Materials:
Pumpkin(s)
Large kitchen spoon
Sharp knife
Felt-tip marker
Toothpicks, wire, straw (optional)
Votive candle, spice-scented
1Cut a hole in the bottom of your pumpkin.
Supervise your kids for this step - younger children may need you to do this for them. This makes your Jack O'Lantern easier to light, and helps it sit more evenly and securely.
2Scoop out your pumpkin.
Use a large metal spoon to scoop out all of the seeds and pulp, then discard them.
3Scrape the inside clean.
Remove the tough fibers with a knife or kitchen scissors.
4Draw your design.
Decide which is your favorite side of the pumpkin. Outline a face with a felt-tip marker. Be creative - in addition to the traditional scary, sharp-toothed, grinning Jack O'Lantern face, you could make a cat-like scowl, or even a creepy one-eyed alien. If you're working with very young children, you may want to do the cutting for them after they've drawn their designs. As you cut out the pieces of your design, make sure to keep interior shapes such as pupils or teeth attached to the main area by thin strips. If you make a cat or an alien, you can use toothpicks, straw, or wire to create whiskers or antennae.
5Let it glow!
Place a spice-scented votive candle in a holder and place your Jack O'Lantern on top. Enjoy the spooky spectre you've created!