Martha-O-Lanterns

I think I need to have a pumpkin carving party!
How cool are these Jack-O-Lanterns. They are all from MarthaStewart.com (How is it possible that everything she does is spectacular? Who creates such perfection?! I always think if I were to do the same thing, it just wouldn't be as cool...It has to be the photography...)...

"Black Magic Decorations"

Tools and Materials
Pumpkins
Miniature carving saw
Plaster scraper
Masking tape
Black floral spray
Battery-powered light
Needle tool or awl
Waxed paper Straight pins

Carved Pumpkins How-To
1. Make a 4-inch round hole in the bottom of your pumpkin with a carving saw; scrape out flesh.

2. Place pumpkin on newspaper in a well-ventilated area. Wrap masking tape around stem, and coat pumpkin with black floral spray. Let dry for 30 minutes; remove tape.

3. Print desired template enlarged or reduced to fit your pumpkin, and cut outside the perimeter. Tape to pumpkin.

4. Use needle tool to outline the shape with close-set holes. Cut out design with saw. (If necessary, touch up pumpkin with floral spray.)

5. Place battery-powered light inside. For a muted glow, affix a sheet of waxed paper behind the cutout with straight pins before adding the light source.

"Cookie Cutter Pumpkins"

1. Cut a hole in the pumpkin's base, and hollow the pumpkin out. Hammer small cookie or canape cutters into the skin to create a pattern of deep outlines. Remove cutters with pliers; finish holes with serrated knife.

2. Line your walkway or front porch with Christmas lights, plugged into an outside socket or heavy-duty extension cord, and position a pumpkin over each lightbulb.

3. When you're finished carving, conceal the utility cord with pine needles or leaves.

Pumpkin Owls

The owls' extra-large eyes are made from halved miniature pumpkins and gourds. Their feet and ears are curved pieces of pumpkin.

Pumpkin Owls How-To

These instructions can be adapted to create the facial details of other animals.

1. Cut a large hole out of the top of a pumpkin, scoop out insides, and keep top to plug hole
later; cut a 1- to 1 1/4-inch hole in the
back for ventilation. Make eye holes: First
mark with a pen, then drill (with a 5/8-inch bit) or cut with a large hole cutter. Next, in the tops of two mini pumpkins, cut holes slightly larger than eye holes; scoop out insides. Drill a small hole in the bottom of each mini pumpkin. From inside larger pumpkin, push four lights through each eye hole, securing the bottom of the bundle with a rubber band to keep the bulbs from touching one another. Attach
mini pumpkins over lights using toothpicks. Wrap more lights around a glass, securing wires with tape, and place inside body.

2. Add "feathers": Use a wood gouge or linoleum cutter to make half circlesin the skin.

3. Cut ear, nose, and feet shapes from other pumpkins with a serrated knife; attach with toothpicks.