Halloween pumpkin carving

I have never tried my luck on pumpkin carving. I was always afraid that my pumpkin would not look quite right.
However, after reading the following, courtesy of Newspaper Metro, transforming a pumpkin into a Halloween creation may not be too difficult.
Transforming pumpkins into cleverly carved creations is a Halloween tradition. Each October, glowing pumpkins take up residence near doorsteps and porches, adding to the magical ambiance of the season.
Young and old spend time designing their themes and then taking knife to pumpkin to achieve the desired effects.
Many people carve jack-o’-lanterns, with some featuring just smiling or grimacing faces while others are far more artistic creations.
These tips can help anyone carve a pumpkin.
–Begin with a fresh pumpkin. Look for a pumpkin with a green stem. If the pumpkin has been sitting around for too long or has been handled too much, the stem can get brittle and/or fall off. A thick, fresh pumpkin is best for carving.
–Plan your ideas. Draw a plan for your pumpkin before you make your first cut. Then transfer that design to the pumpkin with pen or a thin marker. Pumpkin-carving kits come with designs that can be “traced” by poking small holes to create the outline of the design.
–Don’t cut all the way through. Many professional pumpkin artists do not actually cut clear through the flesh of the pumpkin. They carve and shave off layers of the outer rind until it becomes more translucent. The level of transparency can be adjusted based on how much skin is removed and as a way to add texture and shadowing. The more air that is allowed to penetrate the pumpkin, the faster it will start to degrade.
–Delay carving until the last minute. Wait until the day before Halloween to begin carving. Pumpkins are a perishable item, and they’ll begin to rot as soon as you begin carving. Spritzing them with water can help them stay fresh, but there’s no turning back the clock once the first cut is made.
–Cut a hole in the back. According to Brooklyn-based Maniac Pumpkin Carvers, cutting off the top of the pumpkin can affect its structural integrity and cause it to rot faster. Instead, cut a hole in the back of the pumpkin and use an electric light to illuminate it. LEDs are adviseable because they don’t generate much heat, which can cook and rot the pumpkin from the inside out.
With some creativity and a little know-how, anyone can create an eye-catching jack-o’-lantern.