Jack O Lantern Stencils
Jack- O-Lanterns are curved from pumpkins. These jack o lantern made from hollowed pumpkins are displayed usually on Halloween.
Some of the tools required for transferring and cutting out paper stencil are as follows:
1. Saw Cutting: This tool is essential for carving fine, detailed areas, but can be used for carving the entire Jack-O-Lantern.
2. Poker Tool: This is used to transfer your designs onto the face of the pumpkin. Make use of ice pick or nail for this.
3. Grease Pencils: If you are going to carve your pumpkins freehand, using a grease pencil to pre-mark the shapes to be cut. They are available at most department stores or at arts and craft stores.
4. Patterns: Carving patterns, stencils or templates, you can make these on your computer, download form Internet or buy them during the Halloween season.
5. Gutting Spoons: different types and sizes of spoons for removing the seeds, pulp and skin from the inside of the pumpkin.
If you take good care of your carving tools they can last for very long time.
You can carve some truly beautiful and artistic pumpkins without a template, but if you want to create detailed carvings you will want to use a stencil. This can need extra tools to cut out the pattern.
Instructions on making your own pumpkin carving stencils are as follows:
A Carving Saw is essential for carving fine, detailed areas, and a transfer tool is used to transfer your designs onto the face of the pumpkin.
Carving Stencils can be drawn either freely with hand onto paper or use your computer to make your pattern.
* Initially prepare the pumpkin for the basic carving, i. e. cut out the top hole and gut the pumpkin out.
* Select the paper stencil you want to use and trim the excess paper from it with scissors. Leave 1/2 inch border for the tying purpose.
* Attach the stencil to the face of the pumpkin with adhesive tape. Crease the stencil to tape the corners of pumpkin.
* Use the transfer tool, and press the pointed tip into and through the design lines on the paper stencil.
* Before removing the stencil, check carefully that all the lines have been transferred. After the paper stencil is removed, you will see the outline of the stencils pattern marked on the face of the pumpkin.
* Use the carving saw, and push the tip of the saw-blade into a pattern hole and saw through the design lines and then cut them into smaller sections.
* Once you've removed all of the cut pieces, carefully trim the inside edges of the pumpkin and coat the edges with petroleum jelly.
* When you finish carving, it should be clearly visible. You can also add a candle to figure out the curved pumpkin.
There are many patterns using stencils for the Jack O lanterns. People started making their own Jack O Lanterns by carving the potato or the turnips. Thus carving a pumpkin is a tradition in many households during the Halloween season.