Carving a Watermelon

The patterns and instructions below
are provided by the National Watermelon Promotion Board. They
have several exciting and beautiful carving patterns from which to choose. Have a look for yourself by visiting their website at

http://www.watermelon.org

T-Rex Dinosaur    Flowering Garden

T-Rex Dinosaur

 

Materials: 

1 Round seedless watermelon
1 Small yellow watermelon or other colorful fruit for slicing
1 Channel knife (often found at the top of a vegetable peeler)
20-30 Wooden skewers for teeth
Toothpicks or hot glue gun

 

1. Wash the watermelons and cut ¼ inch slice off the bottom of the larger watermelon for stability. 

2. Use a pen to sketch out the open mouth design as seen in the picture.  Avoid drawing too far back on the jaw so you leave enough rind at the back of the jaw to support the top of the head.   

3. Cut out mouth section and clear the mouth area of fruit.  Use caution to avoid cracking the jaw.  Hollow out the top of the head first to cut down on weight.  Insert a large square of yellow watermelon inside the mouth to hold it open and support the top of the head. Take care not to over extend the jaw and crack the rind.

4. Cut the eyebrows and nostrils from a piece of the other rind.  The eyebrows will be cut like crescent moons, and the nostrils are cut in the shapes of inverted teardrops.  Use the channel knife to create the details on the eyebrows and within the nostrils (see picture for ideas).

5. Hollow out the eyes with a melon baller, cutting all the way through the outside of the rind.  Attach the eyebrows and nostrils to the head with either toothpicks or a glue gun.

6. With the second melon (or other colorful fruit) and the leftover flesh from the dinosaur head piece, cut triangular shapes that mimic jagged teeth.  Stuff these bite-sized pieces into the mouth of the dinosaur, filling in around the large square piece that is holding the mouth open.

7. Being very careful with the pointed ends, cut the skewers into various lengths and line the top and the bottom of the mouth with them just inside of the rind.  Place them in with the pointed end out, using pliers to help securing them in place.

  Caution: Pointed skewers are very sharp!  Make sure that guests, especially young ones, use a long-handled serving tool to avoid having hands come in contact with the sharp skewers.  You may even wish to remove a section of the skewer teeth prior to serving so the fruit can more easily be removed. 

Flowering Garden (Photo at top of page)

Materials: 
1 Oblong seeded watermelon
1 Small yellow watermelon (or substitute mini red watermelon or pineapple)
Flower shape cookie cutters
Melon baller
15-20 Skewers for flower stems
40-50 Popsicle or jumbo craft sticks for picket fence
Toothpicks
Hot glue gun
Green food coloring and pipe cleaners (optional)

1.  Wash the watermelons.  Cut a ¼ inch slice off the bottom of the oblong watermelon to provide a stable base.  Cut the top 1/3 off the watermelon lengthwise to provide the flower bed. 

2.  Cut out flat pieces from the flesh of the slice and from flesh from the flower bed piece.  Use cookie cutters (or free hand cut) for the desired shapes for flowers. Be sure to cut shapes from the yellow watermelon as well. (Shown are daisies and tulips.)

3.  Soak skewers in green food coloring, and set on paper towel to dry.

4.  Use a small melon baller to create flower centers from both the yellow and red watermelons.  Assemble the flowers by attaching the center balls with toothpicks. Place entire flower head on tinted green skewers.  Insert skewer flower stems into base flower bed.  Be sure to alternate colors and feel free to experiment with other colorful fruits like cantaloupe or blueberries.

5.  Fill the basket flower bed with the rest of the fruit in flower shapes and balls.  Shape a couple pipe cleaners into leaves and carefully attach to the skewer stems. 

6.  Using extreme caution use a hot glue gun to attach the Popsicle sticks around the flower bed as shown to create a fence for the garden.  Garnish with other fun shapes such as butterflies or honeybees.

Watermelon Serves Up Medially Important Amino Acid       Lycopene Leader
Vitamins & Minerals          Watermelon History & Fun Facts    
Watermelon Recipes & Storage & Choosing Tips   
Watermelon Carving & Instructions         Games for Kids

All photos and text provided by the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
For more information, recipes and ideas, please visit them at http://www.watermelon.org