Ravens, fantastic review and great photos! Very helpful to hear about your experience, so thanks for putting it to the test and sharing your experience. I totally agree with your thoughts.
With my watermelon test, I noticed that the Stick 'n Carve did "melt" away from the edges a bit. I wasn't sure if pumpkins would react the same (sometimes they have less moisture). With this in mind, you'd have to use caution with detailed designs that have small pieces close together. Make sure the sheet is pressed down very firmly in that spot, for maximum adherence. And carve carefully, so the pattern doesn't slide around too much. I'd suggest you quickly do these close-together pieces one right after another. Like with the Horseman's teeth in your example - you wouldn't want to carve one tooth, and then come back later after time has passed and the material started to dissolve.
You brought up some good points I forgot to mention in my video. Make sure you print on the right side of the sheet. You wouldn't want to waste a piece because you printed on the wrong side. Although, I suppose you can just flip it over and reprint. And because the sheets are thin and like fabric, they do almost stretch and can curve to the surface very easily! I love how you can move it around and re-stick it if necessary.
Also, I didn't think about the fact that you don't have a pattern to look at for reference, since it's ON the pumpkin as you're carving. I suppose you can print out a reference copy, look at it on the computer screen, or maybe look at the small sample image in the bottom corner of the pattern page.
If I can recap some of our thoughts that seem notable....
PROS:
- Makes the carving process faster, since you don't have to trace to transfer.
- The thin flexible material curves easily to the pumpkin surface.
CONS:
- The pattern can melt away in detailed areas where pieces are close together.
- For prolific carvers like us, there aren't many sheets in a package.
I have many tools in my pumpkin tool box. Each one has its pros and cons, and its specialized purpose. I can easily see Stick 'n Carve being a valuable part of my arsenal, especially in certain instances like foam pumpkins and designs that aren't super complex. Seriously, I can't wait to plow through some foamies I've been meaning to do, now that I have this option to skip the transferring tracing step and get more done faster.
I look forward to hearing other people's thoughts on this (positive or negative), once you get a chance to try it out. And listen... I've been working directly with the owners of this company, so any feedback you give me will go directly to the top. If you want a material that doesn't dissolve as fast, or wish it came in bulk packages for a discounted price, we might be able to make things happen. Keep the reviews coming.