Spooky season is made extra special for East Kilbride kids Blaire and Caleb McKenna thanks to their doting dad’s spooktacular pumpkin carving skills.
Jamie McKenna told Lanarkshire Live each Halloween his little trick or treaters task him with an even more difficult design than the last.
His crafty creations over the years include superheroes Spider-Man and Batman and Robin, Star Wars favourites The Mandalorian and Grogu, Disney’s Stitch and Bluey and even pop star Harry Styles.
And this year’s effort has proved to be the trickiest so far with Beetlejuice and stars of Deadpool & Wolverine putting Jamie’s carving skills to the test. Even Dogpool managed to make an appearance!
Pub manager Jamie, 40, told us: “It all started with my daughter Blaire (nine) asking for a superhero pumpkin. I am creative but I’m no artist so I wanted to try and carve without going all the way through the pumpkin.
“I had seen some amazing artists on Instagram but started with a traced Spider-Man and used a Dremel to shave it away – and I was over the moon with the results. I was however barred from using a Dremel since as there was pumpkin up the walls!
“It’s become a bit of a tradition with my son Caleb (six) coming along and getting in on the action, I now try two big carves a year. We visit a pumpkin farm and I look for the biggest two that I think could fit this year’s idea.
“Blaire and Caleb will both throw bigger and harder requests like last year’s Harry styles and Deadpool.
“Every year I try something a bit harder and try learn from every one I do. I love the challenge and still can’t draw so all designs start as a printed picture and I cut and trace the details onto the pumpkin with a sharpie and carve with a craft knife.
“The feedback for the pumpkins is always fun with the odd question about how. The way I carve isn’t hard to do, it just takes a little practice. Everybody should give it a go!”
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