Although carving turnips is the Halloween tradition here in Scotland, the average household will carve a pumpkin - this is because it is much easier to carve and either way you have a ton of creative freedom.
To get started all you need is the root vegetable of your choice, a reliable set of carving tools, a splash of patience but firstly a little inspiration, assuming you want to create art beyond the average Jack-O-Lantern.
To make your carved gourd as ‘gourd-eous’ as it can be this year, here are 13 brilliant pumpkin carving ideas you can try this Halloween - ranging from easy to difficult.
9. Pumpkin'ception - one Pumpkin inside another
This design can be as complicated as you want it to be. To make it look as visually impressive as the one above will require some patience and skill with your carving - but even a basic pumpkin face with a miniature gourd popped on the mouth will make your pumpkin stand out this Halloween. Photo: Submitted
10. The Lion PumpKing
This requires a little extra DIY to pull off but you'll feel a strong sense of 'pride' after you successfully do it. By using a separate petite gourd to form the snout of the Lion, coupled with a decorative mane and a carved face, you've got yourself a brilliant and one-of-a-kind design. Photo: @posh.palmer
11. MineCarve - the Minecraft Pumpkin
Looking for a challenge? It's not easy to create a digital visual effect on an organic root vegetable but if you feel up to trying then it is sure to wow all who see it. Minecraft was released over a decade ago but it still remains a hit worldwide in the gaming community. Photo: Hemwil via Reddit
12. Jack-O-Lanternfish
The actual species is called an Anglerfish but you get the idea. If you have the talent to carve a menacing looking fish face then attach a miniature pumpkin design onto that in a way that resembles its bioluminescent predatory light then you've got a 'pumpkin of the year' on your hands. Photo: Burgleroid via Reddit