Toggle Background Video Playback Cornelliana With Our Custom Pumpkin Stencils, ‘Red’ Is the New Orange! Stories You May Like Why Early Cornell Students Took a Sepulchral Shortcut Cornellian Crossword: ‘October Surprise’ Boo! Celebrating a Spooktacular Time of Year on the Hill This season brings two additions to our library of carving designs: an homage to the Brain Collection and a toothy McGraw clockface By Joe Wilensky Each October, Cornellians helps alumni get into the Halloween spirit with original pumpkin-carving designs inspired by Big Red icons and traditions. From a snarling Touchdown entwined with a “C” to a bat-adorned “Big Red,” these stencils bring the spirit of the Hill to your seasonal décor. This year, we again offer two designs—one more time-consuming than the other. The carved gourds also look great in the daytime. The simpler entry (though some of its finer details are a tad painstaking) is a whimsical brain-in-a-jar design that honors Uris Hall’s famed Wilder Brain Collection. This year, we again offer two designs—one more time-consuming than the other. The other, which is more intricate, evokes the delightfully grinning jack-o'-lantern overlay that appears on the four McGraw Tower clockfaces each spooky season, complete with delicately detailed Roman numerals. To help ensure your results are gourd-tastic, our talented associate editor and carver-in-chief, Alexandra Bond ’12, again stars in a time-lapse video highlighting how she brings the designs to life. Watch these pumpkins transform into Cornell-themed jack-o’-lanterns! Additional insights on using the stencil to mark the pattern on the pumpkin can be found in our original instructional video—and last year's designs (the Touchdown paw slash and bat-addled "Big Red") are covered in our 2023 tutorial. And be sure to peruse Alex's step-by-step guidelines below! To download these designs and others from past years, visit Alumni Affairs’ pumpkin-carving stencils page—plus, check out their roundup of Halloween-themed fun! Pumpkin Carving Tips Stories You May Like Why Early Cornell Students Took a Sepulchral Shortcut Cornellian Crossword: ‘October Surprise’ By Alexandra Bond ’12 • Choose a pumpkin that’s about the same overall shape as your stencil. • Print out the stencil (at more than 100% if you have a large pumpkin). • Carve a hole in the top of the pumpkin. • Be sure to include a notch in the cut around the top, so you can easily tell which way it fits back in. Placing the brain stencil. • Scoop out the innards and scrape away some of the inside wall on the side on which you’ll be carving; this makes it much easier to cut through the wall later on. • Optional: save the seeds to roast for a tasty snack! • Tape the stencil onto the pumpkin. Carving the clockface's numerals. • Transfer the pattern onto the pumpkin using a pointed tool to poke holes along the lines. • Remove the paper (but keep it for reference as you carve). • Using a small serrated cutting tool, start by carving from the center out. A furry friend can help with cleanup! • Focus on the smaller detailed areas before moving onto the larger sections. • Continue on with bigger cuts, cleaning up the edges as you go. • For a cleaner look, neaten up edges by cutting at a slight inward angle. • If anything goes wrong—don’t panic! You can use toothpicks to support any pumpkin pieces that have fallen off or that don’t sit exactly where you want them to. • Illuminate your masterpiece by candle or electric light (rechargeable or battery powered), and enjoy! (Photos and video by Joe Wilensky / Cornell University.) Published October 16, 2024 Leave a Comment Cancel replyOnce your comment is approved, your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment * Name * Class Year Email * Save my name, email, and class year in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ Other stories You may like Quizzes & Puzzles Which Big Red Ghost Are You? Cornelliana Anchors Aweigh: Big Red Names Graced WWII-Era Hulls Campus & Beyond ‘Cosmos,’ a Pulitzer, and More: Fascinating Facts about Carl Sagan