DATE: Friday, October 31, 1997              TAG: 9710290174

SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 7E   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   53 lines

PUMPKIN CARVING CAN GET CREATIVE

It's still not too late to create a Jack-o'-lantern for tonight's Halloween witching hour. In fact, today most stores may be selling pumpkins at a reduced price.

But don't just carve a pumpkin, create a unique Jack-o'-lantern.

That's the philosophy of Dennis Roberts of Old World Florist and Farms in Great Bridge, who recently oversaw a pumpkin carving session last Sunday at the Chesapeake Central Library.

``People are too busy these days,'' he said. ``And they can go out to a store and buy one that looks real. But that does tend to stifle creativity.''

He asks carvers to think of their pumpkins as more than just an orange head in need of a crude grinning face. Make a dinosaur pumpkin, a Ninja, Mickey Mouse, Bill Clinton or whatever.

If there's a flaw in your pumpkin (and Roberts even suggests purchasing cheaper, less perfect ones) use it as part of the design. In fact, he said nowadays many artists use the stem of the pumpkin as a nose and from there fashion some sort of creative design.

In carving a pumpkin, use these tips:

Carve out the top of the pumpkin, cutting a circle of about four inches in diameter with the stem in the middle. Remove the top, but save it as a covering for later.

Use a spoon or scraper to get out the slimy, yucky part of the pumpkin's pulp. Clean the pumpkin thoroughly.

Draw a design outside of the pumpkin with pencil or pen. Use your imagination. Try to come up with something other than the traditional grin design.

Trace the lines with a knife and cut out your shapes. But you don't have to cut all the way through the gourd. You can etch designs and facial details that will show up when the pumpkin is lit.

If you use a candle, make sure it rests inside on a flat surface and make sure the flame gets plenty of air to prevent black smoke. But if you have young children, you may want to use glow sticks or battery operated blinking lights in lieu of a flaming candle.

After finishing the pumpkin, soak it in cold water or refrigerate it to keep it moist and prevent it from collapsing. You can also rub floor wax on the surface to preserve it.

Apply attachments and decorations to your pumpkin to be creative. Add ivy or moss, attach ears or a hat, use a carrot for a nose or other facial features or decorate it with chili peppers. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP

Stef Krieg of Chesapeake helps his son, Nicholas, 8, carve his

pumpkin during a class for children and adults at the Chesapeake

Central Library.

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