Halloween is my favorite holiday. None of the pressure of gifts, entertaining, cooking, or enforced family fun time, but all of the fun of costumes and candy.
There’s decorating to be done, but it’s all optional. Also, my husband and kids are really into it, so they do most of the hard work.
I am the worst at making things pretty. Just born without the Pinterest gene. The Ball jars in my house remain sadly un-festooned with seasonal raffia bows. We own neither glitter nor Modge Podge. I put the “crap” in scrapbooking.
But even I can carve a pumpkin. Once someone scrapes out the guts for me, I am good to go.
This year Pumpkin Master set me up with some of their best stuff—templates, tools and accessories. Pumpkin Master is a brand we trust, having used their carving kits since the 90s.
We filmed a video of our family by-gosh fun. My kids are acting weird, so enjoy that.
The downside of carving your pumpkin too early is they get moldy well before Halloween. The upside is you can carve new ones to use all the template designs you like. We loved the surface carving designs and thought it would be fun to decoratively carve some apples. Treat the cut edges with lemon juice, core the center, stick in a taper candle, and you have a festive seasonal centerpiece for a party.
My husband suggested treating the surface cuts of an outdoor pumpkin with reflective or glow-in-the-dark paint. If you try it, let me know how it works.
I loved the LEDs for inside the carved pumpkins. We received one that flashed all white light, and a second that flashed in multiple colors. They were super fun and attention-getting, without any of the trouble of a candle. Don’t even use candles anymore. They are messy and dangerous when little trick-or treaters come to your door.
Here is a picture of two of our final pumpkins. The pumpkin on the left uses a combination of surface carving and punches along with the multicolor LED flasher. The one on the right is the classic Invisible Man template with the white LED flasher. We’ve used that design before and my kids always like it. 
Are you amazing at carving jack-o-lanterns? Pumpkin Masters is searching for carving talent as part of its annual Pumpkin Masters Carving Contest. Share a picture of your carving via Instagram or Twitter with #PumpkinMasters2013, submit via the Facebook app or send via email to: social@pumpkinmasters.com to enter for the chance to win one of six prizes, including $5,000 for the Best Pumpkin.
Good luck! This contest runs from October 1 – 31, 2013. For contest details and official rules: http://clvr.li/pumpkinmasters2013 (be sure to use this specific clvr.li URL when linking to the contest!).
Super quick giveaway on Not A Supermom for U.S. readers: Leave me a comment telling me your favorite pumpkin carving design and you’ll be entered to win a Pumpkin Masters kit like the one sent to me. One entry per household. Winner selected randomly at noon on Tuesday, October 22.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
What fun! I love this idea, especially since I am not the best pumpkin carver! Thanks for the info!
Kathy, it was stupid easy. We especially liked the surface carving kit. Unique look!
I prefer the old fashioned triangle eyes and nose and crooked grin. My kids prefer the more elaborate version and my daughter adores the pumpkin carving kits.
My favorite is the traditional jack o’lantern. Those rectangle teeth and triangle eyes remind me of my youth. 🙂
Last year my daughter drew an elaborate design with a tree, moon & cat which would have been awesome carved, had we had anything better than bulky kitchen knives to do it with (she left it as a drawing). Otherwise, I prefer cute pumpkin faces to scary ones 🙂
Awesome! We are terrible pumpkin carvers — but we rock at polishing off the Halloween candy before the trick or treaters get to us.
Just adored the video of your girls..very fun! You cracked me up with the sadly un-festooned comment. Happy Halloween