How to carve a pumpkin

Pumpkin variations:

• Carve lanterns from different types and sizes of squash – if you’re really keen, you can make a whole pumpkin family
• For a quick one-off table decoration, carve a face in a large pepper and use a small nightlight candle
• For a completely new look, turn the pumpkin on its side and carve the face on top – the stem will look like a big, grotesque nose
• Watermelons also make great lanterns
• If you can’t be bothered to do the carving, hollow out the pumpkin and use it as a Halloween flowerpot

• If your pumpkin isn’t standing up straight, cut a horizontal slice from the base
• For a truly spooky effect, suspend your pumpkin from the ceiling using a plant hanger; two or three of these down a hallway will really get your kids into the spirit of Halloween
• If you keep your pumpkin outside, smear on some Tabasco sauce to keep the local pets and birds away
• Add some tough herbs such as rosemary or thyme to the cavity for an aromatic effect, or use a scented candle
• Varnishing your pumpkin will make it last much longer

Finally, keep safe: hands and knives can become slippery from the pumpkin pulp, and you need to take the usual safety precautions with naked flames, especially around children.More: Find out how to be a domestic witch.Enchant your guests with a Halloween supper or Halloween party.