Four-Wing Butterfly Jack-O-Lantern with Round Sky Holes

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prepare the pumpkin

   Open the pumpkin from the back and scoop to a consistent one-inch wall, confirming the area designated for the central body stays closer to one and a half inches thick since it will be scooped from the outside later. Dry the surface before templating.

2. 2

   Lay out all five elements

   Sketch or pin-transfer the four teardrop wing positions and the central body outline lightly in pencil. Space the wings symmetrically with the two upper teardrops angled outward and the two lower ones angled downward. Mark the four round accent positions in the gaps between the wing tips.

3. 3

   Cut the four teardrop wing apertures

   Saw each teardrop shape fully through the shell. Cut opposing wings in sequence (upper left, then upper right, then lower left, then lower right) to keep the pumpkin balanced as material is removed. Move slowly around the pointed tip of each teardrop.

4. 4

   Add the round sky accent holes

   Use an apple corer or drill bit to punch the four round accent holes in the gaps between the wings. Check their spacing from the teardrop edges before cutting to ensure a clean margin of rind remains around each one.

5. 5

   Shallow scoop the central body

   Using a small spoon, linoleum cutter, or clay tool, scoop the central body from the outside to about half the wall thickness. This lets a faint glow bleed through the thinned area while keeping the body intact as a structural element.

6. 6

   Light and display

   Place a bright LED inside and set beside a garden fence at dusk. The four distinct teardrop shadows cast onto nearby surfaces are the main visual effect at a distance. Apply petroleum jelly to all cut and scooped surfaces.

Written with AI to match this design