Carve a Better Pumpkin

In the weeks before Halloween, it’s often the pumpkins that garner attention instead of the costumes. Before the kids pull out the newspaper, spoons, and knives, take a few minutes to brush up on the process of crafting a perfectly affordable and delightfully spooktacular jack-o-lantern. Watch a video that shows you how to carve a pumpkin from beginning to end. Then, instead of investing in a costly pumpkin-carving kit, check out the free patterns provided by About.com’s Guide to Crafts. Choose one or let your kids’ imaginations run wild as they design their own. You can even throw a pumpkin decorating party!