By Daily Press staff
Some tips, secrets and tricks that will enable you to carve pumpkins that will be the envy of the neighborhood. ■How to pick a good pumpkin for carving: Look for one that is a little misshapen and will lend itself to interesting facial features. Reject any pumpkin with soft spots. ■Hollow or whole? Hollow it out if the inside is going to be exposed or to illuminate the pumpkin from the inside. ■The tools to use: Use a water-based marker to outline the face that you want to carve. ■Carve with care: Use two hands at all times. To avoid cutting yourself, use one hand to control the pressure with which you cut (and thus the depth). ■Make a face: To achieve a three-dimensional appearance, carve the entire pumpkin, instead of just holes for the eyes and a hole for the nose. ■Enjoy it while it lasts: Pumpkins — which are actually a fruit, not a vegetable — are 90 percent water, so they usually last only three days to a week.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 16, 2006. Read the original PDF.