Norway really hasn't got a Halloween tradition, and certainly not with carved pumpkins. The business owners decided around 20 years ago to import Halloween since nothing else is selling in October, so all of a sudden we had Halloween here too. The children loved it of course. To dress up and go trick-or-treating is fun, I can understand that. We didn't want to join, but we had children of the right age so we had to give in. That's when I decided I wanted a carved pumpkin outside. They are cheap, there's lots of food in it and roasted pumpkin seeds are yummy! And if you can't beat'em, join'em. My first couple of tries at carving pumpkins didn't look good at all, but I have worked at it and I feel the last years' pumpkins are quite nice: 2015: 2016: 2017: 2018: 2019: 2020: Please tell me what you think. This year I'm going to try and carve an owl. Wish me luck!
You started out great, and kept improving! I especially like the 2017 cat face carving. Please let us see the owl when it is carved. You are right about pumpkins being "meaty". I have about six cups of pumpkin puree in the freezer, just waiting to be part of a pumpkin pie, or five or six!
Thanks marlingardner, but these are nothing like my first ones with triangular uneven eyes and some square teeth that didn't deserve to be called teeth at all. I am fortunate enough to be called in to carve pumpkins for three adorable young children. They're my vet's children, but they just make it more fun. Doing crafts for holidays is better with children around.
I had to edit the thread! That cat face was a screenshot for me to use as a template when I carved the children's pumpkin. I don't have a photo of my cat face so I deleted it. I don't want to show anybody else's handiwork and not give them credit for it.
Jane—you must have thought that one was very futuristic in it. My favourite was the one of two flying bats. You really have a talent for carving punkins. They are all cool.
Thanks all for your kind words! I don't know about talent, but I've really tried to work with patience. I like making stuff and this is an opportunity to have fun. I like having fun too! Now, this year's pumpkin is carved and put outside the front door. I'm lighting a candle inside every evening until Monday next week. I just hope it won't collapse. The weather turned and now we have 12 deg C / 53 deg F all of a sudden. Hope you'll like it. At least the cookies and pumpkin seeds turned out great!
Thanks! I am very glad so many creative people have posted either templates or their carved pumpkins online. It wasn't hard to do at all, just took some time. I didn't really know what result to expect, lol. That's too kind. I was quite pleased with the result myself. I use a sharp pencil to draw the outlines, then I carve the contours with a sharp knife, usually an Olfa-knife of some sort. You know, the ones used for cutting wallpaper and such? Sometimes I fetch one of my trusty old sheath knifes. They're good for carving small patterns. I also plunder my husband's cooking knife drawer if need be. He's not too happy about that, but usually the roasted pumpkin seeds will set his mood right again.
