I Wonder How To...: Carve a Pumpkin for Halloween

Equipment-

A pumpkin.
A pumpkin carving kit OR a serrated bread knife, a serrated pumpkin carving knife, a jab saw and a spoon or scoop.
X-Acto knife.
A few candlesticks or candles or tea lights or flashlights or flickering LED lights.
A permanent marker or a dry-ease marker or a pencil and eraser.
A ruler.
Some newspapers or brown paper bags.
A bowl.
Vaseline/Petroleum Jelly.
Water.
(Ingredients for pumpkin seeds recipe is in the method).

Method-

Choose a pumpkin from your local supermarket, pumpkin patch, farmers' market, growers' market or pumpkin farm, etc.
Select a healthy, ripe pumpkin- look for a pumpkin that has a sturdy unbendable stem, a consistent orange colour, a firm but smooth surface, no interior or exterior bruises, scratches, cuts, nicks, bumps, lumps, etc. on it, make sure it is hollow by knocking on the exterior skin, i.e. choose it like you would choose a fresh melon. Make sure you choose the right size too, usually they can range in size and vary widely in shape and colour, etc.
Choose a style and method of carving-

Traditional jack-o'-lantern carving (traditional night time lantern).
Silhouette carving.
Pith (exterior skin) carving (traditional day time lantern).
Bas-Relief carving (traditional+Silhouette+Pith=Bas-Relief).

4. Set up an area with all your tools and your pumpkin, put the pumpkin on some newspaper or some brown paper bags and make sure the area is safe, spacious and comfortable.
5. Draw your chosen design on the pumpkin using your marker or pencil.
6. Skip steps 6, 8 and 9, if you have chosen to make a Pith carving with your pumpkin.

7. Draw a line around the pumpkin that is approximately 4 or 5 centimetres from the base of the stem (which is on top of the pumpkin), if your not sure use your ruler to measure and mark a few spots around the pumpkin and then connect the marked dots or lines to form the line.
8. Now use the serrated bread knife to cut through the line that has just been drawn in step 6, point the knife inward towards the centre when cutting.
9. Remove the lid and use the spoon, scoop or your hands to remove the pumpkin's stringy filling and seeds, make sure that it is all completely removed from the pumpkin so that no excess filling or seeds are left behind.
10. OPTIONAL-
Equipment-

Pumpkin seeds, a strainer/colander, an oven, some water, a tap, a large bowl, a mixing bowl, some paper towel, some salt, some olive oil, some baking paper, an oven tray/pan.

Method-

You can use the seeds to toast and eat them: Untangle the seeds from the filling, pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius,, put the seeds in a strainer/colander and wash under a tap of room temperature/luke warm water, (optional) soak the seeds in a large bowl of 2/3's of water and add lots of salt until the water is saturated in it and leave for 8 to 48 hours and then drain out the water and then air dry or paper towel dry the seeds, add the seeds to a mixing bowl, then add some salt to the mixing bowl, just enough salt to cover all the seeds not to much though, then add 1 tablespoon of olive oil or canola oil or melted butter to every cup of seeds that is used, don't add any extra olive oil, canola oil or melted butter because you don't want it to be too greasy, and you can also add seasoning, powdered seasoning or sauce to add extra flavour if you wish (seasoning, powdered seasoning or sauce is optional), line an oven tray/pan with baking paper, spread one layer of seeds out on one or more trays/pans if needed, put the tray('s)/pan('s) in the oven, shake and turn the seeds over roughly ever 10 to 15 minutes and cook them for 45 to 55 minutes.

11.Continuing onward, If the bottom of the pumpkin is uneven and the pumpkin does not sit up properly, then cut an even slice off the bottom of the pumpkin to give it some more stability.
12. Carve out your design and get rid of the left over pieces.
13. Use your Vaseline/petroleum jelly to cover the surface of the newly carved pieces.

14. Chose either some (or just one, if you like) candlesticks, candles, tea lights or flickering LED lights to put inside the pumpkin, make sure you put it in a spot inside the pumpkin that is flat, safe and stable and also make sure it is relatively near or in the middle of the pumpkin, if need be cut a small hole in the lid or remove the lid for ventilation, if the candle is not staying lit but if it is windy keep the lid on and make sure the pumpkin is sheltered from the wind because it may be the wind that is putting the candle out.

15. Pick a display spot, if you are using a candle inside your newly made jack-o'-lantern then place it away from flammable items and people too, if you are putting a pumpkin on something that is made of wood then put a plate or bowl under it to catch the wax from the candle if it overflows or leaks.
Tips-

If you accidentally cut out to much of the pumpkin or you watch to attach some other features to it using the left over pieces, just use some pins or toothpicks- prepare to replace these added pieces because they will shrivel, wilt and grow older faster than the rest of the jack-o'-lantern.
If you find that the entire pumpkin is shrivelling and deflating, then soak the pumpkin in a large tub or sink of water and make sure it is completely immersed in the water and then let it soak for a few hours and it should go almost completely back to normal.
Leave the pumpkin in cold/cool, dry, temperature stable location, were the jack-o'-lantern is not exposed to the harsher outside elements, i.e. rain, wind, etc.
Get Creative!- You can use the excess stringy filling or seeds, or the leftover pumpkin pieces, or craft pieces- i.e. Spanish moss, yarn, corn silk, craft glue, feathers, artificial flower stems, pipe cleaners, plastic autumn leaves, props, or even some 'Mr. Potato Head' parts, etc.
Another idea is, if using a candle stick or candle, you can sprinkle some pumpkin spices around the inside of the pumpkins lid, so that it gives off a nice scent.
You can also try carving a scared face on the front of the jack-o'-lantern and then a small design on the back of the jack-o'-lantern that is directly opposite the front, when lit it should appear like a shadow of a face, a scene or a shape over the bigger front design on the jack-o'-lantern.
You could also try making a creative wrap-around design that covers the entire surface of the pumpkin.
Try to never use a straight-edge knife when cutting a pumpkin, especially when cutting large parts of the pumpkins design, lid or base, etc. because it may take a lot longer and it may not turn out as good.
Many websites and books have designs that you can follow if you are unsure or what you want to create or if you need some ideas or a pattern to trace or follow, etc.
If the pumpkin appears to be ageing, getting mouldy, rotting, shrivelling, etc. try applying some Vaseline/petroleum jelly to it straight after it has been cut and carved, to prevent this ageing process. Only apply it to the exposed areas that have been cut and carved, do not apply it to the inside of the jack-o'-lantern as it may become a fire hazard and become unsafe if you are using candlesticks, candles or the jack-o'-lantern is placed near something flammable or heat producing, etc.
If you find that the jack-o'-lantern is going mouldy or starting to rot and corrode, you could try any of these methods-