Avoid cutting a hole around the stem at the top of your pumpkin because it will become structurally weak. It may take a bit of force to first cut into the pumpkin. Work slowly to ensure that the knife doesn’t slip so you don’t cut yourself.
You can get a plastic scraper from a pumpkin carving kit from most supermarkets around the Halloween season. If you don’t have a plastic scraper, then try using an ice cream scoop or a sturdy metal spoon that won’t bend while you’re working.
You can also draw the outlines for the letters on your pumpkin freehand or trace around store-bought stencils. If you do, use a dry-erase or washable marker so you can wipe your pumpkin clean when you’re finished. [4] X Research source
If the paper gets too wrinkled or you have trouble reading your name, try cutting out the individual letters with scissors and taping them to the pumpkin instead.
If you still have trouble seeing the dotted outline, trace around it with a dry-erase marker. You may also sprinkle baby powder on the pumpkin skin, and it will fill in the holes so they’re easier to see. Avoid poking completely through the pumpkin skin since you could weaken the pumpkin.
It’s okay to cut out sections of letters at a time. For example, if you’re cutting out the letter T, try cutting the top horizontal line first before cutting out the vertical part. Always cut away from your body so you don’t hurt yourself in case the knife slips.
For example, if you have the letter O in your name, put the circular cutout from the middle of the letter so it’s in the center of the carved letter. For another example, the letter A will have a triangular cutout that you can stick near the top of the carved hole in the pumpkin. You don’t have to place the cutout section back in the carved out letters, but it may be more difficult to read at a glance. Light will still shine around the small cutout section.
If you don’t use petroleum jelly, the pumpkin may turn brown and shrivel, making it harder to read your name.
Display your pumpkin indoors or outdoors to give your home a festive look.
Linoleum block cutters have U-shaped blades that make it easy to carve material, and you can buy them from your local craft or hardware store. The inner skin of the pumpkin will look lighter than the outer skin, so it will be easy to see where you have and haven’t already carved. Keep your hands behind the cutter blade at all times so you don’t injure yourself if the tool slips.
You don’t need to add highlights or carve any more skin from the pumpkin if you don’t want to. Put a light inside your pumpkin while you’re working to see which areas of your name look brighter than others.
Dremel rotary tools have a small rotating head that’s usually used to carve wood, but it will easier slice through pumpkin skin. Look for Dremel tools at your local hardware or craft store. Dremel tools work great for cutting around curves that may be difficult to maneuver around with the linoleum cutter.
You can also apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly if you don’t have any lemon juice.
If the light doesn’t shine through the etched letters, use your cutter to remove more of the skin. Use a battery-powered light if you don’t want to have an open flame. You don’t need to use a light with an etched name since it will still be easy to read without one.
