Take my kiddos to a pumpkin patch and they are in heaven! They could spend hours looking for the ”perfect” pumpkin. This year we are in Cyprus where Halloween isn’t really celebrated, no pumpkin patches, no trick-or-treating, and –– GULP –– no pumpkin pie! We still managed to find pumpkins and pumpkin carving tools and set out to teach our cousins the fine art of pumpkin carving. Zoe and Lydia are still a bit young to carve the whole pumpkin on their own but that didn’t stop them from drawing up detailed designs that we carved up together.
What you need
- Pumpkins
- Knife or craving tools (recommended)
- Dry erase marker
- Large spoon
- Bowl
- Paper and pencil – if you want to design your pumpkin prior
- Newspaper
- Paper towels or wipes
What we did
We started with the design. Lydia and Zoe began by doodling in their sketchbooks. Once they finalized their Merkitty designs, complete with step by step instructions, we got started.
With the “Merkitty” designs complete, we wiped the pumpkins down then freehand drew the designs on the pumpkins using dry erase markers. We had to do a few takes to get the proportions right and to figure out the best way to carve star eyes.
Next up, it’s time to clean out the pumpkin guts. Begin by carefully cutting out the lid. We like to include a little triangle notch in the pumpkin lid so it’s easy to line up when placing it back on top.
Then scoop out the seeds with a large spoon and set them aside
Now use your carving tools to carefully cute along your design lines. If you have tools designed specifically for carving pumpkins your younger kiddos can try their hand at craving too!
What we thought
We carved four pumpkins in total. Two more traditional with scary and silly faces, and Zoe and Lydia’s more detailed “Merkitty” designs.
We love pumpkin carving and highly recommend getting your kiddos in on the action, both designing and carving. Just look at the BIG smiles on these faces!
Follow Lydia and Zoe on Instagram for more awesome adventures!
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