It's finally Halloween season, so of course you've found the perfect pumpkin and laid newspaper out on the kitchen table. But now what?
If you're seeking inspiration — or just a dose of pumpkin envy — look no further. We gathered up 13 of the most creative or popular pumpkin carving trends. From artists to amateurs, these jack-o'-lantern geniuses will leave you impressed.
Keep reading for a look a the best pumpkin carving ideas.
First up — the Pumpkin Burger!
One of our colleagues at Business Insider made this version of a "Pumpkin Burger" for a Halloween contest. We wrote up a full how-to if you want to make your own, but the concept is simple.
With a few strategic cuts (and some crayons), you can turn a pumpkin into two buns, a burger patty, tomato slice, and even chop up some "fries" for the side. The pumpkin seeds stuck to the top make perfect sesame imitators.
Another crafty creation is this "pumpkinception" cannibalism.
By purchasing several smaller pumpkins, you can create an intimidating sight of pumpkins all chomping into each other.
Master-level carvers use a more precise technique to make realistic portraits.
—Glauco Longhi (@glaucolonghi) October 17, 2016These aren't true jack-'o-lanterns since the surface of the pumpkin is simply etched into (versus cut out entirely), but the faces still glow with the help of a candle.
Here's a stunning example from artist Edward Cabral.
We spotted this creation on Reddit, and realized Cabral has a whole series of these impressive carvings on his Instagram page. Cabral strategically carves different depths in order to create shadows and texture without ever fully penetrating the pumpkin's surface.
The realistic effect of pumpkin sculpting can be mind-blowing. Ray Villafane is another master known around the web.
Villafane is an expert when it comes to rendering pumpkins into hyper-realistic flesh. By simply carving deeply and strategically using the pumpkin's shape, he makes 3D sculptures. From the tiny zipper edges to the detailed teeth, this jack-'o-lantern takes the cake.
A Redditor shared this spooky pumpkin creation and we're still having nightmares.
My little sister's first attempt at Pumpkin carving. Her talent makes me sick sometimes -_-Redditor Sam0n roused pumpkin envy when they posted this picture of their sister's pumpkin carving. By peeling away all the skin and adding some eerie elements of "blood," this is one of the spookiest pumpkins we've seen.
You can use the same carving techniques to make something more adorable (instead of terrifying).
By shallowly carving teeth and adding some metal, this doofy pumpkin with braces is much more friendly than the previous jack-'o-lantern.
There are plenty of creative ideas that don't require much artistic talent. The "hungover pumpkin" is a popular option.
Simply carve a pained expression on the pumpkin's face, and then use all those slimy insides to create a regurgitating jack-o'lantern.
Or if you want to make a political statement, "Trumpkins" are still all the rage.
Trumpkin: Orange on the outside. Hollow inside #halloween #trumpkin #pumpkin #scarytimes #autumn 🔔🔚
This creation might require a Donald Trump stencil or some good portrait handiwork, but really it's all about the "wig." If you scoop out the pumpkin insides in long strips, you can make a nice little hairpiece for the pumpkin.
Take some extra time (and a second pumpkin) to make a BB-8 straight from "Star Wars: The Force Awakens."
—Cassie Wentlandt (@BendinInTheWind) October 25, 2016
The center pattern of the BB-8 will be the most challenging — one cut too many and it all falls apart!
If you prefer crafting to carving, this puffer fish pumpkin might be for you.
All you need is a hot glue gun, hundreds of candy corn pieces, and a whole lot of patience. This creative decorator also used fake eyeballs and corn husks to polish off the aquatic look.
Last but not least, we present Pumpktris!
In 2012, Nathan Pryor went above and beyond when he carved a Tetris game board into the surface of a real pumpkin and then built an LED play screen. The stem acts as the controller thanks to some nifty wiring.
If you're feeling ambitious, Pryor wrote a step-by-step tutorial on his blog. You can also watch a full video of the Pumpktris in action.
Read the original article on INSIDER. Copyright 2017.Follow INSIDER on Facebook.
Follow INSIDER on Twitter.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyjsdKtZKmtnaW4qrqMnJirrpmjtLR5kWlob2VhZQ%3D%3D