Recently I was contacted by the National Watermelon Promotion Board and asked to participate in its first-ever kid-tastic Watermelon Blogger Challenge. The task was simple: create a watermelon recipe, a reproduction of one of the watermelon carvings on the watermelon.org site or an original watermelon carving for the chance to win a prize. I was so excited about submitting an entry, especially since I was able to enter more than once if I desired!
I knew right away that I would be choosing to do some carving and while I am going to be creating an original watermelon carving for the contest, I decided to also reproduce one of the carvings on the site: the Watermelon Flower. The National Watermelon Promotion Board very generously sent me a watermelon carving kit containing aprons, an ice bucket, a watermelon knife, a cutting board and a watermelon to help me get started.
The process for creating this pretty flower centrepiece was very simple. I just cut off the bottom of the melon to make a flat base, drew the flower petal design on the melon, cut off the top third of the melon and then cut along the flower design to create two layers of petals. I decided to add a little extra flair to the carving by cutting the top third of the watermelon into another layer of flower petals as well. After that, it was lots of scooping and chopping of watermelon flesh. Finally, I layered the three petal-shaped rinds and filled the resulting bowl with watermelon chunks.
The finishing touch was the creation of three pretty flowers to decorate the top of the watermelon flower bowl. I used the white rind from the top third of the melon that I had removed to cut out the flower shapes and then placed watermelon circles on the centre of the flowers. Just like that, my watermelon flower creation was complete!
I had so much fun carving the melon and I can’t wait to create and share my custom carving next week. If you tend to stick to simply slicing and serving your watermelon, why not check out some of the tasty recipes and creative carvings at watermelon.org and try something a little different with your next melon? It’s a great way to make one of summer’s sweetest treats even sweeter!
Beautiful!! That’s genius! I’m so amazed at these watermelon carvings I’m seeing and think they’re such a great idea! Good luck in the contest
Thanks Brandi! It was quite easy too; I was pleasantly surprised!
TOO much fun! I pinned it
You can do so many fun things with a watermelon, in fact, I carved one into a Baby Carriage for my sister’s baby shower – have yet to post about it, but I will try to remember to link up to your post when I do!
Oh you’ll have to come share that post for sure, Amanda! I’ve always wanted to make one of those baby carriages, but I’ve never had an excuse; I need a baby shower to plan! LOL
That is awesome. I don’t think I would have the patience to create it.
It’s actually pretty easy; cutting the petal shapes took the longest but it was really only a few extra minutes. What surprised me was how messy it was; all that juice makes for some sticky carving!
Looks awesome!!
Thanks Jody!
how cute is that? great job!
Aww, thank Jen! It was so much fun!
Ummm, amazing! I can’t wait to see your original entry! I’ve passed this along to my wife as it might be something fun for her day care to do as a project. Thanks!
Thanks Chris! This was fun but I’m going to do an actual carving for my original entry; like a jack-o-lantern but with a watermelon. I may not look it, but I’m actually a master pumpkin carver!
That’s true, it would make a fun day care project. Just be prepared for a LOT of sticky kids after!
Oh wow!! You have a real talent, Kathryn!
Beautiful work!
Thanks Soozle! I’m hoping my original carving will be even better, but we’ll see!
Wow! Way to go mama! That looks beautiful
Thanks Erica! I really do love how it turned out!
Very cool! I never thought to carve up a watermelon like that.
One of my favourites on the website was of a shark; I’d love to try that one too one day! But I kept it simple for my first attempt!
For some reason it seems really funny to me that they sent you a watermelon. lol! I am wowed and very impressed with your mad carving skills. Great job!
Bwa ha! You know, Pam, I totally expected a coupon for a free watermelon; there IS something funny about having a watermelon shipped to your door!
Thanks so much!
That is amazing!! You did a fabulous job! I hope you win
Aww, thanks Wendy! It was fun and I love carving things; I actually enter a pumpkin-carving contest every year!
Wow…you are very talented Kathryn, it looks awesome!! I think you should win first place, good luck!
Thank you Monica! I’m sure there will be some amazing entries, but the fun of carving is enough of a prize for me!
Wow, that is fantastic! I wouldn’t know even where to start with creating a carving like that. It’s beautiful! Good luck to you!
Thanks Brandi! I’m so pleased with how it turned out; about halfway through things were NOT going well; my two layers wouldn’t fit together and looked all bizarre. Thank goodness I though of adding another layer of petals!
Wow, lovely! My kids love watermelons and I’m sure they will love it more when they see this. I hope I could also carve like you. Hmmmm …. just thinking … maybe I should try at home.
Oh you definitely should! It’s lots of fun!
WOW! That is SPECTACULAR!!! Can you come over and make one of those for Little One’s 4th Birthday in Nov? LOL! xo
Do you think it would stand up to being mailed? LOL Oh, you know what? I’ll make you one at SCCTO and she can have it for an early birthday present!
That is so pretty! When I worked for Holland America, I always wanted the crew to teach me how to do those fancy fruit creations!
Thanks Shannon! Wouldn’t that be neat? I always felt that way about the towel creations the maids make in resorts too; how cool would it be to do that for your own bedroom? Ah, one day I’ll teach myself!
Gorgeous! I love that it’s not just pretty but also still totally edible when you’re done. Can’t wait to see what you come up with for your custom entry!
Thanks Deanna, that’s what I loved about it too! My carvings are usually more jack-o-lantern style, which means we’re gonna have a LOT of watermelon to eat after I do my original one! (Hmm, maybe I should be entering a recipe too after all!)