Holiday Tech Tip: 6 Cool Pumpkin-Carving Websites

Halloween is just around the corner and folks are shopping for their pumpkins. Why settle for the same old carved face this year? I’ve found some great places on the Web that can help turn your Jack-0-Lantern into a spooky work of art.

Before you start carving that pumpkin, check out Extreme Pumpkins, a website that has photos on some pretty amazing designs. These folks take their pumpkin carving very seriously. They run an annual contest and there are photos of last year’s winners that are bound to give you some creative ideas. Plus there are videos by master carver Tom Nardone and step-by-step tips on carving it yourself.

The Pumpkin Masters website is another excellent online resource for how-to videos, pattern ideas and downloadable templates that you can print out and place on your pumpkin. These are really elaborate patterns. But if you follow their trace and cut instructions, even a kid can produce a pumpkin that will put the neighbors to shame.

Other sites worth checking out are:

• Pumpkin Carving 101: http://www.pumpkin-carving.com/
• Pumpkin Pile has a bunch of great patterns and instructions: http://www.pumpkinpile.com/
• Martha Stewart’s website has a ton of great tips and patterns: http://www.marthastewart.com/275573/pumpkin-carving-and-decorating-ideas/@center/1006802/halloween-pumpkins
• Stoneykins says it’s the place where “pumpkins come to life.” The site has tutorials and more than 10,000 pumpkin patterns. It even has a countdown clock to Halloween: http://stoneykins.com/