Moving to a new city can be hard on anyone. It is especially hard on moving day when the day is filled with long and stressful moments. Now add Halloween to the mix and you’ve got a really tough month ahead of you filled with moving, costumes and décor. Your local Kansas City movers know how hard moving during this time can be but despite how hard all that can be, nothing is harder than trying to carve the perfect Jack-O-Lantern. Here are some tips on how to carve a pumpkin like a pro.

When carving a pumpkin for your Halloween décor this year, you will want to start by surfacing the area with tons of newspaper. Carving can get messy. Having a bowl or bucket on hand for the seeds and pulp is essential.

Choose a side of the pumpkin that’s smooth so you can easily place the face of your choice. You can use a soft lead pencil or a ballpoint pen to inscribe and etch outlines for your eyes, nose and mouth on the pumpkin. Gel pens also work well as you can gently wipe off any stray lines when you are done.

Use a boning or paring knife to cut out your lid. Be sure to always cut away from your hand. A narrow bladed knife works best. It is easier to control and gives you more flexibility in cutting your design. You will need to use an up and down sawing motion. Be sure to cut a notch in the lid so you can easily fit it back on the pumpkin. Also cut the lid at a 45 degree angle slanting inward with the top of the lid larger than the bottom, so your lid will snugly fit back on without falling in.

Clean out the insides by scooping out the guts. Once everything is carved out, just add a tea light and enjoy!