Making creative jack-o-lanterns is easier
with pumpkin carving kits. By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin

But they aren't easy to carve. Accordingly, there are a number of pumpkin carvers now on the market.

We checked some out, and they all seem to work pretty well. One brand or another is available in most places that stock Halloween stuff. The most useful component of each is a pumpkin saw that resembles a jigsaw blade in a plastic handle.

They include the "Jack-O'-Lantern Carving Kit and Fun Book" ($3.99 at Kmart) which contains a couple of markers, a poky little knife, a pumpkin saw, the "fun book" and a "Safe-2-Lite," a cone of coiled wire that holds candles of any size and screws into the pumpkin's interior. It works well. We discover from the "fun book" that the Safe-2-Lite was invented by Billie Gray, who played Bud on "Father Knows Best."

Pumpkin Party "Tools For Ghouls" ($3.19 Longs) features the saw, a scoop, a probe and a drill for making holes. The saw is also available by itself ($1.49 at Longs).

The most widely available kits are from Pumpkin Masters. The "Pumpkin Carving Kit" we got ($3.99 Kmart) included two saw sizes, a probe and a drill, plus a "Pattern and Instruction Book" with eight full-sized carving templates.

Some pumpkin tips: Once the candle is in place, light it and replace the lid, then check a few minutes later and drill a vent where the candle smoke blackens the inside. Also, if a pumpkin starts to dry out and collapse, soak the entire thing in water for an hour or so.