Editor’s Tip: Displaying your carved pumpkin outside? Get our must-have tips for making your pumpkins last longer. Editor’s Tip: If you’re creating a painted Halloween pumpkin, use long-lasting acrylic paint. Editor’s Tip: When prepping your pumpkin for carving, clean at least 1/2-inch of flesh from the inside of the pumpkin. This allows more light to glow through the etched areas—like this pumpkin’s eyes.