Easy Football Silhouette Glowing Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Select and hollow

   Pick a medium pumpkin with a relatively flat face so the football template sits without buckling. Cut a bottom opening, scoop out all pulp, and scrape the inner wall to about three-quarter-inch thickness behind the design area.

2. 2

   Print and tape the stencil

   Scale a football outline to fit the pumpkin face with at least one inch of rind on every side. Tape the template flat and firmly so it does not shift during pin transfer. A few extra pieces of tape on the edges prevent the paper from lifting mid-punch.

3. 3

   Pin-transfer the outline

   Punch holes every quarter inch along the entire football perimeter, including the lace bar if your stencil includes it. Remove the stencil carefully and connect the pin marks visually before beginning to cut.

4. 4

   Cut the football aperture

   Enter the rind at a pin mark and follow the dotted oval with smooth, continuous saw strokes. On the pointed ends of the football, ease the blade around the curve rather than pivoting sharply to prevent cracking. Adults should handle the saw.

5. 5

   Check the glow

   Place an amber LED inside and dim the surrounding lights. The glowing football oval should read clearly against the dark rind. If the shape looks too small, you can carefully widen the aperture by thin slices along the edge.

6. 6

   Finish and preserve

   Coat all cut edges with petroleum jelly, replace the LED, and position the pumpkin on your porch step with the football face aimed at passersby. Bring it inside during heavy rain to extend its display life.

Written with AI to match this design