Step 1: Choosing your pumpkin

To select your pumpkin, first think about what design you want to carve. If it is a wide smiley face, a standard pumpkin should do. If you want to experiment, you could even try carving a butternut squash into a ghostly shape. Pumpkins also come in different colours so you may see them in colours ranging from white, through pale yellow to traditional orange, bright red varieties and even bluey-green varieties.

Size matters: will you just have one big jack-o'-lantern - or would a selection of smaller carved pumpkins look better?

If you are planning on eating the flesh, choose a firm pumpkin that is free of bruises and blemishes.

Finally check that it has a flat bottom so it will stand up properly.

Step 2: Cutting the lid

Put your pumpkin on a few sheets of newspaper - carving is messy work!

With a sharp thin-bladed knife, cut a hole around the stem to act as a lid. The hole should be big enough to allow you to scoop out the insides with your hands and a spoon.

While you are cutting, try to angle the lid into a slight cone shape - this will stop the lid from falling into the pumpkin.

Step 3: Removing the lid

Take off the lid and scoop out the seeds and stringy bits with your hands, using a spoon to dislodge the strings from the sides.

Don't throw the seeds away! You can toast these for a tasty healthy snack. Rinse them first, then toss them in a bowl with some olive oil and salt then roast in a single layer on a baking sheet at 200C for about 30 minutes until golden brown.

Step 4: Hollowing out the pumpkin

Now comes the bit requiring elbow grease. You can just carve your pumpkin once you have removed the seeds, but it seems a shame to waste all the delicious pumpkin flesh, so scoop it out with a metal spoon or ice-cream scoop and refridgerate until ready to use. Be careful not to push the spoon all the way through!

You can use the pumpkin flesh in many different ways. For our top ten squash recipes including pumpkin soup and pumpkin pie, click here.

Step 5: Drawing on your design

With a pen or grease crayon, mark out your design on the surface of the pumpkin. Most have a 'good side' so choose carefully which part you would like to feature your design.

Make sure that all the components touch the main pumpkin body (i.e. if you can't have bits that float, like pupils in the middle of eyes) and avoid very intricate designs that will be hard to cut or fragile once carved (the pumpkin tends to distort a little with the heat from the candle).

Step 6: Cutting the pattern

With a sharp knife, carefully cut through the flesh of the pumpkin following your design. If you have an intricate pattern, you may want to poke small holes with an awl or similar poking tool.

Step 7: Lighting the jack-o'-lantern

Place a tea-light in the bottom of the pumpkin, turn out the lights and step back and enjoy your handiwork!

Be careful not to leave the lit jack-o'-lantern unattended and if you start to smell burning, remove the lid or cut a hole in it.