Of all the pumpkins I have carved, this has been the most fun to create and to share.  A great tradition or party activity is to have a pumpkin carving night.  This is a night where everyone is given a pumpkin to carve and then they go on display for Halloween.  This pumpkin with the surrounding accessories would also be fun for a group or family to build.

pumpkin415 Materials needed:

  •  
    • Large pumpkin with at least one wide, flat side
    • Sharp knife
    • Ice cream scoop
    • Empty cardboard tube from paper towels
    • 1 can to fit inside pumpkin
    • Broccoli
    • Leaf lettuce
    • Square piece of Styrofoam for backdrop
    • Round toothpicks
    • Top of a fresh pineapple
    • Potatoes, carrots, and gumdrops (car)
    • Round suckers, facial tissues, and ribbon or licorice (ghosts)
    • Dry ice

 

Position the pumpkin with the flat side as the front of the house.  Cut the top off the pumpkin at an angle so that the lid will fit securely.  Clean out the seeds and membranes with an ice cream scoop.

Near the middle and slightly up from the bottom, carefully cut out a rectangle for the door.  Cut a square on each side of the door to make two windows.  Remove the door and each window in the whole pieces. 

Trim the window and door pieces to about ½” thick by carefully shave the inside.  Cut and remove individual windowpanes.  Replace the windows in the pumpkin, allowing them to jut out ever so slightly.  Position the door on the pumpkin as though it were just being opened. 

Place the pumpkin on the table where it will reside.  Use broccoli and lettuce leaves for shrubbery.  Also pin the leaves of lettuce on the Styrofoam.  To make the tree, stick several toothpicks into the bottom of the pineapple top, to stabilize it in the top of the paper towel roll.  Wedge the tree securely between the pumpkins.

ghosts415

 

Make a car from the potato, using carrot slices for wheels and gumdrops for headlights.  Make ghosts by tying facial tissue over round suckers with ribbon or black string licorice.

When you want a spookier effect fill the can that goes inside the pumpkin half full with very hot water.  Then with gloves on (adults only) take chunks of dry ice and place into the hot water.  Steam will begin to pour out of the door.  Caution:  Children should never be allowed to handle dry ice.

 

 

village415

Holiday Special:  It has been 36 years since Dian started her media career with an appearance on the NBC Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Right now she has a special on her five books (sold over million copies) and one video for the blockbuster price of $36.00 (regular price is $95.00).  Go to www.dianthomas.com to take advantage of this limited offer.

Dian has just finished a new book entitled Tipping the Scales in Your Favor, which right now is only available on Dian’s website.  View Dian’s 125-pound-loss journey on a new video by BYU and get her new book.