Halloween is just a few weeks away. Time make your pumpkin a Jack-o-Lantern. Here are some pumpkin carving tips: Be sure your pumpkin has a thick green stem. The greener the stem, the fresher the pumpkin. The thicker the stem, the thinker the pumpkin and the better for carving. Plan your design. If you’re an artist, freehand may work for you. The rest of us work better with a plan. Use a pen to draw you design before you get out you blade. Think outside the carving tool kit. The more complicated your design, the more creative your tools. Think outside the kit. Try clay sculpting ribbons and tools, Exacto knives, and zesters and be sure they’re sharp. Empty the inside. Take the time to thoroughly scrape the inside of your pumpkin. Scraps and bits of pumpkin meat can mold and ruin your entire project. Keep your pumpkin moist. Most carved pumpkins can last up to two weeks but as soon as you cut into them, they begin to dry out. After you carve ... read more