How long do carved pumpkins last - and how can I preserve it?

One of the best things about Halloween is wowing your friends with your awesome pumpkin carving skills.

But sadly, nothing lasts forever - and that includes your spooky works of art with orange gourds!

Jack O'Lanterns will only stay fresh for three or four days - so don't get your carving knives out just yet!

But if you can't wait, here's a little tip for keeping your pumpkin creation relatively stable for up to 10 days.

Kids - make sure an adult is on hand to help you.

• After it's been carved, rinse it out with water to get rid of the excess stringy bits.
• Fill a large bucket with about three gallons of water
• Add three teaspoons of bleach to the water and stir.
• Put the pumpkin in the water and hold it under water for about two minutes. Wear gloves.
• Take it out of the water and let it dry.

Not sure how to carve your pumpkin? Here are some tips!

Click below to see some of the best pumpkin creations from last year! Think you can beat them? Fill out the form below the gallery with your pictures!