Seeking a unique twist on the classic Jack O’Lantern? Discover a spookily simple alternative: the ‘spooky jail’ pumpkin. Follow our step-by-step guide to craft this Halloween masterpiece.

You will need:

• Pumpkin
• Felt-tip pen
• Short-handled serrated knife, sharp-pointed knife/tool, and a scoop/large spoon (or a pumpkin carving kit)
• Small Halloween toys (e.g., a skeleton or ghost)
• Damp cloth
• Tea light or battery-operated tea light

Step 1: Jail Outline

1. Place the pumpkin on a sturdy surface.
2. Use a pen to draw a rectangle slightly smaller in height than your cocktail sticks. You can free-hand it or use a stencil.

Step 2: Prepare the Top

1. Draw a circle around the pumpkin’s stalk, ready for cutting.

Step 3: Carve the Top

1. Pierce a hole at one point on the circle drawn around the pumpkin top using a sharp-pointed knife or the piercing tool from a carving kit.
2. Insert a short-handled serrated knife or the carving tool from the kit into the pierced hole.
3. Start cutting around the line, angling slightly towards the center to create a bowl-shaped hole. This may require adult supervision.

Step 4: Clean the Interior

1. Remove the lid you’ve cut and scoop out all the seeds and fiber using a spoon or the scoop from your kit.
2. Optionally, remove some or all of the flesh. Don’t forget to clean the lid, which can be used for pumpkin recipes.

Step 5: Carve the ‘Jail’

1. Use a knife with a serrated edge or the cutting tool from your kit.
2. Cut into the pumpkin along the ‘jail’ outline, employing a gentle back-and-forth motion and maintaining a steady downward pressure. Always cut with the blade facing away from you for safety.

Step 6: Assemble the ‘Jail’

1. Wipe off any pen marks or pumpkin-flesh bits with a damp cloth.
2. Place your chosen Halloween toys inside the pumpkin.
3. Insert cocktail sticks evenly into the pumpkin flesh at the top and bottom of your ‘jail’ outline to create a miniature prison.
4. Insert a tea light, and put the lid back on. Your ‘spooky jail’ pumpkin is ready to haunt your Halloween decor.