Cheerleader with Pom-Poms Cutout Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a big, smooth pumpkin and open a back lid

   Choose a large pumpkin with a wide, even face so the full figure fits from the raised arms down to the feet. Cut an access lid in the back rather than the top so the front stays clean, angling the knife inward so the lid rests on a ledge. Scoop out the insides and thin the carving wall to about one inch. A thinner wall makes the many small frond cuts much easier.

2. 2

   Transfer the cheerleader stencil

   Print the silhouette sized to fill most of the front, then tape it flat and poke through the outline with a pin or a transfer wheel. Space your dots close together around the tricky spots like the pom-pom points and the bent knee. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker so you can read the shape. Double check that the raised arms and pom-poms sit high enough to clear the shoulder curve of the pumpkin.

3. 3

   Carve the pom-pom fronds first

   Start with the two pom-poms up high using a small keyhole saw, cutting each spiky petal one at a time. Work from the center of each burst outward so you always have solid pumpkin to brace against. Take short, gentle strokes on the thin points and pop each piece out before moving to the next. Doing these detailed cuts while the rest of the shell is still intact keeps everything stable.

4. 4

   Cut the arms and torso

   Move down to the arms, then the body of the figure, following your outline with steady saw strokes. Cut the narrower shapes like the wrists and neck slowly so you do not crack across into the skirt. Keep the leftover pumpkin flesh in place until each section is fully cut, then push pieces out from inside. Wipe away marker lines as you go with a damp cloth.

5. 5

   Save the skirt and legs, keep the feet bridged

   Cut the largest openings, the skirt and the kicking legs, last so the face of the pumpkin holds its shape as long as possible. Leave a thin strip of skin connecting the feet to the base so the standing leg stays anchored and does not tear free. If a section feels floppy, stop and leave a small bridge of skin to support it. Clean up any ragged edges with the tip of your saw.

6. 6

   Light it and take your photo

   Drop in a battery LED light or two, never a candle, since the wide cutouts breathe plenty of air and open flame is a fire risk. Set the pumpkin on a dark surface so the bright silhouette really stands out. Shoot your photo in a dim room to capture the glow through the pom-poms and skirt. Prop the back lid slightly open if you need a bit more airflow or brightness.