Jack-o-lanterns - Think outside the pumpkin

If you're carving a jack-o-lantern this year, this weekend is the perfect time to do it. With the cooler weather, your creation is sure to last until Halloween next Friday, with plenty of time for the kids to enjoy lighting it each night.

The great thing about carving a pumpkin is that it's a family friendly activity that all ages can get in on. Even an older baby can sit and scoop out some goo, provided you give her some supervision. And a really cool, intricate design might encourage an otherwise busy teen to join in the fun. Plus, pumpkins are relatively inexpensive, so -- if need be -- everyone can have their own.

Continue reading for some tips on how to pick your pumpkin, plus some really great templates for inspiration.
How to pick the right pumpkin:
Once you set your kids loose on a pumpkin patch, things can get chaotic. Before everyone heads out on a hunt for the perfect pumpkin, lay down a few ground rules:

• Buy your pumpkin at a farm or local stand. It's more likely to be fresh and less likely to be bruised.
• Bigger is better when it comes to carving. Choose a pumpkin with a nice, flat base so it doesn't tilt or roll.
• Pick a pumpkin with a sturdy stem, a sign that it's healthy.
• Give the pumpkin a once-over to look for cracks, weak spots, mold, or bruises.
• Carry your pumpkin from the bottom, not from the stem, which can cause damage.

Gather the necessary tools:
If you're carving a pumpkin with kids, the right tools are essential. Using a sharp knife to carve into your jack-o-lantern just isn't safe. Instead, look for an inexpensive carving kit that includes a scraper and a pumpkin saw, at the least. Pumpkin saws that are manufactured for children aren't sharp, allowing kids to do more of the work. You'll also need some sort of poker tool or pins if you're using a template to carve your pumpkin.

More involved designs might require bigger tools, such as a pumpkin drill, a shaving tool, or varying sizes of saws. These should not be handled by children, though a trustworthy teen could be taught to use them responsibly. Here are some examples of what's out there.

Now all you need is a large workspace, newspaper for easy cleanup if you're carving inside, and something to put the seeds into if you plan to roast them. Oh, and don't forget your camera!

Choose your design:
When it comes to how to carve your pumpkin, the ideas are endless. Young kids are probably happier carving their masterpiece freehand, making a happy Jack to greet trick-or-treaters. But older kids might want to get more creative.

Here's a list of websites that offer free templates. Simply print them out, then attach them to your pumpkin with a few pins. Use your poker or straight pins to make a dot-to-dot like pattern on your pumpkin, then remove the template and carve.

Jack-O-Lantern.com -- plenty of simple designs for the whole family.
Better Homes and Gardens -- simple and light-hearted templates.
Un-Halloween patterns -- for those who don't celebrate the holiday, but still like to carve a pumpkin.
Fabulous Living -- lots of monsters for older kids and teens
The Pumpkin Lady -- scroll down for free patterns
Goodnight Moon -- perfectly unscary for your toddler and a good example of how to clean out a pumpkin from the back. Check out Family Fun's pumpkin carving page for more unique ideas.
Walt's Pumpkin Carving Secrets -- learn to make your own patterns.

The final step? Clean up. Which you'll probably have to do alone since your kids are outside admiring their new jack-o-lantern. Happy Halloween!