It’s October, and everyone knows what that means: Halloween! As soon as this month starts scary costumes and makeup start flooding stores, and all you can see everywhere are scary (at times too graphic) Halloween decorations.

So we decided why you should stay behind? There is no reason for you not to take part in the Halloween spirit. While we know that you may not want to invest a lot in Halloween decorations, there is no harm in making some on your own.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when we say, Halloween, or even fall? Pumpkins, right?

PICKING OUT THE RIGHT PUMPKIN

The first step for carving a pumpkin is picking out the right pumpkin in the first place. It is best to shop at a local produce shop, farm or a supermarket that may be offering such pumpkins for sale. Try not to buy those pumpkins that have been shipped from distant areas as they might have bruises on them, and your decorations may get spoiled in a short period of time, which is not something you want! It is best to use mature pumpkins, and the way to identify a mature pumpkin is by pressing your fingernail lightly into its skin: if the pumpkins skin is punctured, it is not yet mature enough. Before you start carving, remember to wash the pumpkin really well to get rid of any germs that might be on the skin as you don’t want them getting on your hands!

THE TOOLS YOU’LL NEED

Other than a large mature pumpkin, you’ll need a few more tools actually to carve the pumpkin properly. You’ll need a serrated knife (for bigger cuts) or a long-handled knife, a small ice cream scoop, a smaller knife for more delicate cuts, an apple corer (for making holes), tiny saws and an awl. Don’t worry if you don’t know what these tools are; you don’t necessarily need all of them, this is just a general list of tools needed for carving pumpkins. If you are doing this for the first time and don’t want to buy all these new blades, the bare minimum you need is:

• A long-handled knife
• An apple corer
• A small, sharp blade

NOTE: It is best if you don’t involve children in this process, especially if you are not using safe tools. As much as the kids might want to participate in this fun activity, it is best they are kept away!