Cutting A Lid Shape
With a sturdy kitchen knife (not a carving tool), cut an opening around the stem. Cut a 5 or 6 sided shape, or a circle with a notch in the back. This will make it easier to place the lid on straight.

Size Of The Lid
Keep in mind you'll be removing the pumpkin guts and placing a candle through this opening, so make sure it's large enough. An inch or two wider than your fist will give you enough room to maneuver inside.

Angling The Lid
Cut inward at an angle, so the bottom of the lid is narrower than the top. This will prevent the lid from falling into the pumpkin when you place it back on later.

Cutting Open The Bottom
An alternate option is to cut a circular opening on the bottom. This keeps the top of the pumpkin looking natural, and you can easily place the finished jack o' lantern over a lit candle or an electric light.

Scooping Out The Guts
Remove the bulk of the seeds and strings with your hands. Then use the scraper tool (or a big spoon) to scrape the inner walls of the pumpkin clean and smooth.

The "Pumpkin Gutter"
For even faster gutting, equip any electric or cordless drill with the Pumpkin Gutter attachment. It quickly loosens seeds and the spinning gutter blades can also thin and smooth the pumpkin walls.

Scraping The Walls Thin
Scraping the front wall (where your design will be) thinner will make carving easier. But keep in mind, thickness also adds support to the final carving, so don't scrape too thin. Somewhere around an inch is generally good.

Smoothing The Inside Walls
Remember, light bouncing off the inside of the pumpkin is what creates your final image. Thoroughly cleaning out the inside will make for the best presentation.