My Ron Paul Jack-o'-Lantern (with Dr. Paul's face on it!)

[theknightshift]

(I originally posted about this here (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=30104). Since tomorrow night is Halloween and that I made this with the pattern that I published a few days ago, I thought it might be a neat ideer to post it in the grassroots forum also, in case anyone else wants to make a Ron Paul Jack-o'-Lantern in time for tomorrow evening :) )

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7990/ronpauljackolantern2007en3.th.jpg (http://img141.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ronpauljackolantern2007en3.jpg)
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/5996/ronpauljackolantern2007go8.th.jpg (http://img148.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ronpauljackolantern2007go8.jpg)

Spent about 2 and 1/2 hours tonight carving it. It was made using the pattern I posted here a few days ago (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=28027), except that I had to re-work the letters in "RON PAUL" and there wasn't room to put "FOR PRESIDENT". But still, it came out great!!

For more photos and the story of how I made it click to my blog here (http://theknightshift.blogspot.com/2007/10/ron-paul-for-president-jack-o-lantern.html).

This is going to be a heck of a cool thing to greet the trick-or-treaters with tomorrow night :)

[Brian Bailey]

Very nice, indeed :)

[K1RBY]

hell yeah man. this rocks

[margomaps]

Dude, that's awesome. It looks really great!

[nullvalu]

Sweet! Nice job!

[theknightshift]

Thanks :)

Two things I would recommend if you want to do this with the pattern: use the Pumpkin Carving Kit from Pumpkin Masters (which should be on sale just about everywhere right now) and be slow and patient. The hardest parts to carve were the eyes and around the ears.

But it can be done. And you'll have something to get the parents' attention and tell them about Ron Paul when the kids come to your front door tomorrow night with their bags out for candy :)

[speciallyblend]

Sweet

[theknightshift]

Oh yeah, and if your pumpkin has an extra-thick skin on it, use a good metal spoon or a special pumpkin scoop (Pumpkin Masters also makes this) to scrape out plenty of the inside wall. This seems like a small thing but you will save yourself a lot of frustration especially when it comes to carving the very tiny details (like pupils in eyes, earlobes etc.) :)

[McDermit]

That's awesome!

But as far as the pumpkin masters kits go, you're better off getting some linoleum cutting or wood carving tools... then you can just peel off sections of the skin. Makes it MUCH easier, and more visually appealing. You still carve out some sections, but do more peeling in the super-detailed areas.

[Akus]

Cool

[theknightshift]

That's awesome!

But as far as the pumpkin masters kits go, you're better off getting some linoleum cutting or wood carving tools... then you can just peel off sections of the skin. Makes it MUCH easier, and more visually appealing. You still carve out some sections, but do more peeling in the super-detailed areas.

That's a great idea! Will invest in a set of 'em for next year (when I'll no doubt be doing ANOTHER Ron Paul pumpkin :) )

[theknightshift]

Shameless bump for this night.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

And GO RON GO!!! :-)

[Ninja Homer]

Very nice!

I seem to remember that Pumpkin Masters sells some kind of stuff to put on carved pumpkins so they will last longer than a few days before they rot. It might be worth it for the hard work you put into it.

[theknightshift]

Yeah they do. I've also heard that a light application of petroleum jelly around the exposed edges works wonders too (but I haven't tried it).

Somebody needs to make an artificial pumpkin that you can carve into, that will preserve your work for years :)

[Kacela]

VERY cool. As I type this, my wife is greeting trick-or-treaters and their parents. We are mentioning Ron Paul to all the adults that come to the door - we usually get 50 - 75 groups each halloween.

[granny miller]

Happy Halloween:)

That is so cool. You did a good job!