Pumpkin carving is a fall activity that is fun for the whole family. Great jack-o-lantern designs can range from simple to quite elaborate, and simple pumpkin carving kits (available at grocery, craft and discount stores) make carving a happy, and safe, experience. These tips from Sears Imported Autos will prepare you for a great pumpkin carving experience

Picking and Prepping Pumpkins

A great jack-o-lantern starts with a great pumpkin. While at the pumpkin patch, look for pumpkins that are free of bruises and cracks, and set your pumpkin candidates on a flat surface to make sure they sit evenly. Think about your decorating plans and make sure there is a nice smooth area for your design.

Whether carving your own design or using a more advanced pumpkin template, some simple preparation steps will start you in the right direction:

1. Clean your pumpkin to wash off clumps of dirt or debris.

2. Have an adult carve the top lid with a sharp knife. The lid can be a circle or have jagged edges, but make sure it is cut at an angle with the inside of the pumpkin narrower than the top edge to keep the lid from falling inside.

3. Scoop out the seeds and pumpkin mash with a large spoon and scrape the inside edges to make sure they are clean and smooth.

Creating Your Pumpkin Design

For simple designs, you can draw on your pumpkin with a water-based marker. These lines will wash right off when you are through carving.

For more complicated designs, transfer an image to your pumpkin using the following steps:

1. Draw your design on a sheet of paper, print a design from your computer, or use a pre-printed template from a pumpkin carving kit.

2. Tape the design onto your pumpkin in the place where you want the design.

3. Use a transfer tool (a pointed metal tool that comes in a pumpkin carving kit) to poke holes in the lines of your design. Make the holes about 1/8 of an inch apart. Poke through the paper and the outer skin of the pumpkin, but not all the way through the pumpkin. Remove the paper when finished.

Carving Your Pumpkin

Once your design is drawn or transferred to the pumpkin, you can cut along the lines with special kid-friendly pumpkin saws, which are safer than regular kitchen knives. Continue with the steps below to finish your jack-o-lantern:

1. Cut along the lines, keeping the pumpkin saw partially inside the pumpkin. Cut away from yourself with a sawing motion.

2. Press the cut pieces out of the pumpkin. Pieces that are accidentally broken off can be reattached with toothpicks. Poke a toothpick halfway into the pumpkin and slide the cut piece onto the other end.

3. To make your pumpkin last longer, rub all of the cut areas with petroleum jelly and cover it with a damp towel when not on display.

4. Add a candle inside your pumpkin. Be sure that there is plenty of room between the candle and the pumpkin lid and that there is enough ventilation through the holes in your design. You can also buy a special flickering pumpkin light (battery operated) to use instead of a candle.

By using your imagination and following these simple steps, you can have the best jack-o-lanterns on the block!