Easy Glinda Crown Pumpkin Carving from Wicked

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Hollow and mark the crown

   Gut the pumpkin from the back. Sketch a crown shape centered on the face: a wide base with three or five pointed tips above it. Keep the whole crown opening within the center two-thirds of the pumpkin face so there is plenty of rind border all around. Transfer with a poking tool if using a printed template.

2. 2

   Cut the crown base strip first

   Begin with the horizontal base of the crown before tackling the pointed tips. A straight or gently curved base is easier to start on than an acute point. Once the base is cut, the shape is established and the points become easier to judge.

3. 3

   Cut each crown point

   Work the points one at a time using the two-direction meeting-cut technique: saw along one side of a point to within a millimeter of the tip, then saw along the other side until both cuts meet cleanly at the apex. Lift the blade out rather than pivoting it at the sharp tip.

4. 4

   Remove the crown piece

   Once the outline is complete, press the crown piece through from the outside or push it inward carefully. Use a small paring knife to clean any ragged rind fibers from the interior edges. Clean straight edges on the crown base are as important as the points for the finished look.

5. 5

   Punch the three sparkle holes

   Mark three small star or diamond shapes above and around the crown, spaced at least an inch from each other and from the crown edge. Punch each one through with a small chisel or apple corer. Star shapes can be approximated with five small straight cuts radiating from a center point.

6. 6

   Place the LED and display

   Drop a warm white or pale pink LED inside the pumpkin and check that light reaches all three sparkle holes. The crown and sparkles together read as Glinda's magical presence immediately. Display at eye level near a dark surface for maximum glow impact.

Written with AI to match this design