22nd October 2011

DIY Weekend: Mockingjay pumpkin carving template

I really, really wanted to make a Mockingjay pumpkin for halloween, so I created this template for myself. Then I thought - why not share it with my blog readers?

So here it is!

You can download it by clicking on the image or clicking here.

Here’s the basic idea: anything that is in the tan color region is something you want to cut out. Anything that is white, is the part of the pumpkin that will remain. However, since this is a bit more complicated than some of the other pumpkins I talked about earlier this week, I thought it might be useful to give you some details on how to successfully cut this out.

1. For starters, you may want to cut out all the tan pieces on the sheet of paper that you print out. The template should have connections in all the white corners. I didn’t leave a ton of leeway here, because depending on whether you’re a beginner or more advanced, you can make the call on how much extra pumpkin support you want to have in all your white regions. Remember, the white sections need to stay connected for this to work!

2. Once you’ve cut it out, tape it to your pumpkin and use a pencil or pen to essentially draw the pattern on the pumpkin itself.

3. Once you’ve emptied your pumpkin and are ready to start carving, I recommend using the sharp tip of your knife to make a slight slice in the pumpkin where you left the pen marks. This will help you to get a firm grasp on what you’re doing before you hack into the pumpkin.

4. Carefully carve your pumpkin.

5. There is one section that has an “etch” instruction. This is because that large portion is going to be very weak by the time you cut out all the other regions. To etch, use the smallest knife you have and carefully trace the path. Then, start in one corner and carefully lift the skin off the pumpkin. You should be able to slowly slice it away, leaving you with the inner part of the pumpkin, but no hole.

6. Place a candle inside, light it and enjoy!

Hope you love it! Happy Halloween!

You need:

The download-able template
Scissors
A pumpkin
Carving knife
Pen/pencil

Total cost of this project: The cost of your pumpkin.

Wrapping paper art

Vintage Penguin Book Art

Book lover’s lampshade