Eerie Deer Face Pumpkin on a Stump

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep the pumpkin

   Cut a wide lid from the bottom or back of the pumpkin rather than the top so the stem stays intact as a natural prop. Scoop out all seeds and stringy pulp until the interior walls are about 2.5 cm thick. A consistent wall thickness makes the glow from an LED tea light even across every opening.

2. 2

   Transfer the stencil

   Print the deer face stencil and tape it securely to the front of the pumpkin. Use a pin tool or poker to perforate along every outline, spacing holes about 5 mm apart. Remove the paper and connect the dots with a pencil to produce a clear cutting guide.

3. 3

   Carve the eyes and mouth

   Cut both eye openings first, pressing a thin-blade carving knife straight through the rind along each perforation line. The mouth is the next largest opening: cut the outer boundary, then remove the piece, leaving the two upper-rooted teeth attached at the top edge of the mouth. Adults should handle all cutting steps.

4. 4

   Etch the antlers and number 99

   Use a small linoleum gouge or the flat edge of a detail tool to score the antler outline just deep enough to remove the outer orange skin without cutting through the flesh. The same shallow cut works for the 99 numerals. The result is a faint amber glow through the thinned rind that contrasts nicely with the brighter eye and mouth openings.

5. 5

   Light and stabilize

   Place a flickering LED tea light inside through the bottom opening. Never use a real candle; LED lights run cool, reducing the risk of burns and slowing the pumpkin's decay. Check that the pumpkin sits flat and does not wobble on its display surface.

6. 6

   Set the scene and photograph

   Place the carved pumpkin on a tree stump if you have one, or on a flat piece of bark or rough wood. Scatter a few dry leaves around the base for atmosphere. Photograph at dusk when ambient light is low enough to make the glowing eyes and mouth stand out clearly.

Written with AI to match this design