I attempted an ESO Halloween pumpkin. It failed.

Alarra · October 2014

I tried carving a pumpkin with the ESO logo for Halloween. It was going to be real simple: no detail on the scales, just the general shape with a couple thin lines around the dragon/lion/eagle heads so that you could tell what they were. It started out looking pretty good. Unfortunately, I didn't plan it well enough, and the thin lines were TOO thin and few. About 40 minutes into it, I was a good 3/4 of the way done when suddenly the middle popped out, taking all the thin lines with it....

Thought I'd give you guys a good laugh, anyway. xD It just looks so ridiculous now sitting on my table with a big round hole in it.

ZOS_JasonLeavey · October 2014

It's all about the effort, @Alarra! That is not an easy design to carve into a pumpkin, but you did a great job on the outline.

AlexDougherty · October 2014

Alarra wrote: »

I tried carving a pumpkin with the ESO logo for Halloween. It was going to be real simple: no detail on the scales, just the general shape with a couple thin lines around the dragon/lion/eagle heads so that you could tell what they were. It started out looking pretty good. Unfortunately, I didn't plan it well enough, and the thin lines were TOO thin and few. About 40 minutes into it, I was a good 3/4 of the way done when suddenly the middle popped out, taking all the thin lines with it....

Thought I'd give you guys a good laugh, anyway. xD It just looks so ridiculous now sitting on my table with a big round hole in it.

If you are going to try something like that, the key is not to cut all the way though, you need to do it like the ones that look like photographs, ie you carve from the inside and leave differing thicknesses, so the light comes through and gives the impression of the image.

And no I wouldn't be brave enough to try it myself, mainly because I have an idea how hard it is, and how useless I am.

Nazon_Katts · October 2014

Here's a nice guide: http://cedarcreekcenter.com/6-steps-to-carving-the-perfect-pumpkin/

It pretty much comes down to having the right tools at your disposal and not carving through the walls.

Alarra · November 2014

AlexDougherty wrote: »

If you are going to try something like that, the key is not to cut all the way though, you need to do it like the ones that look like photographs, ie you carve from the inside and leave differing thicknesses, so the light comes through and gives the impression of the image.

And no I wouldn't be brave enough to try it myself, mainly because I have an idea how hard it is, and how useless I am.

Yeah, that's probably what I would have done if I'd had more time. I just thought, "Oh, doing it this way will be quick and easy", but It just didn't work out.

I'm not usually this bad at pumpkins, anyway. Here's one I did about two years ago - I made the design myself.

AlexDougherty · November 2014

Alarra wrote: »

AlexDougherty wrote: »

If you are going to try something like that, the key is not to cut all the way though, you need to do it like the ones that look like photographs, ie you carve from the inside and leave differing thicknesses, so the light comes through and gives the impression of the image.

And no I wouldn't be brave enough to try it myself, mainly because I have an idea how hard it is, and how useless I am.

Yeah, that's probably what I would have done if I'd had more time. I just thought, "Oh, doing it this way will be quick and easy", but It just didn't work out.

I'm not usually this bad at pumpkins, anyway. Here's one I did about two years ago - I made the design myself.

Nice, I like it

matbarliabriub17_ESO · November 2014

I might suggest on the logo pumpkin to leave some line edges in so you can do the inner part of the logo, kinda like a cookie cutter does so it can hold both pieces in place, ooor you could just etch it into the flesh and leave the skin where its not, you should be able to get it pretty thin, also, you could get glow in the dark paint to put into the flesh where you carved it -- just some ideas for next year