Jack-o'-lantern carving 101

Pumpkin carving tips from graphic artist Ken Clayton of Knoxville, Tenn., also known as "Dr. Carvenstein:"

— Pick a firm pumpkin to carve. Soft ones "go down fast" when carved and can be dangerous if you hit a soft spot and the knife slips.

— Bigger pumpkins are easier to carve.

— Draw a design on a pumpkin with dry-erase or washable markers. You can wipe off mistakes or clean away lines you missed carving.

— Carve a mouth with big teeth and turned down corners for a scary pumpkin.

— A big, oval mouth with one, often off-center, tooth in the mouth's top or bottom helps give a pumpkin monster a frightened look.

— Tooth fall off? Break a toothpick in half and stick it in the broken tooth. Stick the tooth back in the pumpkin's mouth.

— If your pumpkin has eyeballs, drill holes in them with a chopstick or nutpick. Holes closer to the eye edge create a beady-eyed look.

— Replace a jack-o'-lantern's candle with a glowstick for younger children.

— Put carved pumpkin on an old tray or protective surface; they leave moisture spots.

— Carved pumpkins don't mind rain, but like it as cool as possible.