Can you believe that Halloween is just over a week away?! It’s definitely started to feel more like fall weather here in Iowa the past few weeks and pumpkin patches around the state have been super busy on the weekends. Hopefully you’ve gotten your pumpkins picked already for this fun how-to on carving your love for all things Iowa wine in this year’s pumpkin! Let’s get started!

SUPPLIES:

• Printed pumpkin stencils

• Masking tape

• Pumpkin carving kit/tools. They’re available at most stores, are less than $10 and work way better and are MUCH safer than using kitchen knives. Trust us on this one!

• Newspaper or a disposable plastic tablecloth

• Battery operated tealight candle

FREE Pumpkin Printable Stencils

Click on the image to download a pdf to print out onto 8.5 x 11 copy paper.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. First things first - select your design from our free printable wine templates, above, and print out on standard 8.5 x 11 copy paper.

2. Lay out sheets of newspaper or a plastic tablecloth out onto your surface, whether it’s the front porch or kitchen table.

3. Wipe down the outside of the pumpkin, removing any visible dirt.

4. Cut out a small opening at the base of your pumpkin, about 6” in diameter (or larger, if you have big hands!), and flatten the inside of the section so that you can place a candle on it evenly later. Using the scooper tool (or a large kitchen spoon) and your hands, remove the “guts” of the pumpkin, reserving the seeds for roasting, if desired.

5. Once your pumpkin has been prepped, now’s the time to get cutting!

6. Using the tape, center your design onto the flattest side of the pumpkin and tape securely in place.

7. Once you have the stencil in place, begin to trace the outline of the pattern (the black part of the stencil) with the little wheel pokey tool thing, making sure you’re pressing hard enough to puncture the pumpkin surface.

8. Once you’ve outlined the entire area, remove the paper stencil and tape to reveal the outline of your design.

9. Using the small and large carving knives, carefully cut out the design until you are satisfied with it.

10. Place a battery operated tealight candle onto the round bottom pumpkin section, place the pumpkin over top and enjoy!

11. Share your pumpkin photos with us here and we may feature them on our Facebook page!