Bingo Blue Heeler Pumpkin With Raised Ears

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep and gut the pumpkin

   Bottom-cut and gut the pumpkin, scraping the inner walls to roughly an inch thick for even light distribution. Pay extra attention to the upper area where the ear extensions will sit, thinning it slightly more so the attachment points do not crack when you work near the top edge.

2. 2

   Transfer the main face stencil

   Pin the face portion of the stencil to the center of the pumpkin and trace all the cut and scrape lines with a poke tool. Mark the ear attachment points clearly at the top. Remove the stencil and review the layout before making any cuts.

3. 3

   Cut the face openings

   Saw the hollow oval eyes, round nose hole, and broad smile arc first, keeping bridges generous. Tidy the edges, then scrape the backed muzzle and patch details with a narrow gouge to a shallow depth. Test the overall face with an LED inside before moving to the ears.

4. 4

   Prepare the raised ear pieces

   Cut two ear-shaped pieces from a second pumpkin or from thick scrap rind if available. Shape each ear so it has a wide flat base that can sit flush against the top of the carved pumpkin's rim. Sand the bases lightly so they sit level without rocking.

5. 5

   Secure the ears

   Attach each ear base to the pumpkin's top edge using sturdy toothpicks pushed horizontally through both the ear base and the pumpkin wall, supplemented with a dab of hot glue on the exterior for stability. Hold each ear in place for 30 seconds while the glue sets. Check that both ears stand at the same angle before the glue hardens completely.

6. 6

   Photograph and display

   The raised ear silhouette reads best in natural daylight from a few feet away, so photograph the design before dusk. For evening display, place an LED inside and add a small spotlight aimed at the ears from slightly above. Store the pumpkin in a cool spot to extend the display life of both the main gourd and the ear pieces.

Written with AI to match this design