The season of spooks has snuck up on us, but there's still time to carve out your pumpkins if you haven't done so already. Last year we brought you 14 awesome jack-o-lantern ideas to help you express your geeky side. Well, this year we've got 28 more ideas for you to explore.
If you've never put knife to pumpkin before, why not give it a try this year? It's a ton of fun and easier than you think. Just make sure you keep safety in mind and you'll be all right.
How To Carve A Jack-o-Lantern
The carving process can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on the complexity of the piece. Don't leave it to the last minute. Set aside more than enough time, take it slow, and enjoy the activity. You can even have a scary TV show or horror movies on Netflix running in the background to set the mood. The end product is just a bonus!
Necessary tools: While it's possible to carve a pumpkin with nothing more than a hefty knife, you'll make life easier for yourself if you can acquire a few supplementary tools.
Clay ribbon tools are extremely convenient. The larger ones help when you need to shave large sections of pumpkin rind while the smaller ones are great for intricate details. However, pumpkins are tougher than clay so skip the thin wire tools in favor of ones with thicker, flatter heads.
Selecting a pumpkin: While size is completely up to you, do make sure to pick one that's heavy and firm. Heavier is better as it usually means you have more rind to work with. Long green stems indicate that the pumpkin is fresh, but soft spots and discoloration could be signs of spoilage. You do not want to carve a rotten pumpkin.
Cleaning the pumpkin: Cut out a section from the top to expose the pumpkin's guts. Separate the veins and pulp from the rind, then scoop them out using your hands or a scooper. Scrape it all off if you can. While gutting isn't necessary, it does make it easier down the road when you want to light your finished jack-o-lantern.
Now that your pumpkin is ready, go ahead and carve it using one of these geeky ideas! We've loosely arranged them by difficulty, starting with the easiest first.
Basic Pumpkin Ideas
Pumpkin Pi
Some might call it old and cliched. We think it's a classic.
Pumpkin RSS Feed
The colors even match!
The Mac-o-Lantern
A perfect carving for every $1000 pumpkin out there.
Doctor Who Pumpkin
Simple idea for fans of the show.
The 24 Pumpkin
Time is running out.
Half-Life Pumpkin
Still waiting for Half-Life 3? Here's something to pass the time.
Pumpkins of Westeros
First comes Halloween, then comes Winter.
FFFFFUUUUUUU
Hilarious.
Creeper Peek Pumpkin
Oddly fitting for the season.
Superman Pumpkin
Even pumpkins can be heroes.
Spiderman Pumpkin
If you want something more advanced, you'll love this one with a climbing Spiderman.
Triforce Pumpkin
For Zelda fans who want something a little more sophisticated.
Thinking In Pumpkins
Portal is still alive.
Pumpkin Star Kirby
Who doesn't love Kirby?
Pikachu Pumpkin
If Pikachu proves too hard to carve, that's what the Poké Ball is for.
League of Legends Pumpkin
A pumpkin for the most popular PC game in the world.
Darth Vader Pumpkin
Geekiness at its best.
Big Boo Pumpkin
You'll be fine as long as you don't look away.
Me Gusta Pumpkin
Simply terrifying.
Pumpkin Companion Cube
It will never let you down.
Batman Pumpkin
Who says pumpkin carving can't be art?
Pumpkin of Witchcraft & Wizardry
Want to kick it up a notch? Wear a witch or wizard costume.
Sauron's Pumpkin
If you want your pumpkin to impress, this is how you do it.
Advanced Pumpkin Ideas
Computer Pumpkin
Turn your pumpkin into a robotic computer.
Pumpktris
Fully playable Tetris on a pumpkin using LEDs for display.
Pumpkin Pi Redux
Spooky flashing pumpkin using Raspberry Pi.
Battlestar Cylon Pumpkin
A cylon from Battlestar Galactica made with an Arduino.
Fire Breathing Pumpkin
Watch out!
For More Ideas, Try Jack-O-Lantern Templates
The traditional triangle eyed pumpkin does its job loyally, but our geekier side craves variety. If none of the above designs satisfy you, browse through more free pumpkin carving templates. Sites like...
- Stoneykins [Broken URL Removed]
- Pumpkin Pile
- Zombie Pumpkins
- Pumpkin Masters
What are you doing to make your Halloween the most terrifying one in the neighborhood? Raise the dread with futuristic Halloween costumes, or just start with your own ideas and these other fiendish Halloween tips.
Have you seen any other awesome looking geeky pumpkins? Share them with us in the comments!
Image Credit: Clay Tools Via Shutterstock, Pumpkin Field Via Shutterstock, Pumpkin Guts Via Shutterstock