11 thrilling top tips for your Halloween pumpkin 🎃
To help you make the most of your pumpkins!
Halloween is creeping ever closer and it’s almost time to start carving those pumpkins! As we prepare to go out trick or treating, you can make some great carvings to display in your window. From pumpkin bowls to vases, here are the top tips to create the best.
1. Choosing your Jack-O-Lantern
They come in all shapes and sizes, so it's good to have a design in mind before you buy. Small ones are great for traditional faces while the bigger ones are better if you have a more creative idea.
2. Gutting the pumpkin
An ice cream scoop or a metal ladle will work for scooping out the innards if you don’t have pumpkin tools. Instead of throwing all the squishy bits out, the seeds can be roasted as a tasty snack or you could make some tasty pumpkin treats.
Or use the pulp for decoration – to make it look like your creepy creation has been sick!
3. Wrong way up
Instead of cutting a lid at the top of the pumpkin, why not cut out a lid at the bottom? This'll make it easier to put a candle inside and easier to scoop.
4. Get creative
The traditional Jack-O-Lantern is a thing of the past – as many people love to show off their art skills on Hallow’s Eve.
From cartoons to singers, there's a huge variety of designs. These are best done with stencils which you can print out at home, just choose a picture from the internet, print it out, then tape it onto your prepared pumpkin. All you need to do now is cut out the shaded areas.
For more creative stencils you can use a nail or pin to mark carving lines into the pumpkin, then just connect the dots.
5. Child-friendly carving
No knives! All you need is a sturdy cookie cutter and a mallet, but we do recommend adult supervision.
6. Beastly bowls
An alternative idea is to use a pumpkin as a fruit bowl for your Halloween party. Just scoop out the centre then fill it with fresh fruit and vegetables for your guests to snack on.
Or why not fill it with ice to use as a drinks cooler!
7. It’s alive!
Here’s a top tip for keeping your pumpkin fresh – cover it in petroleum jelly after you carve it, or soak it in a bowl of water overnight. This helps extend its life as it slows the pumpkin dehydrating, which makes it shrivelled. It's also recommended you keep it in a shaded, dry place in the house.
8. Pumpkin vase
Pumpkins can be used as a vase too! Just scoop out the insides and fill with fresh flowers - or brown rotting flowers for a spooky twist.
9. There’s a light, over at the Frankenstein place…
Bright, battery powered lights are a safer alternative to real candles, especially if there are little ones around. Small pumpkins can be used as votive candle holders too.
10. Scary smells
Your pumpkin can double up as an air freshener - just try sprinkling ground cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves inside.
11. A pumpkin for everyone
For those who don't like carving pumpkins, here's an alternative idea. Make a pumpkin from other materials instead! Try using dough or building blocks.
Now check out the best ways to prepare your home for the Autumn:
1) Get your boiler serviced
With Summer now over, you're more than likely going to start putting your heating on to take the chill off. As it's most likely been a while since you used the heating, now is a great time to have your annual service by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
2) Bleed your radiators
As well as servicing the boiler, it's also a good idea to bleed your radiators in order to get rid of any air bubbles that have developed. Air bubbles can cause cold sections in your heating system, so this top tip could be very valuable.
3) Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors
Although you should do this weekly, Autumn can be a great time to do a full test of both your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. With usage of gas appliances and fires rising in the colder months, a quick test could save your life.
4) Deep clean the house
So everybody has heard of 'Spring clean', but Autumn is also a great time for a deep clean of your house. Whether you're putting away Summer furniture into storage, or swapping out your wardrobe for warmer clothes, start the season right with a deep cleanse!
5) Check and clean your gutters
With leaves set to start falling at a rapid rate, it's a great time to get up and clean your gutters to avoid any congestion. Having clean gutters will also allow water to run more smoothly as the rainy weather sets in.
6) Check your roof
As well as your gutters, now is also a good time to check your roof for any damage. Although most people think it's only the Winter months that are bad for your roof's health, the heat and humidity of Summer can also have a detrimental effect. A quick check for any damage or loose tiles could save you a fortune in the long run.
7) Get your DIY finished
The last thing you want to be doing during the cold and dark nights is DIY, so try and get all of those jobs finished before the cold arrives.
8) Exclude draughts
With the temperatures starting to drop and the cold weather creeping in, you'll want to start excluding any draughts in your windows and doors. Although it can be pricey, insulation in your loft can also help keep the heat in.
Check out our other top tips of keeping your house warm.
9) Get Halloween ready
With Halloween fast approaching, set the scene with some spooky decorations and pumpkin scents to get right into the mood!
10) Spider-proof your house
As you're probably already aware, it's spider season, with the eight-legged creepy crawlies looking to come into our homes for a warmth. If you're not a fan of having spiders around your house, there's plenty humane ways of kindly removing them. Check out 10 ways to spider-proof your house right here.
Now read:
Some of the best Halloween makeup tutorials around
DIY pumpkin decorations that you need to try out this Halloween
Mum shares genius '5 minute' pumpkin carving hack
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