Climbify Your Pumpkin

Don't have a lame pumpkin this year. Thrillseekers Anonymous is here to be the anti-lame.

So, you got invited to a pumpkin carving party masterminded by your friend's girlfriend. If you are like me, you probably think carving pumpkins is somewhat lame and a waste of time. Not wanting to be a party pooper and striving for originality, you show up with pumpkin in hand and up your creativity score ten-fold – you carve a Thrillseekers Anonymous Pumpkin.

How do I carve this awesome pumpkin (Step-By-Step Guide)?

1. Preparation
   Take a wet towel and wipe that dirty pumpkin down
2. Draw and Cut Lid
   Cut a six-sided lid (hexagon if you will), big enough so you can reach in and clean out all the pumpkin goop. Angle a saw or knife toward the center of the pumpkin to create a ledge that supports the lid. I like removing the bottom of the pumpkin instead; thisis a slick way of allowing the pumpkin to sit up straight and makes removing the seeds less tedious.
3. Clean and Scrape
   Using a spoon or scoop, clean out the seeds and strings. Where you plan to carve, scrape the pumpkin wall until it's about one inch thick.
4. Print Pattern
   Select a printer friendly stencil size:  Large │ Medium  │  Small
5. Attach Pattern
   Tape the pattern to your pumpkin. The pattern may need to be slightly folded to fit on a rounded pumpkin. Fold the pattern so that the pattern lines match up. If the pattern is too large or too small, you can use a copier to reduce or enlarge.
6. Transfer Design
   Using a pushpin, or a poker tool (standard issue in a pumpkin carving toolkit), make pinpoint marks 1/16″ to 1/8″ apart along the design lines. Check to see you have transferred the design completely, then take the pattern off the pumpkin.
7. Saw Design
   Using the carving saws saw dot-to-dot using a gentle up and down motion. Be gentle, the saws can break if you try manhandling them.
8. Light Er Up
   Place the candle in the bottom of the pumpkin. If the candle does not stand on its own, place it on a small, non-flammable plate or bore a small hole in the bottom of the pumpkin to hold the candle.
9. Smile and Snap a Pic
   Have your friend's cheeseball girlfriend take a photo of your ear to ear smile, showing off your sweet Thrillseekers Anonymous pumpkin. Send us the photo and we will include it on our website. Now you not only have a rad pumpkin, but you are an insta-internet sensation.