Easy Vampire Face Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick and prep the pumpkin

   Choose a round pumpkin with a wide, fairly smooth front face so the bold shapes have room to breathe. Have an adult cut a lid from the back or bottom rather than the top, which keeps the front clean for the design. Scoop the insides and thin the front carving wall to about one inch so your saw glides through. A flat, even inner wall makes every cut easier.

2. 2

   Transfer the vampire face

   Tape a printed stencil over the front, or sketch the shapes directly with a washable marker. Aim for a tall widow's-peak brow across the top, two slanted almond eyes below it, and a wide grin with two fangs pointing down from the upper lip. Add a small flared collar shape on each side at the bottom. Poke along every outline with a pin tool or toothpick to leave a dotted guide before you remove the paper.

3. 3

   Cut the eyes and brow first

   Start with the smaller openings while the pumpkin is still solid. Saw out the two angled eyes with slow, steady strokes, letting the saw do the work instead of forcing it. Then cut the widow's-peak brow, following the dotted line so the peak dips down in the center. Cutting these first keeps the face rigid before you open the larger mouth.

4. 4

   Carve the grin and fangs

   Outline the mouth, then remove the open grin area in sections rather than one big piece. Leave the two fangs as solid triangles attached to the top edge of the mouth so they stay strong and will not snap. Keep each fang a little thicker at the base than it looks in the sketch for extra support. Clean up the edges so the smile reads clearly from a distance.

5. 5

   Peel the collar and shade

   For the cape collar shapes at each side, skip cutting all the way through and instead peel just the skin so they glow a soft dim orange. Use a lino tool or the tip of a spoon to shave off the outer layer to a shallow, even depth. This gives the vampire a little dimension without weakening the pumpkin. Test the effect by holding a light behind the wall.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Drop in a battery LED light, warm white or amber, and set the pumpkin on the porch after dark. Skip real candles, since the fangs and narrow brow points can dry out and scorch. Take your photo slightly off to the side so the angled eyes catch the glow and look menacing. Wipe the cut edges with a little petroleum jelly to slow drying and keep the grin crisp for a few extra days.