Halloween is an exciting time of the year to really let your creativity go wild. One decoration that is a must have in every house hold, and that really makes this family-oriented holiday complete is to create jack-o’-lanterns!
Carving pumpkins is the traditional way to create your jack-o’-lantern; but, if you have young children that would like to create jack-o’-lanterns without supervision there are some alternative ways to do so and still have fun. We wouldn’t want anyone to be sent to the emergency room from a pumpkin carving related accident. So, to prevent this from happening, I have complied from awesome – yet safe carving tips and alternatives to keep all fingers safe!
Break Out The Brushes!
While carving a jack-o’-lantern is the traditional way, more and more people are turning to painting their pumpkins. This method is a safe and kid-friendly alternative to pumpkin carving. The easiest way I have found is to use stencils like the ones you would use when carving and trace out your design. Once the design is set, simply paint the image in black paint rather than cutting it out.
The possibilities are endless when it comes to choosing your design. This can include simple or scary faces, or more complicated images such as a silhouette of a black cat or even a skeleton. You can really get creative with these ideas and even use colors! For example, you could paint your entire pumpkin silver or gold, or just let the kids go wild and create a one-of-a-kind pumpkin masterpiece. There is no wrong answer when it comes to Halloween.
Jack-O’-Lantern Safety
If the idea of painting your jack-o’-lantern doesn’t tickle your fancy, there are a few steps you can take to prevent injury. Be sure to always have an adult supervising any children who will be carving, and purchase a special carving knife that is safe for children to use. It may be a smart idea if you do the carving yourself, and let the children scoop out all those pumpkin guts!
If you’re looking for the effect of a glowing light shining through on Halloween night, there are some good alternatives to candle light. A flashlight is one way to illuminate your jack-o’-lantern or even better a battery-operated tea light would do the trick! This prevents any accidents that may happen, and now, you won’t have to worry about relighting it throughout the night.
Halloween is a fun-filled holiday that allows for the whole family to get creative together. Keeping everyone safe while having fun will make this season most enjoyable for everyone!
