Monday, October 21, 2013

A Pumpkin For Penny



Last Monday I posted about carving a pumpkin in the image of your pup. Before that post, I decided to make a pumpkin that looked like our Penny (a pitt-mix). When I reviewed the Better Homes and Garden's site, I found that they didn't have a design for the American Pitt Bull. So, I decided to design my own pumpkin and share the design pattern (below) with everyone. So here goes........

Step 1

Go get your pumpkin. Print out the drawing plan that is towards the end of this post and take it with you so you can get a pumpkin the correct side.

Step 2

Check you kitchen and tool chest and find tools that you think will work. I use everything from x-acto, grapefruit, and paring knifes. Other tools that I use are clay tools and anything sharp that will make the perforations on the pumpkin surface. I have seen the pumpkin carving kits at different stores. For the most part, they are plastic and look to be totally useless to me. 




Step 3

Cut out the design and tape it on the pumpkin. There are a few tools in this shot that I found were not useful. 



Step 4

With something sharp, punch through the printed lines. This makes perforations on the pumpkin. 




Step 5

When you have enough perforations that allow the design to be clear on the pumpkin, it is time to carve. Pay careful attention to the diagram and only cut all the way through on the solid outlines. 

Cut about half way through one the dashed lines. Really, how far you go is up to you.





Here is the pattern. It is a jpeg and you should be able to save and print it.



And here is our Penny looking all beautiful in her Halloween collar that I made for her. 




Happy Pumpkin Carving!

9 comments:

  1. So cute! I have never tried to do a fancy carving on a pumpkin and am afraid of what it might turn out to look like LOL This is a great tutorial though.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, It is only the second one that I have done. Printed patterns make it a lot easier.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Penny is gorgeous and the pumpkin is amazing Id love to do this but I dont think I have the skills. What tool do you use for scraping

    urban hounds

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The pumpkin walls are pretty thick. I would use my x-acto knife to cut half way down and cut those sections out. I then found the most useful tools I had were those silver clay wire tools. They were good for scraping and to smooth out the partial cut throughs. I got them at Michaels or Hobby Lobby for a clay project but they seem to work on the pumpkin just fine. Everything is just trial and error. Some things work and some things don't. The grapefruit tool (or the rasp end) was great to neaten out the side walls of a complete cut through and I think I even used it on the sides of the partials cuts too. I hope I am not rambling and have actually helped! on A Pumpkin For Penny

      Delete
  4. Very cool! Love this idea - think some photos (like a straight on head shot) might work better ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the suggestion. I will keep that in mind for next time. I am thinking about designing a new breed each year and have already been thinking about what to do.

      Delete
    2. But if you are referring to Penny's ruff around her neck, I need to do a tutorial on that one someday and then there will be step by step pictures.

      Delete
  5. I love it! :D That pumpkin came out looking awesome! BTW, love that Halloween collar! XD

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I am going to have to do a tutorial on that collar, I think.

      Delete

We always like hearing from people!