Arranging A pumpkin carving party...
Easy Invites...
Superb site by a fellow Carver & haunter based in Japan..
Mark, (who runs an English school) has a fabulous site with a series of totally free downloadable learning aids..
He brings Halloween to japan & has an amazing amount of energy to better his theme each & every year..
However I LOVE his Halloween party invites, incredibly intuitive, ..for me it needs to be!
Give it a go, these are the best way of inviting to a general party or carving party..
http://www.printwithmypic.com/halloween.php
http://www.printwithmypic.com/announcements/halloween.php
Mark, (who runs an English school) has a fabulous site with a series of totally free downloadable learning aids..
He brings Halloween to japan & has an amazing amount of energy to better his theme each & every year..
However I LOVE his Halloween party invites, incredibly intuitive, ..for me it needs to be!
Give it a go, these are the best way of inviting to a general party or carving party..
http://www.printwithmypic.com/halloween.php
http://www.printwithmypic.com/announcements/halloween.php
Setting up...
Pumpkin carving parties are superb fun to have several nights before Halloween.
I prefer to have a Halloween carving party with adults & another seperately for children, that way both can get to grips with their craft & parents can feel more confident helping a youngster when they are more familiar with a pumpkin themselves..
Make and send invitations
"Bring Your Own Pumpkin" (BYOP)
OR arrange a bulk buy with a proper pumpkin farm the week before
Supply carving tools or bring your own (supermarkets such as Tesco's & Morrisons have started doing cheapy sets which will do the job, however you may wish to hold onto your pro carving set & simply lend it as it's needed for more difficult cuts to participants..
Tip: Ask your guests to bring pumpkins already cleaned out and ready to carve, but it's up to you, it all depends on how much time you have planned, gutting volunteers & pre-chosen stencils!
You will need
Plenty of table space and chairs (carving can be an "elbows out" experience)
Lots of newspaper to lay down.
Kitchen roll!
Latex gloves are often handy for those with sensitive skin.
Bin Bags for pumpkin guts & goop (if not roasting the seeds).
Decorations and party treats..
Refreshments and snacks.
Background entertainment - music, horror movies, whatever suits your crowd!
Photograph the completed pumpkins seperately & altogether, try to get some "work in progress" shots
Tools! either in supermarket kit form (but preferably better) ..consider better tools as an investment for an ongoing halloween tradition! ..check out our tools page for a full description of carving saw-tooth types.
UPON ARRIVAL
Carving
Contest Voting
When holding your own Pumpkin party your own carve chance has gone, you'll be busy helping others,so ideally you will carve the night before & your own carves will be what others have to compete against (..or will at least pad out your Halloween theme decor in one fell swoop)
This is a chance to share your skill & encourage others in the accomplishment one feels when a good pumpkin results in a shared passion a bit of time & surprisingly little effort!
It will be fun! ..don't forget to take plenty of pictures & let us how it went!
Popcorn recipe.. (we use an air blown machine)
Julie's old fashioned Caramel & maple flavour sticky popcorn
Preparation time:5 minutesCooking time:15 minutesTotal time:20 minutes Serves: 12
Ingredients
I prefer to have a Halloween carving party with adults & another seperately for children, that way both can get to grips with their craft & parents can feel more confident helping a youngster when they are more familiar with a pumpkin themselves..
Make and send invitations
"Bring Your Own Pumpkin" (BYOP)
OR arrange a bulk buy with a proper pumpkin farm the week before
Supply carving tools or bring your own (supermarkets such as Tesco's & Morrisons have started doing cheapy sets which will do the job, however you may wish to hold onto your pro carving set & simply lend it as it's needed for more difficult cuts to participants..
Tip: Ask your guests to bring pumpkins already cleaned out and ready to carve, but it's up to you, it all depends on how much time you have planned, gutting volunteers & pre-chosen stencils!
You will need
Plenty of table space and chairs (carving can be an "elbows out" experience)
Lots of newspaper to lay down.
Kitchen roll!
Latex gloves are often handy for those with sensitive skin.
Bin Bags for pumpkin guts & goop (if not roasting the seeds).
Decorations and party treats..
Refreshments and snacks.
Background entertainment - music, horror movies, whatever suits your crowd!
Photograph the completed pumpkins seperately & altogether, try to get some "work in progress" shots
Tools! either in supermarket kit form (but preferably better) ..consider better tools as an investment for an ongoing halloween tradition! ..check out our tools page for a full description of carving saw-tooth types.
UPON ARRIVAL
- If providing pumpkins, place them by your front door so guests can choose a pumpkin to carve as they come to the party. Decorate your porch with autumn leaves to give it a home harvest look.
- Fill decorative paper bags with carving tools, pumpkin lights and other fun Halloween items.
- Make sure to provide delicious Halloween treats such as our caramel & maple flavour popcorn (see recipe below)
Carving
- Cover your work surface with newspapers or a vinyl tablecloth.
- Read the product carving instructions out loud so everyone knows how to use the tools properly. This is a good time to also discuss any carving contest rules.
- Let the pumpkin carving festivities begin!
- If using a candle to illuminate your pumpkin, you can create the smell of Halloween spice by sprinkling cinnamon, nutmeg, and pumpkin spice on the underside of the jack-o'-lantern's lid. Once lit, the pumpkin will create a wonderful pumpkin scent.
- We do recommend no lit flames, it's up to you! ..please take care lighting & displaying naked flames around children & flammable objects..
Contest Voting
- Vote for the select pumpkin carving categories such as best-carved pumpkin, scariest pumpkin, goofiest pumpkin, and more.
- Light up the pumpkins outside and take a group photo.
- Tip: Have kids judge the pumpkin carving masterpieces!
When holding your own Pumpkin party your own carve chance has gone, you'll be busy helping others,so ideally you will carve the night before & your own carves will be what others have to compete against (..or will at least pad out your Halloween theme decor in one fell swoop)
This is a chance to share your skill & encourage others in the accomplishment one feels when a good pumpkin results in a shared passion a bit of time & surprisingly little effort!
It will be fun! ..don't forget to take plenty of pictures & let us how it went!
Popcorn recipe.. (we use an air blown machine)
Julie's old fashioned Caramel & maple flavour sticky popcorn
Preparation time:5 minutesCooking time:15 minutesTotal time:20 minutes Serves: 12
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Vegetable oil
- 200g Wholesome Popcorn Maize
- 125g Butter, diced
- 150g Caster sugar
- 2 tbsp Clear honey
- Tate & Lyle maple flavour syrup (a good dollop)
- Heat the oil in a large pan and add the popcorn. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes, shaking the pan occasionally until the popping stops. Tip into a large bowl. (Cook the popcorn in 2 batches if necessary.)
- Quickly wipe the inside of the pan with kitchen paper then add the butter, sugar and honey. Cook gently, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Bring to the boil and bubble rapidly, without stirring, for 4-5 minutes, until caramel coloured.
- Add the popped corn, stirring until coated. Tip out onto two non-stick baking trays and leave to set and harden. Break up into pieces and pile into a large bowl or simple handmade cones.