Goddess Martha Stewart

All hail the great goddess Martha Stewart. It is fall around here, and my thoughts turn to fall crafts. Last year I learned to design fall pumpkins with lettering and designs in black Sharpies. (See old "craft" or "fall" posts.) They make great fall gifts and decorations. Monday I made this one for Mother-I-L's birthday. The excellent design came from Martha's latest magazine, of course.

Start with a clean pumpkin. Be sure there are no soft spots or blemishes to insure your pumpkin design lasts a long time. Wipe the pumpkin skin with a Clorox wipe, without soaking it.
This helps remove bacteria and any wax or preservative on the pumpkin. Let dry. Use a washable marker to sketch design on first, if desired. This can be wiped off with a damp towel after the design is finished. Use a black Sharpie to fill in and draw on your permanent design. While working use care not to smear the Sharpie ink before it is dry. Wipe off any washable marker lines when Sharpie is dry.