Amaze Family and Friends—Take Your Pumpkin Carving to the Extreme!

Halloween has become one of the most popular holidays in the U.S., and carving the family pumpkin is a life-long tradition for many. In Extreme Pumpkin Carving by Vic Hood and Jack A. Williams, you'll learn how to create the most amazing, never-before-seen designs to astound your Halloween guests.

Extreme pumpkin carving applies relief carving techniques commonly found in woodworking and stonework to pumpkins. Starting with solid pumpkins (no hollowing is necessary!) extreme pumpkin carvers use simple household knives or woodcarving tools to create fantastic faces and scenes in the flesh of the pumpkins.

Inside, you'll find a complete resource for extreme pumpkin carving—whether you're a beginner or a seasoned carver.

• Getting started: including the history of Halloween and how to select the right pumpkin
• Step-by-step instructions: using readily available household knives or woodcarving tools
• Extreme pumpkin patterns: nearly two dozen fantastic designs to review and practice

With relief carving, you'll be able to add form to your pumpkin carving by creating actual cheeks, lips, eyebrows and more—instead of just cutting out solid shapes. This gives you an almost endless opportunity for creativity and unique expression, resulting in a one-of-a-kind Halloween pumpkin that will be the talk of the neighborhood!

This ghostly guide provides everything you need to create a Halloween that's easy, affordable and fun for the whole family. You'll learn how to make basic costume elements, such as hats, capes and masks in three steps or less with no sewing necessary - just a glue gun is all that's needed to turn your kids into Dracula or a superhero. You'll also find festive party games, magic tricks, party-food recipes, pumpkin carving patterns and construction tips for making haunted noisemakers, giant door decorations, and garden tombstones. For the spookiest house on the block, there's a treasure trove of ideas waiting inside Homemade Halloween!