Sunday, November 2, 2014

Nov. 2 (30 Day Challenge) What to do with those pumpkins!

John with his carved pumpkin 

                  How to Preserve a Carved Pumpkin


With Halloween having just passed and pumpkins piled up in bins in every grocery store, are you looking forward to carving a jack ‘o lantern? Some people wait until after Halloween to carve their pumpkin, finding that they want it to last until Thanksgiving for the decorations of Fall.  It’s a favorite holiday activity that’s just as much fun as an adult as it was as a kid. 

A good many of people know Clorox® Regular-Bleach can be used to help cut flowers stay beautiful longer, but may not know that the same bleach solution can also help keep a jack ‘o lantern from getting fuzzy mold and black mildew inside. It’s super easy, and (spoiler alert) fun to watch the pumpkins float! If you’d like to try this, here’s how! 

Materials Needed
—Clorox® Regular-Bleach
—1 clean 5 gallon bucket
—1 quart measuring cup
—Measuring spoons
—A pumpkin
—Sharp knife and a spoon (tools for cleaning and carving)
—Paper towels 

Procedure
1. First you will cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Try to remove as much of the stringy fibers on the inside of the pumpkin by scraping them away with the spoon. Be sure to clean the underside of the pumpkin top, too.
2. Next you will rinse the pumpkin inside and out with water.
3. Cut the desired face or design into the pumpkin.
4. Measure 3 gallons of water into the 5 gallon bucket.
5. Add 3 teaspoons Clorox® Regular-Bleach to the water in the bucket, and use the measuring spoons to stir the bleach solution.
6. Then you will immerse the pumpkin in the bleach solution. Since the pumpkin floats, you will need to stir it around to make sure all surfaces contact the bleach solution for a full two minutes. And don’t forget the top!
7. Remove the pumpkin from the bleach soaking solution, and let it air dry on a few paper towels.
8. Easy clean-up — just pour the bleach soaking solution down the drain. 

 
 
About candle and soap step by step with photos


This also works well with mini-pumpkins — I like using them to hold tea lights. You can trace the outline of a tea light on the top of the pumpkin, and then cut around it. The top pops off, and then you can clean out the inside and soak it in the bleach solution as described above. Finally, just pop in the tea light (without the tin around it)! If you will be using these to set a festive table for a Halloween Party, or for a Thanksgiving table with no worries about prepping them early!


                       
activities using mini pumpkins for children and adults
  

Glitter Pumpkins 

gift of curiosity.com project
 
"One of the items I was most excited to receive was the Fall & Halloween Stickles Glitter Glue Set. We had some mini-pumpkins at home that were just begging for little sparkle, and I knew the glitter glue would be the perfect way to add some pizzazz!"

gift of curiosity.com project
"The kids practically squealed with delight when I pulled out the glitter glue, and their creations were dazzling."

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