkin or the surname of your family is a cute way to greet guests, or a “Sale” pumpkin can greet customers in a storefront. Mini-pumpkins carved with individualized names are a unique way to mark place settings at a large dinner function.
