Once you've gathered your guests at your haunted abode, provide them with some inspiration for their jack-o'-lanterns. We've strayed from the traditional triangular eyes and toothy grin and turned to our furry, four-legged friends for creative help.

Materials:
Pumpkin
Utility knife
White paper or carbon paper
Printer
Masking tape
Carving knife

Step 1: Make a face
Find a photo of your pet's face and open it in your photo-editing program. Save a copy in case you make a mistake and want to go back to the original. (Click here to see images.)

We used a black-and-white effect to remove the colour and add more definition to the image. Then we adjusted the exposure and lighting levels, using the sliders to enhance the shadows, bump up the contrast and increase the highlights. Experimenting with these levels will allow you to adjust the image enough until you have some distinct areas to cut out.

Step 2: Create your template
Crop your image so the face is as large as possible for an 8-1/2x 11 sheet. Print your image on paper and outline the parts you'd like to cut out using marker or pen. Try to exaggerate different parts of the face. Use a sharp utility knife to remove the marked areas. Tape your template to the pumpkin. You may need to work on one part at a time as the sheet will not lie flat for the entire page. You could also use carbon paper to trace the areas you'd like to remove right onto the pumpkin. (Click here to see images.)

Step 3: Carve and display
Once you've traced your image, carve out the marked areas. When you're satisfied with your face, insert a candle and show off your work. (Click here to see images.)