Getting A Grip
Some people like to carve with the pumpkin on the table in front of them. But placing it in your lap can really help you hold it steady. You might even try sitting cross-legged on the floor, with the pumpkin nestled in your lap.

Begin Carving
Hold your carving saw tool like a pencil and insert it straight into the pumpkin, on one of the dotted lines. Begin sawing (up and down motion) along the lines, connecting the dots.

Sequence Of Carving
You should start by carving the smallest pieces first (eyes, teeth, etc). Save the largest areas for last, as removing large chunks will make your carving surface unstable. In fact, it's wise leave the cut shapes in place until you are finished cutting all lines. This will give the surface added support until you are done.

Drilling Holes
If the design you're carving has any small circles (such as highlights on the eyes) you can use the plastic drill tool that came with your kit, or even a real drill bit on a power drill.

Carving Curves And Corners
Follow curved lines by gently turning the saw in the direction you wish to carve. For sharp corners, always pull out the saw and reinsert at the new angle. Never twist the saw, as it will likely bend or break.

Poking Out The Pieces
When you're sure a shape is completely cut out, gently poke out the piece with your fingers. If it won't easily push through from the front, try poking from the inside out. If it still won't budge, retrace the cut line with your saw, to make sure you didn't miss a spot (particularly in sharp corners).

Removing The Large Chunks
When poking out the very large pieces, don't try to remove the section whole. You're likely to yank out delicate parts of the design with it. Try cutting these big sections into two or three smaller pieces to allow for easier removal.

Making Repairs
If you accidentally break off a part of the design, you can reattach it with a toothpick, pin, or even super glue.

Final Touches
Once you've removed all of the cut pieces, look your design over and compare to the paper pattern. Placing a flashlight inside the pumpkin will allow you to see the openings clearly. If some areas don't look right, you can use the detail saw tool to carefully trim the inside edges of any excess flesh. Trimming in at an angle will allow more light to come through.

Giving It A Rinse
When you're done, you can give the finished pumpkin a good rinsing in the sink. With the faucet or sprayer hose, spray some cool water through all the cut openings. This gets rid of any of the dangling bits and gives the pumpkin a little extra hydration for a nice fresh look.