Five Tips for Perfect Pumpkin Carving

Oct. 31 -- There's something festive, and a little bit creepy, about the carved pumpkins that we prop up on porches and tables every Halloween.

But without some basic carving skills, your jack-o'-lantern may end up looking just plain scary, in a not-so-fun way.

Gay Burke, the president and CEO of Pumpkin Masters (www.pumpkinmasters.com), has fine-tuned the art of pumpkin carving. She appeared on Good Morning America with some fabulously carved pumpkins, and five simple tips on how to carve your own pumpkin at home.

1. Pick out a smooth, evenly colored pumpkin with a flat bottom. If you can't find one with a flat bottom you can take a small bowl (like you would use for cereal), place the pumpkin on top, draw an outline with a marker and cut the bottom portion off, thus giving you a flat-bottom pumpkin Note: the darker the color of the pumpkin the harder it is to carve, but the longer it lasts once you carve it

2. Carve a vent hole at the top if you are placing the pumpkin over a candle. For a clean top to the pumpkin (leaving the stem), cut a hole from the bottom and clean out the pumpkin. If you want to use a candle, this method will prevent you from burning your hand as you light the candle and then place the pumpkin over it.

3. Scrape away pumpkin wall until the area you are carving is 1 inch. Scrape away pumpkin wall until area you are carving is 1 inch thick. Scoop out the seeds (they can be saved for eating later) and begin to scrape the walls of the area that you are going to carve. It is easier to carve when the walls are thinner. Be careful to not make them too thick or your design will not hold up.

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4. When carving, hold your pumpkin saw or a sharp knife like a pencil and move it in an up and down motion, like a sewing machine.

5. Use a safe lighting method for the inside of your pumpkin. Using tea lights are a great idea because they do not spill over. If you are using a pillar candle, be sure to put it in a holder so it does not tip over. You can also try using a flashlight or a battery-operated light on the inside of your pumpkin. Note: there is no approved or truly safe lighting method, so whatever you do, be careful and supervise.