Flexed Biceps Emoji Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick and open the pumpkin

   Choose a large pumpkin with one broad, fairly flat face and a wall thick enough to hold a big solid shape. Cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top so the front face stays uninterrupted for your design. Scoop the inside until the front wall is about an inch thick, scraping the carving area a little thinner so cuts go smoothly. An adult should handle all the cutting and scooping.

2. 2

   Transfer the emoji outline

   Print or draw the flexed biceps shape at a size that fills most of the face, running from lower left up to the raised fist at upper right. Tape the pattern on off-center so the arm sits over the thickest part of the wall. Poke closely spaced holes along every outline with a pin or transfer tool, then peel the paper and connect the dots with a washable marker. Double check that the fist and the upper arm are drawn as one connected shape.

3. 3

   Score the skin bridge

   Before cutting, lightly trace the narrow join between the raised fist and the bulging upper arm so you remember to leave it solid. This bridge of uncut skin is what keeps the fist from becoming a floating island. Keep it generous, at least an inch or two wide, so the shape stays strong. Everything inside the arm outline stays as skin; everything outside gets removed.

4. 4

   Cut the background openings

   Using a fine serrated carving saw, cut through the large background area around the arm, working in small sections. Start with the tighter curves near the fist and elbow, then open up the big glowing field last so the pumpkin keeps its rigidity as long as possible. Angle the blade straight in and let the saw do the work with gentle pressure. Push finished pieces out toward you carefully.

5. 5

   Clean edges and add a soft glow

   Run your saw or a small knife back along the cut edges to smooth them so the silhouette line looks crisp when lit. If you want the arm to feel more three dimensional, lightly peel a thin strip of skin along the inner curve of the muscle for a dim highlight. Wipe away marker lines with a damp cloth. Set a battery LED puck or string inside, never a candle.

6. 6

   Light it and shoot your photo

   Place the pumpkin where the front face catches a dark background and switch on the LED. Rotate it until the fist and forearm read clearly and the bridge reads as one continuous arm. Shoot in low ambient light so the cutout glows and the skin stays dark. Share your take with the community when you are happy with it.