How To Make Your Jack-o-Lantern Shine Brighter

One of my favorite activities of Fall, especially around Halloween, is carving pumpkins. I am not very creative, so I usually find a picture online or use an outline from those carving kits you can buy. Last year I did an Angry Birds pumpkin. 🙂 It is so fun to put candles in them and see them light up the darkness outside. I learned this great trick from my mom to make your jack-o-lantern shine even brighter.

Isn’t my ghost cute? I’m sure ghosts are supposed to be scary, but I like cute ghosts. I have carved my pumpkin and taken all the seeds out. I have scraped the sides pretty well to make sure it’s smooth inside.

All you need is one piece of aluminum foil. The size will vary depending on how big your pumpkin is. Usually a sheet about 1.5 feet long will work.  All you do is insert it into the pumpkin. It doesn’t have to be smooth. Crinkled foil will work better and actually create more reflection of the light.

Make sure you get it all inside the pumpkin and cover all areas, expect the parts that you carved out. Put your candle, usually a non-scented tealight, in the center of the pumpkin and light it up!

Remember to keep the lid off while the candle is lit so you don’t burn the pumpkin. I have done this before and it can smell and get pretty gross. If you want to make your pumpkin last longer, clean the inside with a bleach/water mixture and then rub petroleum jelly all over before putting the foil in.