I don't know about you but fall is my favorite season and Halloween is my second favorite holiday. There is just something about the cool crispy air, the falling leaves bursting with color, and of course the ultimate spooky fun of Halloween. Even as an adult I still enjoy decorating for Halloween and watching the scary movies. Haunted houses and corn mazes at night are all just so much fun.
One of the most popular things people do for Halloween is carve pumpkins. Have you ever wondered where that tradition came from? It's pretty fascinating and if you are interested you can read about it here. I have not carved my pumpkin yet so I guess I better get moving! Here are some tips to make the most out of your pumpkin carving experience.
Wipe down your pumpkin before carving. Use a diluted vinegar solution to remove any microbes that will cause decay. Make sure to get all the pulp out so you won't attract bugs. Also, be sure to keep it out of direct sunlight when possible.
Open your pumpkin from the bottom. This was a new one for me but it makes sense. Most of the innards will settle to the bottom of the pumpkin over time so opening from the bottom will let it just fall right out easily. It will also make it easier for your candle when lighting your pumpkin. Set your candle on a solid surface outdoors and just sit your pumpkin over it. (be sure to never leave candles burning unattended)
To easily separate the seeds and pulp put the guts into a bowl of water. Stir it around and the pulp will fall to the bottom while the seeds float to the top. Then you can just simply skim the seeds from the top.
Make sure the walls of your pumpkin are thin enough. This is more important if you are etching a design on your pumpkin. You need the wall to be about a 1/2" to 1" thick for the light to be able to shine through.
Plan your design before starting. It's best to either draw out your design or use a stencil. Once you cut there is no going back if you realize you made a mistake.
Pumpkin carving can be such a fun activity to do with some friends! Make a contest out of it and give out a prize, or make it a more intimate experience with a spouse, close friend, or even just yourself! The idea is to make it a memory you will have even when the pumpkin has gone back to the earth.
We sent our subscribers the pumpkin carving box this month to do just that! You can take the simplest of activities and make them into a memorable and fun experience. We sent them everything they needed, besides a pumpkin, of course, to do this project.
This box included a wine slushie base mix, Halloween socks, Halloween dish towel, seasoning to use roasting your pumpkin seeds,(recipe included to roast seeds) stencils, a Halloween playlist, and the best part the pumpkin scraper glove. This thing is amazing! Check out our reel putting this to the test.
Simple Joy Box is a curated subscription box designed to help you embrace the art of a slow-living lifestyle one month at a time. We take the guesswork out of finding your new hobby by introducing new creative habits that allow for more self-expression and create more simple pleasures in your day-to-day life. If you are ready to start your slow-living lifestyle, visit our website to learn more about us, and join our email list to stay up to date on our blogs.