Have you started carving pumpkins yet? (Donāt worry, neither has The New Tropic. š)
Itās getting scarily closer to Halloween, and weāve got a few Miami-themed jack-oā-lantern patterns waiting for you down below ā we’re especially excited about the one depicting Miami music legend and Bermuda Triangle Family figurehead Otto Von Schirach.šš»š
If you make one of these creations (or your own Miami-themed pumpkin), we want to see it! Tag us on Instagram or Twitter at @thenewtropic or email us so we can share your creations.
Before you start carving, here are a few tips and tricks courtesy of our pals at our sister publication in Pittsburgh, The Incline:
1. Pick the best in the patch. To be clear, this doesn’t necessarily require a super-sized specimen. Look for a flat side to facilitate ease of carving.Ā Hereās a list of pumpkin patches in and around South Florida.
2. Scoop the goop. While youāre cleaning out the inside of the pumpkin, give an extra scrape to the wall youāll be carving. Be careful not to scoop too deep, lest you risk breaking the pumpkin.
3. Make a design plan. As the old adage states, āmeasure twice, cut once,ā and it applies to jack-oā-lantern design, too. For the easier patterns, print them out, tape them onto the pumpkin and then use something sharp to poke holes through the paper. When youāre done, youāll have a good roadmap for slicing your design. For the harder ones, consider cutting the design out with an X-Acto knife, taping the white sections to the pumpkin, then tracing onto the pumpkin with a marker. It’s very important to note that these illustrations are designed to cut out the black space; imagine those areas aglow with candlelight.
4. Find the right tools. The carving kits you can find at the grocery store actually work pretty well. A paring knife will get some broader patterns done, while the thin little saws maneuver around tight corners. And be careful, obviously.
5. Do the hard part first. Itās good life advice and great jack-oā-lantern advice. Begin with the smallest, most intricate areas while you still have a lot of pumpkin to work with. Itās tough to cut out a detailed section if your canvas is already flimsy.
And hereās the biggest pro-tip:Ā If carving a pumpkin sounds exhausting (it always infuriates me), then try just drawing and painting on the pumpkin. It still makes for a fun activity at home with friends or family.
Alright, now get out your carving tools, scoop the guts and goop, and make your jack-oā-lantern glow.
To use these patterns, simply right-click on the image, select āsave as,ā and file it on your computer. Resize the image if you need to, print it out, and youāre good to go. Remember that these are designed for you to cut out the black parts. Happy hauntings!