It seems that the pumpkin is specially created for creativity. Interesting vases, openwork candlesticks or decorative lanterns are far from the whole list of what can be made from this autumn fruit. Grinning faces will create a fabulous atmosphere in your home, floral or geometric patterns will complement natural materials and become an original decor item for any interior, and vampires, bats and evil spirits will terrify not only children, but also adults. Moreover, very soon the gates between the material and other worlds will be reopened, all evil spirits will descend to earth and most people, according to the good old Celtic tradition, will honor evil spirits by celebrating Halloween.
An integral attribute of this "terrible" holiday - the pumpkin head - owes its appearance to the Irish legend of an old farmer named Jack, who not only led a vicious life, but twice deceived the devil himself, after which he was doomed to wander around the world after death with a pumpkin head and ember inside her.
But enough theory: it's time to start from words to deeds. And today we will tell you not only how to choose, prepare and make a pumpkin for Halloween, but also share interesting and useful ideas.
In order to create a pumpkin arrangement that will scare evil spirits away from your home, you first need to choose the “right” vegetable. Actually, a fairly even pumpkin with an intact surface and no rotten places is ideal for this role. Moreover, it should be a fresh fruit, which will have a soft peel that can be easily processed. By the way, in order not to make a mistake and not accidentally buy a spoiled pumpkin, first pull its tail: if it easily lags behind, then most likely it has already begun to rot from the inside.
It is equally important to prepare the tools themselves. To carve a Halloween pumpkin, you will need several thin, well-sharpened knives with blades of various lengths (you can also use woodworking tools), a sturdy tablespoon, a felt-tip pen or marker for drawing, and a small candle.
Now that the prep work is done, you can start creating!
To do this, using a marker at the base of the pumpkin (where the tail grows), mark the “lid” in the form of a simple circle or polygon. Then, using a knife, cut it off. At the same time, in order to get a tapered cutout, and as a result your cover does not fall inside the "head", hold it at an angle of 45 degrees. This is a rather time-consuming process, so you will have to be patient and make a lot of effort.
After the "trepanation" is completed, it's time to "cleanse" your beauty. It is much more convenient to start freeing it from the pulp and seeds directly with your hands. And then, using a tablespoon, scrape off the remaining fibers from the inner walls. Remember that the optimal wall thickness of the pumpkin in the part where you are going to cut the face is 2-3 centimeters.
Your pumpkin is almost ready, it remains only to make a funny or evil face for it, or maybe not even a face .... Whatever it is, draw a sketch first on paper, make sure it's exactly what you imagined - and you can safely transfer the drawing to the peel.
Next, paint over with a marker those places that you are going to cut out so that they are better visible, and, armed with a kitchen or penknife, proceed to the “jewelry” work. Use reciprocating movements for this, trying to adhere to the contour as closely as possible. Take your time. If necessary, pull out the tool and insert it at a new angle.
To complete the composition, insert a candle inside the pumpkin head, light it and close the pumpkin with a lid again.
A pumpkin with a glowing scary face for Halloween is a classic version of holiday decor. However, you don't have to literally go to standards to create predictable looks - it's Halloween! Especially in the 21st century. Approach the task creatively. Twist the fruit in your hands - perhaps, along with inspiration, new ideas will come to your mind. For example, if instead of trivial round, square or triangular “face” elements, you cut out crosses, stars or even bats, then you will already add a little personality to a separate pumpkin. If you are a fan of more unconventional solutions, let's experiment together with more unconventional and sophisticated approaches to design!
Have you ever wondered why, when carving various faces from pumpkins, everyone calls them a lantern? After all, a lantern should be a lantern! It doesn't matter, old or modern, camping or garden, but a lantern. Are you of the same opinion? Then, choosing any image of the lantern you like, transfer it to the pumpkin, and, armed with a thin knife, cut out only that part of it through which the light should be visible. Place a candle inside - and your pumpkin will take on an original look.
As you understand, Halloween is also a competition among pumpkins. Therefore, it is quite realistic to see a pumpkin horror movie devouring another monster ...
To create a similar composition, you will need a huge and a very small pumpkin (you can also use an orange and a pumpkin of any size). And then proceed according to the worked out scheme: having come up with a more terrible face, cut it out. At the same time, when you need to cut out the mouth, it is best to start with its narrower part, and make the wide hole for the “victim” narrower at first, gradually cutting it so that it does not fall out of the mouth.
As you know, always and everywhere there is a place for something good and bright. Therefore, although Halloween is a time of revelry of evil spirits, not everything on it should be evil and scary. In addition, there is not much time left until winter, which means it's time to remember about snowmen.
Agree, Jack the pumpkin snowman meeting right at the front door of the invited guests will make a splash. A hat, a collar from an old shirt, 2-3 buttons, felt-tip pens, a cork from a bottle of wine and a little glue will help you make a fat good man who will become an unusual holiday decoration for your home.
But what if we digress even more from the “ugly” topic and try to make something beautiful and airy? Say, master the technique of painting? Moreover, in order to create such beauty, you only need acrylic paints, a brush, a glass outline and a few toothpicks.
First, cover the pumpkin with an even layer of paint and let it dry thoroughly. After your fingerprints do not remain on it, using a toothpick, draw some interesting pattern on the pumpkin, and then steal it with the outline. Or immediately decorate the peel with openwork leaves, geometric shapes or mysterious symbols. Do not limit your imagination - and you will get not only an original decor element, but also a great gift for friends.
When glam goes out of fashion, many will probably breathe a sigh of relief, but for now, glossy stories are a source of inspiration when working on decorating a festive interior, especially when it comes to creating a terribly beautiful decor. Gold or silver plating, rhinestones, sequins - there is nothing easier than making such a glamorous pumpkin. Or you can paint the fruit black, draw a skull and crossbones on it with silver, and glue a decorative pink organza bow on top - and then you will get a pumpkin in the style of punk glamour.
Perhaps such an idea seems disgusting, but believe me, such a vile image looks very impressive. The secret is that you carve the pumpkin according to a well-known pattern, but unlike the traditional mug, its mouth should be wide open, and the eyes widened and slightly slanted.
In addition, after you free her from seeds and pulp, put part of the cleaned entrails into her mouth so that they seem to hang and fall out, and part below her. By the way, the same idea can also be used to decorate a festive table, just put not the insides in the pumpkin’s mouth, but some real appetizer or sauce.
Agree that a romantic message carved into a pumpkin by some shy guy who can't wait for Valentine's Day looks sincere and sweet. What if it was also carved with a sign for a party, the logo of a symbolic musical group, mysterious spells or thematic phrases, such as "In the witch's house" or "Beware. Zombie!"? Depending on the size of your pumpkin, cut out one word or a whole phrase on it, and also write them by letters or syllables into several pumpkins of approximately the same size and put them in the desired sequence.
Believe it or not, but on your Halloween table, a pumpkin can become not only a decor item, but also completely indispensable, using it as dishes. Alternatively, it can be arranged in the form of a huge hamburger. To do this, cut the pumpkin in half and remove the core. Next, put a large chop instead of the usual cutlet, slices of cheese, tomato slices, lettuce on one half, and cover your “sandwich” with the other half, decorating it with seeds that you cleaned from the core like sesame seeds.
As they say, good does not disappear, so you can try to make the pumpkin not only beautiful, but also useful. For example, if you decide to have a holiday and invite guests, then a pumpkin is quite capable of replacing your refrigerator. Cut it in half, cut out the core, fill it with crushed ice and place bottles of drinks. Such an extraordinary "dish" will come in handy and will be remembered by your guests for a long time. And there are many such examples! The main thing is to give free rein to your imagination.
Try to make your Halloween pumpkin original and interesting. Happy All Saints Day to you!
Vladislav Esmanovich for the site
Halloween is a bright and spectacular holiday that came to us from the Anglo-Saxon countries and was enjoyed by both children and adults.
Every year on October 31, costume parades, carnivals, photo sessions, school lights and corporate Halloween-style parties are held in many European cities, in North and South America, Mexico, Japan and China, as well as in Russia.
The traditions of the celebration are distinguished by national color, rituals, mass character, decorations, but still the main attribute of the evening - a luminous pumpkin - remains the same recognizable symbol and decoration for all participants in the festival.
From known legend, which underlies the so-called "pumpkin" tradition.
According to her, an Irishman named Jack was rejected by higher powers and sent to wander in eternity, illuminating his path with a pumpkin lantern. Since then, the carved pumpkin symbolizes Jack's lamp and creates an unusual entourage of magic and mysticism.
There are many different ways of carving pumpkins, and now it is already a whole art, which “in American style” sounds like pumpkin art (pumpkin art), and the more common name is “carving”.
But the simplest and most uncomplicated pumpkin can be carved even by a child with the help of an adult mentor. Such crafts will perfectly decorate the holiday, and joint creativity will bring a lot of joy to its performers.
There is a wide variety of professional carving tools.
But in order to make a pumpkin lantern on your own, at home, you need to stock up:
You should pay attention to the choice of pumpkin: a complex pattern will look good on a large one, but for the first time it is more convenient to take a medium-sized pumpkin.
The color of the pumpkin can be anything: bright and pale orange, yellow, white.
The procedure for making a pumpkin for Halloween:
A pattern or picture is drawn on a pumpkin, and then carefully cut out with a thin kitchen or stationery knife. If you have a bit of talent as a draftsman, just draw while looking at examples. Otherwise, use templates.
It's better to carve the pumpkin in advance so that it has time to dry well, 12 hours will be enough.
Can be used as backlight small candles or flashlight. As an option - wrap New Year's garland of LEDs glass jar or just put a garland in a pumpkin.
The fantasy of carving masters is limitless. The traditional occupation has become a real art. Carving the most ordinary pumpkin is not very difficult, but a holiday is a holiday to surprise, delight and inspire!
The most elementary drawing on a pumpkin is a mask or a face, although there are many ways to keep originality here.
Having completed all the stages of preparing the future "Jack Lantern", you should think about how the mask will look like. She can be funny and funny or really inspire fear and horror with her monstrous grin.
At the end of the material, we offer you several ready-made templates for drawing on a pumpkin, which can be opened in a new browser tab and downloaded. The finished drawing must be printed on a printer, cuts are made along the edges so that the ornament fits well on an uneven surface and fixed with an adhesive tape on a pumpkin.
If you cut through the details in the template by making a stencil, then you can simply circle the desired contour with a felt-tip pen. Or you can leave the downloaded drawing as it is and pierce the contours with a sharp awl or other tool.
But it is much more interesting to connect your creative thinking and create a unique and inimitable “face”. Try scribbling on a piece of paper, or invite your child to get creative.
Often, when making masks, they use geometric patterns.
The nose and eyes of the face may be triangular in shape, and the grin may be in the shape of a zigzag. The complexity of this pattern lies in cutting corners.
In order not to spoil the work, you should carefully pierce the peel with a thin knife and then make small cuts.
No need to turn the knife to cut a corner, it is better to remove the tool from the pumpkin and pierce the peel in a new direction of movement.
To make a kinder and prettier pumpkin mask, you just need to get rid of sharp corners by adding smooth lines. The grin will easily become a smile if neat square “teeth” are cut out instead of triangular “fangs”.
The eyes can be made round using a small penknife or chisel (found in art stores) as a smoothing tool.
In addition to frightening humanoid masks, carved faces of animals and fairy-tale creatures, for example, the mystical cat Behemoth or Pokemon, look very interesting.
A Pokemon without its sharp ears will be unrecognizable, so you can try and cut two wonderful “ears” from another pumpkin. In order for the "locators" to hold well and not fall off during noisy festivities and covens of any "evil spirits", you need to make cuts in the pumpkin and fix the "ears" with toothpicks.
Not always only "Jack's lantern" is made from a pumpkin. A simply carved mask without illumination also looks colorful if the work is done subtly and skillfully.
Of course, such a pumpkin may well decorate a holiday in the daytime, but in the evening the “fiery heads” placed on a reflective glossy surface look much more impressive.
By choosing a bright orange pumpkin, you can make an excellent mask. The figures on the pumpkin look spectacular, differing from the main body of the pumpkin in color and even in shade. For example, in order to get large white teeth, you need to peel the top layer of the peel and then cut each tooth separately. It is very good to do this work with thin and sharp Thai knives.
The work performed by the following carving method does not require illumination at all. In this case, the pulp may not be extracted from the pumpkin. It is enough to work out the drawing with high quality using sharp tools, cutting out only the upper layers of the peel.
The desired effect is achieved due to different pressure force and depth of cuts.
Since the hat is not cut off, the pumpkin tail can imitate the ugly nose of an old sorcerer.
Of course, a pumpkin head standing alone will look boring, even if it is done very talentedly. The compositions of the lanterns look much more interesting.
Large and small pumpkins, placed at different heights, decorated with branches and autumn leaves, will decorate any interior or photo zone on All Saints' Day. An interesting idea is to put pumpkins on large shelves for flowers or fruits.
You can make compositions of several pumpkins according to the "one in one" type. In such works, a large pumpkin "villain head" is first carved, and then small faces are placed in the slits in the "villain's" jaws. You can fix parts of the composition with toothpicks or canapé sticks.
Halloween is the night before All Saints' Day, at which time the boundary between the earthly world and the world of higher powers is blurred. Accordingly, the spirit of the holiday is reflected in the work of masters of artistic carving of pumpkins.
Here are cute ghosts, either alone, like Carlson, or in cheerful companies.
And ugly, fearsome and terrifying, bats, owls, spiders and other creatures with mystical powers.
And where to go on this holiday without witches, their magic potion, black cats and fire-breathing dragons?
Compositions of pumpkins in the form of witches' houses look great. Windows, a door are cut out with a penknife, with the help of cut-out hotel elements, attics, verandas, and a door are completed. The light in the windows seems to remind all Halloween fans that many mysterious creatures do not sleep that night.
It should be pointed out that with the proper skill, complex magical scenes with witchcraft motifs, rich in details, can be carved on a pumpkin for Halloween. We will show some below.
The headless horseman... Scary! Terrible! But how beautiful this image looks, carved on the main symbol of Halloween!
One of the most popular and successful films about sorcerers, magicians, sorcerers and the school of wizards is Harry Potter. Why not use ideas from this movie to decorate pumpkins?
Traditionally, motifs or characters from comics or books are often used. Fabulous and mystical is the character of Spider-Man. In addition, in the photo below is the entrance to a certain fiery hell. Perhaps this is the Cave of Doom in Mordor from Tolkien's popular book.
Lovers of apple gadgets can make a pumpkin lantern with the emblem of their favorite iPhone for Halloween.
And the motives of death and the underworld are heard in Gothic works that will find their admirers.
Well, the very reminder of Halloween is celebrated on Jack lanterns in the form of images of pumpkins, inscriptions and other festive and symbolism.
Often, when creating original works from pumpkins, dyeing technology is used.
You can shade individual elements of the composition using ordinary food coloring or paints for Easter eggs.
And you can draw patterns with ordinary gouache or paint parts of the picture.
Attention! Careless strokes are easily removed with alcohol and cotton wool.
If the carving technology seems too complicated and overwhelming, and you really want to decorate the interior for the holiday, then the ideal option would be to create a paper pumpkin from papier-mâché.
In order to make a paper pumpkin with your own hands you will need:
It is necessary to tear the paper into small pieces, then inflate the balloon and paste over it with several layers of paper. The topmost layer should not be smeared with glue too much.
The finished paper ball is hung by a thread and left to dry for 10-12 hours. Once the paper gourd is dry, you can pierce the inside of the ball, make a small cut, and carefully remove it.
If there is time, then you can mold the base of a more complex shape from plasticine. Then you have a chance to make not just a flashlight, but a real work of art.
You can also draw a face on a paper pumpkin with a felt-tip pen or marker, then cut out the resulting drawing with a thin clerical knife or small nail scissors.
By placing an LED flashlight inside, you can achieve a great resemblance of paper props to a real Jack's lantern.
In no case should you put a candle inside such a lamp, the paper is flammable, and an unplanned “fire show” can happen. As mentioned above, it is better to use an LED garland.
A paper pumpkin is a great alternative to crafting from a real fruit.
It is almost weightless, easily attached to the ceiling. Party guests will be delighted with sweets or small surprises placed in a papier-mâché pumpkin.
Despite the fact that Halloween came to us from the United States, it is widely celebrated in our country. This gives a unique opportunity to show imagination, unleash your creative abilities and just have a great time with close friends.
Discover new talents in yourself and do not believe in prejudices!
Halloween is approaching, which means it's time to get ready for the holiday. We present you a master class on making the most popular accessory for All Saints Day - a pumpkin lantern.
In the West, pumpkins burning at night have a special meaning. It is believed that they symbolize the souls of the dead, who are forever stuck between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and therefore are doomed to eternal wandering and torment. The pumpkin is called Jack's head. According to legend, that was the name of a cunning drunk farmer. They say that he deceived the devil himself and forced Satan not to take his sinful soul to hell. That's just the way to paradise for Jack was ordered, so after his death he had to look for the way to the other world on his own. When Jack again asked for help from the devil, he mockingly only threw him a few coals from hellish hell. The farmer carved a lantern in the shape of a head from a gourd and put coals into it. So he wandered in pitch darkness, illuminating his way with this terrible head.
Hence the tradition of carving pumpkins on the eve of All Saints' Day. In Russia, this holiday is not as popular as in Western countries, and is more of an entertaining character, and pumpkin for us is just an ominous and interesting attribute for a party. We will tell you how to cut it correctly.
Tip: If you're always celebrating Halloween, look for a carving kit. You'll be surprised how easy Jack o'lantern carving will be. Don't get too big: the most modest three-piece set (knife, scraper and needle knife) is a great option. If you are not sure that you will often carve pumpkins, replace everything with the items that we wrote about above.
Let's talk about pumpkin first. The standard size is 20-30 cm. Of course, you can take a larger or smaller vegetable. Please note that the tail is dry. The fact is that pumpkins with a wet tail are already overripe and begin to deteriorate, which means they will last less. Please note that it is better to cut the lanterns on the eve of Halloween or 1-2 days before the party. The pumpkin will begin to rot already on the fifth day after cutting.
We wash and wipe the pumpkin, mark a place for cutting off the top. Carefully cut off the hat. Don't throw it away, we'll still need it. Let's scrape off the pulp from it, cut out two neat triangles so that the lid passes air when the lantern is lit. Now wash it and let it dry.
Now let's get to the pumpkin itself. Most of the pulp can be removed directly by hand. On the walls, you need to scrape everything with a spoon. Do not skip sections, this is important. If the pulp remains inside the vegetable, the lantern will deteriorate faster.
The hollow pumpkin must be washed from the inside and dried very well. To do this, we will leave her alone for two or three hours, and it is better in the open air. At this time, you can do stencils. Choose any drawing you like. Print it out or get ready to draw. When the pumpkin is dry, begin to draw the image with a marker, and cut holes with a thin knife.
Do not be afraid to make a mistake - the marker is perfectly cleaned from the pumpkin with a damp cloth
Hollow out thin and small parts along the contour with an awl and or a special needle for carving.
Clean the finished product from the pulp that formed during the cutting process, and dry it a little again. Then you can install a candle on the bottom of the lantern. Do not take thin and long candles, because they will soften the lid. It is better to take small candles in glass or metal candle holders and just put them inside.
This is what pumpkins look like in daylight.
So they glow at night (in this case, a candle in a glass candlestick).
If you have mastered the simplest faces, try carving a black cat, a bat, or something else interesting and sinister.
If you have small children in your home, take care of safety. Forget about using candles and for a Halloween party, use regular portable lanterns. With them, the pumpkin will also burn, but if someone decides to stick a finger into Jack's mouth, it will not turn into tears.
Make some glowing jack-o'-lanterns and throw a Halloween themed party!
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Halloween is coming soon (October 31st). So far, this holiday is not very popular in Russia and the CIS countries, but everyone probably knows about its symbol - a pumpkin lantern. It can be made with your own hands, and even a child under the supervision of adults can do it.
To begin with, we need - of course - a pumpkin, but not any, but ripe, without spots, scratches and other damage. Do not lift the pumpkin by the stalk - this way you can drop and mash the vegetable. To make it easier to clean the pumpkin, lay newspapers under it.
Carefully cut off the top of the pumpkin with the stalk to form a round cut. For this purpose, special plastic gourd carving knives can be used, which are safer.
Then, using a long-handled ladle, scoop out all the seeds and insides of the pumpkin. So that the vegetable does not fall on its side, and it is easier to rake out the seeds, also cut out the middle. By the way: the larger the pumpkin, the more convenient it is to clean it.
Now find a place on the pumpkin where you will cut out the face. Draw the facial features (eye sockets and grin) on a piece of paper. No need to make complex drawings, then it will be difficult to cut. Attach the outline of the "face" to the pumpkin and translate the lines with a sharp pin or nail.
Now it remains only to carefully walk the knife along the "dashed lines" of the pumpkin and remove the cut out areas. The lantern is ready!
Put it in a conspicuous place, do not forget to put a few burning candles inside, turn off the lights and admire your work. Such a pumpkin can greatly surprise, or even scare the guests, the main thing is not to be scared yourself. That's all!
And so that you can make a variety of “facial expressions” for your lanterns, we suggest you look at the photo for a wide variety of pumpkin lantern ideas for Halloween.
Halloween is a bright and cheerful holiday, and in addition to the outfit, its essential attribute is a pumpkin lantern.
How to make a pumpkin for Halloween? To do this, you will need a marker or a felt-tip pen, a tablespoon, a table knife (one larger than the other smaller), a small candle.
Take a marker and mark a circle (or polygon) around the "tail" of the pumpkin. Carefully cut off the future cover, make sure that the cut is cone-shaped, otherwise the hat will eventually fall into the pumpkin itself. Trim excess fibers and pulp from the inside of the lid.
Now let's move on to the pumpkin itself. Remove the insides with your hands, then carefully clean the walls of seeds and fibers with a tablespoon. Best of all, if the wall thickness of your pumpkin is 2-3 centimeters, then you can make a more complex pattern without fear that it will break.
Now the most interesting thing - we make the "face" of the pumpkin. First, think about what kind of face it will be, evil or kind, maybe you even want a pattern or ornament, it would be nice to first draw a sketch on paper. Next, draw a drawing on the pumpkin with a marker (or glue the sketch to its surface and make holes along the contour with a needle or awl) and start cutting. In order not to get confused in the process, paint over (shade) completely those places that should be cut out. Large parts are cut with a larger knife, small ones, respectively, with a smaller knife. If traces of the marker remain on the edges, wipe it off with a damp cloth.
It remains only to put a candle (or a garland) inside, light it and cover the pumpkin with a lid - your lantern is ready!
Now you know how to make a pumpkin for Halloween, and below we will present a selection of photos with pumpkins with different faces and patterns in order to have something to build on when creating your flashlight.
