Club Jade

It’s the time of year when one’s fancy turns to carving squash and dressing up… And candy. I can’t help you with candy (uhh… go to the store?) but I can point you in the right direction for the rest.

• Taking the early lead in the category of ‘most impressive’ is Noel Dickover of Fantasy Pumpkins with a truly impressive R2-D2 pumpkin. (You might not remember the name, but you will recall the internet-famous Death Star.)

• For those of us perhaps less skilled in the dark arts, StarWars.com still has their handy selection of Star Wars carving templates – and I saw the Clone Wars kit in Target just last week.
• Or create your own… And be sure to enter them in Thinkgeek’s pumpkin template contest.

But pumpkins are only part of the Halloween fun… I’m sure you know this already if you plan to enter, but it’s Rebelscum costume contest time! They’re always a hoot – just make sure to read the rules! (Please, someone dress up as Luke’s hand.)

• No costume? There are some nice costume discounts at StarWarsShop. And if you spend over $25, you’ll get free Katie Cook iron-ons

• It might not be too late to nab something handmade off Etsy (check with individual sellers for shipping times.)
• And no Halloween post is complete without a link to the super-easy Jedi robe tutorial. Accessorize as needed or go low-rent glam with a paper mask.

Check out our Halloween tag for the hits of previous years.

StarWars.com discovered this Chewbacca pumpkin – it’s furry! Head on over to see the completed version.

CC BY 2.0

Star Wars pumpkins are always a popular subject at this time of year, and the flood has already begun: There’s a big roundup of faces over at Walyou. Above, a dizzying array of carved (foam) pumpkins captured on camera by Dayna. But wait! I too can browse…

• You should already know of the Death Star pumpkin which shot to fame a few years back, but each year there are variations. (And then some.)

• Several impressive specimens – including an X-Wing – in San Francisco last year.
• In the same vein, an all-over Artoo.
• Speaking of carving, this is impressive – and must have taken days.
• A step-by-step on making an Imperial pumpkin.
• Want something simpler, and a lot less knifey? Princess Leia Gourdgana may be your answer.
• Also… Ackbar! Darth Squash! An amazingly detailed Yoda!

Looking to make your own? StarWars.com has some stencils (last year brought a lesson from Lawrence Noble;) Ether Graphics still has their offerings up, and the Boba Fett Multimedia Page has an entire tutorial.

But for can’t miss high quality pumpkin action? PumpkinGutter.com is a must see. They’ve featured you’ll-never-top-this carving of Yoda, Vader, Chewbacca, Greedo and many more.

A prank no more! ThinkGeek (newly redesigned!) will be selling their internet-famous Tauntaun Sleeping Bag for real come November. Or you could win one in their Geeky Pumpkin Template Design Contest Extravaganza.

My first inkling of this was a tweet from Lucasfilm’s Leland Chee (@HolocronKeeper,) who also confirmed that a (licensed) lightsaber Wii remote will soon be available. Okay, so the Wii thing is old news, but my memory isn’t what it used to be… At least not for game peripherals.

StarWars.com has instructions from Lawrence Noble on how to make a spooky Yoda pumpkin.

Most of the patterns on FantasyPumpkins.com are for advanced carvers only, but you don’t need mad skills to look, thankfully. For those willing to take a whack (bad choice of words?) there is a brand new tutorial on making last year’s hit, the Death Star pumpkin, above.

Alas, the free templates on StarWars.com were a victim of the redesign, but Bonnie did find an alternate application for this year. And there’s always Fett, I suppose. Or the Clone Wars kit available at a store near you. Ahh, capitalism.

Have a favorite pumpkin-carving site or pattern? Share the URL!

As our national nightmare of ‘the holiday season’ begins, bid a fond farewell to the last sane holiday of the year with yet more Star Wars pumpkins and the evolution of Chewbacca.

/film has a collection of Cinematic Pumpkin Carvings, leading off with plenty of Star Wars offerings.

Wired is looking for geeky pumpkins… And the TOSblog found a fricking awesome Death Star one to illustrate. Want.

I didn’t almost forget Halloween – I am just in a deep blogging funk. I meant to do this Friday. Sorry, folks. :(

Templates

• Hidden in the depths of Star Wars.com, and brought to light here, are Spooky Sith-O-Lanterns. Selections include insignia, masks, and Yoda.

• Nab a couple of fan-made templates here, or throw a couple of bucks towards the Zombie Pumpkin folks.
• Pink Raygun has an impressive selection of geeky carving templates: Star Trek, Firefly/Heroes, Pan’s Labyrinth, and Donnie Darko
• And finally, for the more traditonally inclined, how about some elaborate skulls or more simple fare?

Deep geekery

• Candles are so twentieth century. Why not light your creations with LED?

• 8-bit gourds
• Pumpkin smoke bombs
• Robotic Snap-O-Lantern
• I actually remember these from last year, but what the hell: Cylon and Dalek pumpkins.