Doting East Kilbride dad wows kids each Halloween with spooktacular pumpkin carving creations

-Credit: (Image: East Kilbride News)
-Credit: (Image: East Kilbride News)


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.

Carving out the latest superhero design -Credit:East Kilbride News
Carving out the latest superhero design -Credit:East Kilbride News
An impressive Dogpool, Deadpool & Wolverine topped off this year's efforts -Credit:East Kilbride News
An impressive Dogpool, Deadpool & Wolverine topped off this year's efforts -Credit:East Kilbride News

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!

Beetlejuice had to be on display this year -Credit:East Kilbride News
Beetlejuice had to be on display this year -Credit:East Kilbride News

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!

Blaire challenges daddy with Batman and Robin -Credit:East Kilbride News
Blaire challenges daddy with Batman and Robin -Credit:East Kilbride News
A young Blaire is delighted with the finished design -Credit:East Kilbride News
A young Blaire is delighted with the finished design -Credit:East Kilbride News

READ MORE: Extra date added for more autumn magic at East Kilbride's first pumpkin patch

"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 at Stirling's popular pumpkin patch Arnprior Farm -Credit:East Kilbride News
Blaire and Caleb at Stirling's popular pumpkin patch Arnprior Farm -Credit:East Kilbride News
Caleb and Blaire picking this year's pumpkins -Credit:East Kilbride News
Caleb and Blaire picking this year's pumpkins -Credit:East Kilbride News

"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 Mandalorian and Grogu -Credit:East Kilbride News
The Mandalorian and Grogu -Credit:East Kilbride News
Loki proved to be an extremely intricate carving -Credit:East Kilbride News
Loki proved to be an extremely intricate carving -Credit:East Kilbride News
Harry Styles was last year's tricky task -Credit:East Kilbride News
Harry Styles was last year's tricky task -Credit:East Kilbride News
Everyone's favourite Disney cartoon Bluey -Credit:East Kilbride News
Everyone's favourite Disney cartoon Bluey -Credit:East Kilbride News
A spooky Stitch -Credit:East Kilbride News
A spooky Stitch -Credit:East Kilbride News

"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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