Remember when we went to the Mayfield Corn Maze? Well, I picked up a good size pumpkin there and it’s been sitting there until well…now. Thelma, Louise and I  finally decided that we would carve the pumpkin. A bit last minute but better than never.

“Kiss my baby stomach!”

I’ve carved a pumpkin maybe one time before this and it was one of those basic, typical ones with the triangle eyes and square teeth. It was so long ago I don’t even remember the process or how it turned out. I love challenges and thought we could try something a little more advanced than that. I say “we” like it would be me and the girls but I know full well that the girls will probably not be able to assist with the carving since it involves knives.

I decide to go online to see if I can find a pattern that the girls like. Thelma wants a scary one she says. Louise says she wants a ghost. But when I scroll down this one site (Click HERE for the site), the girls both agree in excitement what it is they want.

SPONGE BOB!!!

Oh happy happy joy joy. I’m like,  are you sure you don’t want a bat or a cat or something? Sponge Bob looks kinda hard. Sure? You sure?

NO! They are adamant, it MUST be Sponge Bob.

So, I print out the stencil and fear that I have made it more challenging than I am capable since this is only my second carving!!

THE TOOLS

Here are the tools that I have equiped myself with to  assist me with this uber-challenging task.

LARGE KNIFE: I figure I could use this to cut off the top of the pumpkin for a lid.

SKINNY KNIFE: This knife is great because it’s easy to  maneuver.

POINTY FILLET KNIFE: This knife I got suckered into buying at the Sam’s Club many years ago. The FOREVER Sharp knife. It’s actually pretty sharp and I still have not sharpened it.

ORANGE THING: This is an art tool that I might possibly have taken home and forgotten about. It’s a linoleum carver for linoleum prints. Sorry Mrs. Anderson! It has different size heads that can be used and I think is PERFECT for those tough smaller areas. Art class was the BEST!!

FIRST STEP: CUT OFF THE LID

I start with my BIG KNIFE to cut the lid. This was a mistake because since it’s so big, it doesn’t move easily to make a curve shape. You see how it goes lower in some areas? I switch to the SMALL KNIFE and try the best I can to make it even.

SECOND: CUT OUT THE STENCIL

So, this probably should have been the first step but oh well. This is the order of my madness. Cutting out the dang stencil is a job on its own. I mean, look at it! Look at those crevices and holes…you think you could cut that out with scissors? Sponge Bob, I am not happy with you!!

I was hoping to find my Exacto knife but no such luck. I do the best I can and cut out the large areas and decide that I can free-hand the rest. I am an AH-TIST remember? Luckily, there are instructions on the printout that tell me which parts to cut out. Whew! I was confused there for a minute. Look how I botch up the tie. Too skinny to cut out.

THIRD: TRACE THE STENCIL ONTO THE PUMPKIN

Trace the parts that were cut out onto the pumpkin as these are the parts you will cut out!

I trace it with a pencil but you can hardly see it, so I decide on a black dry erase marker. This works well because after you’re done, if there are still black markings left, you can wash it off. I let Thelma trace it.

FOURTH: GUT THE PUMPKIN

This is the FUN part for the kids! Use whatever large spoon you have that is metal and somewhat sharp to scoop out the insides of this pumpkin.

No one wants to do the lid so I do it. What do you think? You see the face with extra large nostrils? A mom’s got to have her fun too!

Gutting complete. I want to save the seeds so that I can roast them later. Dick LOVES pumpkin seeds.

FIFTH: CARVE OUT THE STENCIL

Now it’s time to start the real artistry. Carving out SPONGE BOB. The pumpkin is super hard and takes alot of strength to cut through with some control to trace the lines. That’s why I chose to use the POINTY FILLET KNIFE. You also have to be super careful in the thin spots. I’m fearful I may lop off Sponge Bob’s legs. Thelma takes some pics of me carving. Good job girl!

I cut out the large areas with my knife but now I need to do the smaller crevices. It’s time to use my art linoleum carver.

In the midst of trying to carefully and meticulously carve out the small areas, I accidentally end up wacking out part of Sponge Bob’s face and also slice off his arm. OOOPS!! Sorry Sponge Bob!! This is proving to be just as difficult as I thought it would be!

I’m dissappointed that Bob is not turning out as I wished.He’s not looking very good. I’m afraid this might turn out to be an ugly mess. Hopeful and determined to make this work, I try to fix my booboos.

SIXTH: REATTACH ANY ACCIDENTALLY REMOVED PARTS

Time to OPERATE and reattach Sponge Bob’s face and arm! I’m trying to think how I can do this. I know! A glue gun!! I use my handy dandy glue gun to fix so many things…why not this???

The glue gun proves to be an UTTER FAILURE. The pumpkin is too slimy for the glue to stick. Dayum!

Ok, what now? I see some toothpicks and think maybe I scan spear-attach them from the inside since the pumpkin is so thick.

No!! Another failure. These don’t stay either. Too many thin areas. So, I ask my dear Dick to come to my rescue. Help! He tells me that there’s some superglue in the office. I wonder if it’ll stick as well since I had no luck with the glue gun.

DING! DING! DING! DING! Dr. Bond works! Dick to the rescue again. My hero!

I reattach Sponge Bob’s face and arm and carve out the final touches. I also wash off the black markings. Oh, in case you’re wondering what happened to my two helpers from the beginning…

(I told you this was going to end up being my project.)

THE FINALE…

After all was said and done, it really was quite the task but I had SO much fun doing it. It didn’t turn out as bad as I thought after my PERFECTIONISTIC-self tried to fix it.

LIGHTS OFF!

Despite a few happy-lopping issues, I would have to say it turned out pretty good. Yay!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FOLKS!!

-Jane, Successful Sponge-Bob Pumpkin Carver

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