We never have too many pumpkin carving stencils. These are perfect for a young family. The images should not scare young children. The skull could go with the spooky chic Halloween table I presented yesterday. Download them at HGTV Canada.

+ photos: HGTV.ca

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Carving pumpkins is great but we do not all have the talent of making complex design. And if you have young kids at home, they will prefer simpler images.

What you need our a few printable carving templates and stencils. You do not have to carve the pumpkins, you can simply paint a silhouette or do both.Then, you create a vignette to give life to your theme.

I selected on Better Homes and Gardens 4 pumpkin decorating projects that anyone could do it without passing all day on the project. These cute pumpkins will not give nightmares to young kids. If you put your painted pumpkins outside, apply a varnish to protect the painted silhouette from the outdoor elements.

+ The Haunted Mansion pumpkin was realized by chiseling the windows of the painted mansion. Then, they added a moon behind. Get the haunted mansion template.

+ This is the happiest pumpkin. This interpretation of the cat pumpkin is girlie. Add a bow and ears to your drawing. Print first the Feline Stencil.

+ The creepy crow is a classic. Tufts of garden moss or ornamental grass help keep the pumpkin stable inside the birdbath. You can punch the eye of the black crow stencil.

+ I like the simplicity of the Spooky Spider Stencil with its luminous web. The lines of the web are carved just deep enough to let the glow of the candle shine through the pumpkin walls. pumpkin photo

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I recalled how many of you looked for pumpkin-carving ideas last year. Do not worry, I will bring you more inspirations until Halloween starting with these wonderful pumpkins that I found on Martha Stewart. The key is to decide on a theme. You get an extra WOW when you create a vignette.

One thing that Martha taught us is to not simply rely on pumpkins. Gourds and squashes fit the occasion as well. One detail is to carve the gourds and pumpkins from the bottom. This way it keeps the stems intact. Mixing sizes and forms is another design lesson when you are planning your vignette.

Variations

The Arise for the Dead pumpkin was carved by a reader of Martha. Jacquie W. used photos of New England headstones as templates. You can shape animals (see top collage) by cleverly assembling several pumpkins together. Or roll lino ink over the silhouette to add a sophisticated touch to your carved pumpkins.

The headless horseman and the skeleton rider pumpkins were created by a master carver named Tomas Gonzales. Tomas is an artist.

GET THE LOOK:
+ Pumpkin Alligator and Snail
+ Birdbath Family
+ Pumpkin Raccoon Bandit
+ Spooky Silhouette Designs
+ Spider Squash

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Gladly for us, Nick Dickover is really into pumpkin carving and sculpture. Since 2000, you can admire and learn how to do his Jack-O-Lantern creations online on Fantasy Pumpkins.

He gives most of his templates for free. His patterns are not for the novices. With such levels of details, many are in fact extremely difficult to do.

Learning How to Carve

With a template, you need time and patience to be able to reproduce his works. If you want to learn the tricks of this art, Nick recommends the  Carvingpumpkins.com community board. You will find on Carvingpumpkins.com more free patterns and lots of advice on how to carve pumpkins.

Pumpkin Display

Every year, he exhibits his creations outside. Last year he exhibited 25 magnificent pumpkins. Each pumpkin pattern takes between 2 to 23 hours to carve.

He excelled with the shot where Malificent casts her curse. With good reasons, Jack Sparrow was a bit hit in 2006. People mentioned this was the sexiest pumpkin they had ever seen.

If you are in the Washington DC area, Noel prepares an outdoor exhibit every Halloween. You can admire all the pumpkins he made at 14223 Hartwood Court, Centreville VA, 20121. It sounds like a treat.

MORE:
+ Carvingpumpkins.com
+ images from FantasyPumpkins.com

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If you live with teenager boys, a sure way to get them interested in helping you to carve pumpkins is to go with a science fiction theme.

Let them reproduce their favorite character, robot or space ship. Wired magazine runs last year a contest. The big winner was a Death Star Pumpkin carved by the super talented Noel Dickover of Centerville, Virginia.

If you wish to make your own, Noel published a tutorial on how to carve the Death Star from Star Wars. I am impressed! Technically, The Death Star is a hybrid between a pumpkin carve and a pumpkin sculpt. Allow between 4 to 10 hours to make it.

Other favorites were a Cylon Jack-O-Lantern, a Gollum, and a R2 Jack-o’-lantern.

SOURCING:
+ Wired
+ FantasyPumpkins.com
+ Via Shak In Style

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I gathered a few cool Halloween ideas that I spotted on the Web today. These are my daily quickly links.

+ First, I visited Horchow. This shop never ceases to impress me. The Harvest Pumpkin Cheesecake would make a stunning effect on your dessert table. I would integrate it within your candy station. If you put it a little bit out of reach, your guests will be surprised when you slice into the cake.

+ The Black Halloween Punch Bowl & Skeleton Ladle is so pretty that I would imagine reasons to use it at other moments of the year. Complete your spooky Halloween scene with these pair of ravens.

+ I already showcased several options to etch and carve your pumpkins. You can get at Macys the Martha Stewart Collection Pumpkin Carving Kit. The kit includes all the tools you need, 6 carving patterns and instruction booklet. I wish Macys was delivering in Canada.

+ I dare you to resist these Halloween Cake Pops by Bakerella. She brilliantly decorates Jolly jack o’ lanterns, mouthless mummies, werewolves, Frankensteins, scary skulls, black cats, bats, witches, ghosts, one-eyed purple people eaters, spiders and Jason of Friday the 13th. You will get a list of what you need on Bakerella. Sadly, I fear that I am missing the skills to reproduce these. Via Hostess with the Mostess

SOURCING:
+ Harvest Pumpkin Cheesecake – $140 USD
+ Black Halloween Punch Bowl & Skeleton Ladle – $150 USD
+ Raven Pair – $45 USD
+ Martha Stewart Collection Pumpkin Carving Kit – on sale at $18.75 USD

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While reading How about orange (my favorite color by the way), I noticed a post on pumpkin carving. I particularly like the stencils from Parents magazine.

These designs may be simpler than other I have shown you earlier but these designs are not less fascinating. To make those drawings more special, I recommend that you add decorative items to strengthen the theme.

Sourcing:
Learn more: Pumpkins All Aglow on Parents.com
Via: Pumpkin carving stencils on How about orange

RELATED POSTS:
+ Etched and carved pumpkins by Martha Stewart
+ Dry ice Halloween tips
+ Decorate your kitchen for Halloween

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This year, why not show your support to a cause when making your Halloween decorations?

For more than 45 years, World Wildlife Fund has protected our environment and ecosystems, making Earth a home where humans and animals can coexist. WWF came up with an artistic way to get their message across.

They partner with Snapfish and HP for a fun contest. Carve a pumpkin with a wild animal design, and capture your creativity in great photos! Then upload your photos for the chance to win prizes from Snapfish, HP and World Wildlife Fund.

On HP’s Web site, you can find printable stencils to carve the WWF panda, a gorilla, a polar bear, a turtle, a dolphin, a Monarch butterfly, a tiger, a rhinoceros, Africa and a coral reef on your pumpkins.

Sourcing:
Learn more: WWF’s Wild with pumpkins contest on Snapfish
Learn more: WWF pumpkin carving stencils

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Halloween is a celebration for kids but grownups can have their fun too. Instead of a typical party costume party, why not organize a Victorian Gothic bash this year?

Everyone can dress up nicely. You can host a formal dinner or opt for the food station formula. The 2007 October issue of Martha Stewart’s Living proposes wonderful ideas for decorating your space.

To not be stressed out, you can start planning your Halloween event soon. At least, send a Save the Date note to your friends.

Making our own floral arrangement

Going Dutch teaches you how to reproduce a floral display reminiscent of the seventeenth-century master gardener.

I am aware that it is before the Victorian era, but I think both styles complement each other. Since Halloween party is about the paranormal, there is no harm done in mixing periods.

One trick to save money and space if you put the floral arrangement against the wall is to leave the back bare.

How to create a sideboard Victorian Gothic tableau for Halloween?

The sideboard vignette clearly stated that it is an adult event. Luminous carved and etched pumpkins, traditional wine decanters, pewter serving ware, stands with fresh fruits and nuts are the key elements.

You can visit antiquaries, countryside markets and specialized boutiques to find pewter and other metal serving ware. Otherwise, you can rent them. But displaying several large pieces is crucial to achieve this look. If the style of your sideboard does not fit, get a neutral damask or vintage linen tablecloth to camouflage your sideboard.

Sourcing:
Learn more: From the Garden: Dutch Floral Displays published on Martha Stewart’s Web site
Learn more: Denizens of the Dark published on Martha Stewart’s Web site

RELATED POSTS:
+ Carving pumpkins stencils
+ Creepy Halloween treats and cocktails
+ Halloween makeups

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The naive jack-o’-lantern of your childhood does not suffice anymore. Like everything else in life, Halloween decors took on a sophisticated trail.

We may have to thank Martha Stewart for putting more pressure on us. But when you look at the results, the extra efforts are worth it. You start by grouping pumpkins to make a table centerpiece or an outdoor vignette.

With a little skill and patience, everyone can reproduce these striking pumpkins. The October issue of Martha Stewart Living comes with all the templates and a full set of instructions with the tools you need. A version of Denizens of the Dark is also available online.

A few shopping tips

Look at your space and select the best place to set your vignette. Use the provided templates or draw your own. Figure out how many pumpkins you will need based on your overall composition and your space layout before you hit the farm stand or the pumpkin patch. Bring your templates with you. If it is your first attempt at etching, buy a couple extra pumpkins to practice.

Stop by the garden center and buy moss. The idea is to create a scene so do not neglect the small decorative elements. Putting moss under and surrounding the pumpkins is crucial to create natural scenery. Better yet, brush some yogurt on the surface, mist often to create an aging look. Some people suggest mixing the moss with yogurt. Try to temporary aging the walls and the rest of your decor.

If you are really into it, you can mix insect props, fall vegetables and other Halloween décor items. You can buy them or rent several pieces at a prop shop near you.

Opt for pumpkins of the right sizes and shapes with slightly flat faces because it is easier to transfer the designs on them. Varying the sizes and shapes of the pumpkins usually looks better.

Etching versus carving

You mix these two techniques to vary the illuminations of your composition. That is a huge part of the Wow factor. Varying the depth of etching is little bit like varying the line strength on a drawing. What you should recall is that the more pared skin, the brighter the design will glow.

Some suggestions on how to proceed

The outdoor scenes full of watchful ravens, screeching cats, and fluttering moths will please children and adults. Do not overlook key design elements. For example, the rickety picked fence unites the row of three pumpkins in a depiction of a farmer’s field. If it is your first time, I suggest you start by replicating Martha’s vignettes. It is best to gain some experience before thinking of designing your own Halloween scenes.

Apparently, you will be able to enjoy your carved pumpkins until the Thanksgiving celebrations in the United States. For your information, we celebrate Thanksgiving the second Monday of October in Canada.

Organize a carving event

Getting help will reduce your stress and add fun to the whole thing. So do not be shy and invite a few friends to participate in the pumpkin carving. It is a fun afternoon activity. Plan a dinner after the carving session to thank your friends.

Why not distribute the flyaway favors that night? This is another impressive creation from Martha’s team. Fill a brown paper bag with candies. Cut thin strips into a second lunch bag and make sure you stop short of the base. Place the bag filled with candies inside the cut bag. Insert a small branch with an inch or two inside the bag. Cinch the tops of both bags and secure with black twine.

Sourcing:
Learn more: Denizens of the Dark by Martha Stewart
Learn more: Flyaway Favors by Martha Stewart

RELATED POSTS:
+ Victorian Gothic carved pumpkins and my Halloween feast
+ More stencils to carve your pumpkins
+ Mad Scientist Halloween party

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