• Before you begin: Find a reference photo of the face you want to carve, set up a lamp above your work area, and fill a spray bottle with water.

To prep

• Pick a pumpkin that feels heavy for its size and has a thick stem. Tall, skinny pumpkins work best for faces.
• Gather your ribbon loop tools. Use the biggest loop to scrape off the skin and smaller loops for the features. Save the X-Acto knife for the end.

To carve the face

• Scrape the skin off where the face will go, then carve in the brow line and the nose to set your proportions.
• Leave the tip of the nose alone. Push the eye sockets and cheeks back around it, then make two small cuts for the nostrils.
• Add the facial features. Carve folds around the eyes, creases in the forehead and the shape of the mouth. For a tongue, cut a piece from the back of the same pumpkin.
• Use a mirror to get the expression right. Cut the hole for the tongue slowly so it fits tight, then shape the lips and chin around it.
• Smooth the carved areas with a Scotch-Brite pad to take down the tool marks.
• Define the face. Push back the area under the cheekbones and shape the chin and jawline. Add folds under the chin and wrinkles across the forehead.
• Study how the folds, chin and muscles around the mouth and cheeks work as you carve so you can use them on your next face.
• Cut in the deep shadows. On the deepest creases, make one cut at an angle and a second from the opposite angle, then pull out the sliver between them.

To finish

• Preserve your carving. Mist it with water while you work. To keep it overnight, spray it with bleach water (or lemon juice and water) and cover it with a damp towel.