Bold Glowing Star Cutout Pumpkin on a Concrete Step

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep and select your pumpkin

   Choose a pumpkin with a smooth, slightly flat front face so the star sits evenly. Cut the lid from the back, scoop the interior to a consistent inch of wall thickness, and wipe the face dry before applying the template.

2. 2

   Print and scale the star template

   Print a five-point star and scale it so its widest points are roughly two-thirds the diameter of your pumpkin face. Tape the template to the pumpkin face and perforate all five outer edges and the inner angles with a pushpin, spacing dots about a quarter inch apart.

3. 3

   Score and confirm the layout

   Remove the paper and review the perforated outline. Confirm all five points are equally long and the inner angles between the points look even. If one angle looks sharper or wider than the others, mark a corrected line before cutting.

4. 4

   Cut the star

   Insert the jab saw at one inner angle and cut toward the first outer point, drawing the blade smoothly from base to tip in one pass. Pivot the saw at the point and continue to the next inner angle. Repeat around all five points in sequence. Avoid sawing back and forth at the tips, which can crack the narrow points.

5. 5

   Remove the piece and clean edges

   Pop out the star cutout and check all five points and inner angles. Use a detail knife to clean any rough spots, focusing especially on the inner angles where two cuts meet. Smooth edges make the star read as a clean geometric shape rather than a rough cut.

6. 6

   Place the light and display

   Center an LED tea light directly behind the star inside the pumpkin. Place the pumpkin on the concrete step with the star facing outward. The simple, graphic shape looks striking in complete darkness with no other decoration needed.

Written with AI to match this design