By Beverly Frank
For many Halloween celebrants pumpkin carving has evolved far from the Jack-O-Lantern days of triangle eyes and half-circle mouths littered with a tooth or two. In fact today even the detailed stencils of haunted houses, witches and ghosts are starting to look amateur. Pumpkins have become even more and more detailed and impressive with the invention of new and unique carving techniques. One new technique that has become highly popular in extreme pumpkin carving, which can look too daunting (for the non-artistically inclined), is 3-D pumpkin carving.
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This technique in carving is more like pumpkin sculpting. Unlike traditional pumpkin carving there is no need to hollow out the pumpkin first, since there is no light or candle inside. In fact, you should never see the very inside of the pumpkin at all, unless of course you make a mistake and carve too deep. To make a 3-D pumpkin sculpture, you will use the pumpkin as is and simply carve a portrait into the side. This is done by using tools such as clay ribbon loops, a very sharp and exacting knife, and a paring knife to slowly whittle away layers of pumpkin meat. The result can be the most remarkable pumpkin anyone in your neighborhood has ever seen.
If you are interested in trying this technique there are some tips that you should be aware of. Here are a few of them:
* The Internet is a great source of information. If you do not personally know anyone who is into 3-D pumpkin carving you can gain a lot of information from a quick search on the web. There are sites that can offer tips, patterns and best of all photos to allow you to see what you are working towards. Be sure to check out several sites to really get an in-depth idea of what you are doing.
* Do not be afraid to use a stencil. While many experienced pumpkin carvers feel comfortable doing a design freehand beginners may find more security in using a stencil. While there are several sites that offer stencils for purchase unless your heart is set on something specific you find hundreds of 3-D pumpkin carving stencils online for free.
* Pick the right pumpkin. It is important to get a pumpkin with a thick wall. In order to get this kind you will have to choose one that is very heavy for its size. Experts also advise that you should avoid perfectly round pumpkins and opt for ones that have a protruding ridge that sticks out on one side. These shapes can make nice faces as it would be much more difficult to carve a 3-D face onto a shallow flat surface.
* Use the right tools. This is not a technique that works with just any tool. Expert extreme pumpkin carvers recommend certain tools for a reason-they work. Thinking that you can skimp and just use anything that you have at home is a mistake. This is due to the fact that you will need sharp and exacting tools to complete your design. Not using the right tools means that you probably will not get the design right and worse yet you could seriously injure yourself.
* Remember that this is technique that takes a lot of patience and practice. This is an art form and with practice and over time you will get better at it. Do not get discouraged if your first few tries are not exactly what you want. The fun of extreme Halloween pumpkin carving is in letting your creativity flow to make that super special extreme jack o lantern!
Stop by http://www.funhalloween.net/ for more Halloween crafts and holiday ideas.
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We all loved to carve Jack O'Lanterns as kids and I am always amazed at the new designs that contemporary artists are creating. Despite the widespread appeal of carving pumpkins that goes on in this country every October, few of us have ever heard the story of why or when the jack o'lantern tradition began. The phrase "jack o'lantern" dates all the way back to 17th century Britain. It meant "man with a lantern". What we might call a night watchman.
The original idea of carving lanterns out of vegetables actually came from Scotland and Ireland. The Irish Potato Famine of 1845 to 1850 caused over 700,000 people to immigrate throughout Europe and the Americas. The immigrants brought their traditions of Halloween and Jack o'Lanterns with them. At the time, the Jack o'Lanterns were made out of turnips which were widely available back home. The American pumpkin turned out to be a great replacement, especially because of the size of the pumpkin. This immigrant tradition has made the carved pumpkin the most famous icon of the holiday while creating a $106 million a year industry. U.S. farmers grow over one billion pounds of pumpkins a year. So what was the legend of Jack o’ Lantern that started all of this?
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The Legend of Stingy Jack.
Stingy Jack was a cheap and bold Irishman who found himself having a drink with the Devil. When the bill came for the drinks came Stingy Jack refused to pay. (I told you he was bold.)
Jack convinces the devil to turn himself into a coin, and once this is done, Jack puts the devil/coin in his pocket. Stingy Jack had a cross in his pocket, which made the Devil powerless. Before Jack would release the Devil, he made the Devil promise never to claim his soul.
Pretty smart of Jack, right?
That might depend on how you look at it. Jack did manage to save his soul from the Devil, however God wouldn't let Jack into Heaven. Jack found himself doomed to wander the earth in darkness. When Jack cried to the Devil and asked how he would be able to find his way through the darkness the Devil laughed. Then the Devil threw Jack an ember from the eternal fire. Because the ember was too hot to hold, Jack quickly carved a hole into one of his turnips. Jack dropped the little ember into the turnip, creating the first Jack o'Lantern.
There is another story of Stingy Jack. One day Jack is out in the woods and he comes across the Devil. Jack tricks the Devil into a tree and gets the Devil to throw down some fruit. Once The Devil has helped him, Jack quickly carves a cross into the tree and traps the Devil. He then strikes a deal that the Devil would leave his soul alone when he dies. Then the story is the same. I like the version with Jack drinking with the Devil. It shows how tough Jack was.
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Pumpkin carving is very different from when I was growing up. Back then, most people would sometimes hollow out a pumpkin, carve a couple of triangle shaped eyes and a mouth and call it good.
Today, there are elaborate pumpkin carving kits with very creative designs that are appropriate for both kids and adults alike. Adults (especially college students) will love to carve a pumpkin depicting their favorite sports team and children can still find magic by carving a Disney themed pumpkin.
Below are some creative pumpkin carving kits currently on Ebay. Enjoy. Oh...and be sure to let us know how your pumpkin turned out!
By C. Noel Henley, M.D.
Each year, thousands of people carve pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween. Throughout the years, while the object carved and the faces created have varied, one thing has stayed consistent - something sharp must be used to cut these things up!
In late October and early November, masses of people injure themselves cutting up pumpkins and are treated by ER doctors and hand surgeons.
Most injuries are minor - a shallow cut that will heal on its own or with some simple sutures. However, only a few fractions of an inch separate a small cut from a larger, potentially devastating hand injury - a cut tendon or nerve that will not heal without surgery and a long recovery process. Additionally, even a small cut can become infected if not cared for correctly.
These simple tips and guidelines will help you avoid a disastrous hand injury this fall.
1. Keep your work area clean, dry and well-lit
Any water or moisture on the table, cutting tools, or your hands, can cause you to slip with the knife and cut your hand or someone nearby.
Make sure all working surfaces and your knife handle are dry. Don't handle the slippery pumpkin flesh with your bare hands and then grab the knife to keep cutting. You may even want to use gloves with good rubberized grips when you are cutting.
2. Sharper isn't always better
Generally, sharper knives give you more control when cutting up food in the kitchen, but carving a pumpkin is different in many ways.
A sharper knife may become more deeply wedged in the pumpkin, and it will take a much larger force to pull it out. Obviously you want to avoid strong, sudden forceful movements with a sharp knife to avoid injury.
If the knife is sharp (and long) enough, it may travel clear through the pumpkin and out the other side, where you might be stabilizing it with your other hand.
3. Be Patient!
Maybe this one is just common sense, but we've all been around excited kids at Halloween whose enthusiasm tends to drive parents batty (so to speak).
Take your time and make sure you're carving in a controlled, deliberate, unhurried manner. Trust me, spending six months of your life recovering from a nerve or tendon injury is not an enjoyable experience. You've got better things to do!
4. Let adults do the carving
Adults can injure themselves as well as kids, but experience with a knife does reduce the risk of injury. Carving should be done in short, controlled strokes with even pressure, always cutting away from yourself or your hands.
Adults should be supervising any pumpkin carving activity involving teenagers or children. Never leave children unsupervised when knives are involved.
There are plenty of jobs for kids to do during pumpkin carving season. They can create designs for the faces and draw them out on each pumpkin with permanent marker. Children can take turns scooping out seeds from each pumpkin with a large spoon, or putting the cut up pieces into a bowl.
5. Prepare for success and safety
The right preparation, the right tools, and the right pumpkin carving techniques will improve safety and the quality of your jack-o-lantern project.
A specialized scraping tool may help you thin out the pumpkin walls. This lets you create more sophisticated designs and greatly improves the safety of the process. The thinner the walls, the less resistance you'll have to push through as you carve the pumpkin. You can find these serrated spatula tools in most Halloween specialty stores or online.
A specialized saw or pumpkin cutting tool is a safer way to cut the pumpkin wall and avoid injury. These are not expensive and are available online and in local stores.
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Getting help after a pumpkin carving injury
Most cuts or injuries to the hand or fingers will stop bleeding after 5 to 10 minutes with some firm pressure with a clean dishcloth or paper towel. A visit to the emergency room or a doctor may be the best solution if the cut is very deep or does not stop bleeding.
Signs of a more seriously damaged finger or hand include numbness in the fingertip or noticing that your finger won't bend or straighten normally. In some situations, early treatment may be necessary to prevent serious infection.
Your treating physician will usually be able to tell if it's appropriate to send you to see a hand surgeon. Most hand injuries that require surgery need to be evaluated by a hand surgeon no later than 5 to 7 days after the injury.
C. Noel Henley, MD is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand and arm surgery. He has a passion for educating patients and restoring function of the human body with a wide range of techniques in patients of all ages.
Your health starts with education! Learn more about your hand or arm problem and see more in-depth articles by visiting:
http://www.noelhenley.com
©2010 noelhenley.com. All rights reserved.
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