Back when you were in grade school, you probably learned the basics of carving a traditional Halloween pumpkin with triangle eyes and a toothy grin. That's likely where your jack-o'-lantern carving skills stand today. Frankly though, the design is tired and you're better than that.

Since tattoo artists are known for their ability to create bad-ass and horrific designs, we thought we'd enlist one to give us all a little tutorial on the art of the carve. Jimi Harris, a tattoo artist and the owner of Mystic Piercing and Tribal Tattoo in Crofton, Maryland, suggests finding a carving pattern online before you start at a site like this one. There are plenty of patterns to choose from, and they'll help you get your bearings while you are getting set to maim your gourd.

If the patterns don't pique your interest, the gallery below has some inspiring achievements in squash. And after the jump, we've got Jimi's step-by-step process on how to perfect your pumpkin.

How to Carve a Pumpkin -- Jimi Style

    1. Select a 10 to 12 inch pumpkin which stands well and has a nice stem. Use appropriate carving tools similar to the ones show here.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    2. Cut the top off around the stem making a large enough opening for easy remove of the pumpkin insides, using a pumpkin saw or serrated kitchen knife. Save top with stem to put back on top of your carved masterpiece.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    3. Scrap out all the gunk with a large metal spoon, then scrap the wall to make the about 3/4 of an inch thick before carving.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    4. Select a pattern, lots of free one on line.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    5. Transfer pattern by using a sharp pointed nail or poker. Keep the dots tightly grouped to make seeing the pattern easier.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    6. Cut along lines following the pattern and remove the pumpkin skin to expose the smooth flesh of the pumpkin.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    7. Use a votive candle to dry out you pumpkin making sure you have cut a couple of vent holes in the side or back of you pumpkin to allow air in to keep the candle burning. TIP: If your pumpkin does not glow as brightly as you would like take a metal spoon and thin down the walls of your pumpkin taking care not to thin them to much a make holes.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    8. To keep your pumpkin fresh longer rub petroleum jelly over the carved parts to seal in the fresh carving. You can also put the pumpkin in the refrigerator until Halloween.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com



1. Pick a 10- to 12-inch pumpkin that stands upright well, and has a nice stem. (obligatory: "That's what she said.")

2. Harris says to cut the top off around the stem, making a large enough opening so that you can easily scoop out all the pumpkin insides using a pumpkin saw or serrated kitchen knife. Save the top with the stem to put back on afterward. Scrape out all the gunk with a large metal spoon, then scrape the wall to make it about 3/4 of an inch thick before carving

3. Using the pattern that you've printed out, use a sharp pointed nail or poker to trace a sort of connect-the-dots outline on the face of the pumpkin. Harris recommends keeping the dots tightly grouped to make seeing the pattern easier when the knife comes out.

4. Once your pattern is all set, take out the knife and remove the pumpkin skin around the area where you're about to cut -- in order to expose the smooth flesh. Then follow the pattern and cut out your pimped-out rendition of Snoop Dogg or Freddy Krueger in the pumpkin's face.

5. Stick a votive candle inside the pumpkin to dry it out, suggests Harris, putting a couple of vent holes in the side or back of the pumpkin to allow air in to keep the candle burning. If your pumpkin doesn't glow as brightly as you would like, take a metal spoon and thin down the walls of your pumpkin.

6. To keep your pumpkin fresh longer, rub petroleum jelly over the carved parts to seal in the fresh carving. You can also put the pumpkin in the refrigerator until Halloween.

How to Carve a Pumpkin -- Jimi Style

    1. Select a 10 to 12 inch pumpkin which stands well and has a nice stem. Use appropriate carving tools similar to the ones show here.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    2. Cut the top off around the stem making a large enough opening for easy remove of the pumpkin insides, using a pumpkin saw or serrated kitchen knife. Save top with stem to put back on top of your carved masterpiece.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    3. Scrap out all the gunk with a large metal spoon, then scrap the wall to make the about 3/4 of an inch thick before carving.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    4. Select a pattern, lots of free one on line.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    5. Transfer pattern by using a sharp pointed nail or poker. Keep the dots tightly grouped to make seeing the pattern easier.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    6. Cut along lines following the pattern and remove the pumpkin skin to expose the smooth flesh of the pumpkin.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    7. Use a votive candle to dry out you pumpkin making sure you have cut a couple of vent holes in the side or back of you pumpkin to allow air in to keep the candle burning. TIP: If your pumpkin does not glow as brightly as you would like take a metal spoon and thin down the walls of your pumpkin taking care not to thin them to much a make holes.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com

    8. To keep your pumpkin fresh longer rub petroleum jelly over the carved parts to seal in the fresh carving. You can also put the pumpkin in the refrigerator until Halloween.

    Jimi Harris, mysticpiercing.com