Special Tips for Artificial Pumpkins

Watch out Mother Nature! Even from just a few feet away, you may find it difficult to tell a fake pumpkin from the real McCoy. Artificial pumpkins offer several advantages over their natural cousins. They are lightweight and don't require hollowing out. Also, they are much easier to carve than a real pumpkin. That's important if you are fond of complex designs with lots of cutouts.

Of course, the biggest advantage of artificial pumpkins is that you can save your creations from year to year. Follow these tips to ensure a long life for your works of art:

• Buy a tool set designed specifically for an artificial pumpkin. These inexpensive (less than $10) kits will produce better results than those designed for tougher natural pumpkins.
• Never -- ever! -- use a candle in an artificial pumpkin. Always use a battery powered light source.
• Avoid windy locations. Because they are so light, artificial pumpkins can be blown over by a stiff wind. If you plan to display them outdoors, consider anchoring them to a solid surface with double-sided tape or tacky putty.
• Store your creations properly. For long life, artificial pumpkins should be wrapped to keep dust off and stored at normal room temperature; avoid high heat locations like uninsulated attic spaces.

For extra tips and photos of some of the steps described in our guide, view our pumpkin carving slideshow.

More Pumpkin Fun

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• More Pumpkin Carving
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