You've been carving your pumpkin all wrong - ultimate guide and spooky ideas

It's October 31 which means , the time for trick or treating, apple bobbing and .

But while most kids go mad for the , not all parents are good at crafting them a perfect orange lantern.

There are a few common errors people make when trying to create the best in the street but thankfully we're here to help.

Here's our advice on what to avoid doing this time around, with tools among the important things to remember.

And once you know how to proceed, try our ghostly ideas to make your pumpkin the pick of the patch...

READ MORE:

Don't take the lid off the top

It may come as a surprise to hear some experts say take the bottom off the pumpkin, rather than the top, so you can scoop out its squishy insides. This is so the sides of the fruit remain more stable when the carving begins.

Traditionalists who like to take off the top should do it at an angle to keep stability.

Don't use a flat knife

Flat knives and pumpkin carving don't go together - they can get stuck in the fruit for a start. A serrated bread knife is what you want or even better, pay a pound or two for a carving kit. These come with mini saws, popping out tools and scoopers and are available from most .

Don't have an accident

Carving injuries can happen all too easily due to the sharp implements involved with the mushy fruit. Be sure to remove moisture from hands, carving boards and knives as this can cause slippage and do take your time when carving - slow and steady will achieve the perfect pumpkin.

Spectacularly spooky carving ideas Keep it simple

Sometimes simple is best so get your kid to draw their perfect spooky face on the pumpkin - don't use a permanent marker like a Sharpie for this but something you can remove just in case - then carve up a storm. Other simple ideas include carving spooky words like BOO or drawing a Halloween animal like a cat or a bat.

And how about a moon and stars to reflect Halloween's night time feel? Above all don't worry - pumpkins always look much better when night time sets in...

Stage your lanterns

A group of pumpkins can look much more impressive than a solo carved fruit, particularly if they vary in shape, colour, size and design. Even if your individual carving efforts aren't the best, group them up in an artistic way for a perfectly spooky doorstep - why not add some autumn leaves?

Think outside the box

If you do want to carve an intricate design on your pumpkin, try using a template or sketching it on a piece of paper first. Stick the creation on the pumpkin and use a carving tool to etch it through the paper into the fruit.

Scary movie characters always go down a storm but some creative types like to think outside the box when it comes to their lanterns.

READ MORE: