Susan's Arts and Crafts -- This and That

A piece of American culture, for those who have never participated before. You will need —  your pumpkin (I bought one for $6, but prices vary) – larger pumpkins are easier to carve. Mine is about 12 inches or 30 cm diameter. (A little bigger is a lot heavier.) —  old newspaper to work on —   a kitchen knife with a long sturdy blade to cut the lid, and a large strong spoon to scoop the seeds and pulp from inside and to thin the walls (1 inch or 2.5cm is ideal). Hold the spoon by its bowl to get better control while scooping, and avoid bending the handle! —  a serrated pumpkin saw for cutting through the flesh and skin. You can find them at at CVS, Target, or a grocery store (individually or as part of a set) for approximately 2-5$. The alternative is a thin serrated knife or a steak knife, or maybe a drywall jab saw from a hardware store (more expensive). The serrated saw or knife is the most important thing. The scoop from a set is als...