Ghost Face White Pumpkin with Diamond Sparkle Holes

Hollow the white pumpkin

Cut a lid at an angle so it stays in place, then scoop to a three-quarter-inch wall for clean cuts on the oval eyes and wavy mouth. Ivory and white pumpkins are often slightly smaller than orange ones, so a thinner wall is appropriate. Dry the face area well.

Draw the ghost face

Sketch two tall ovals for the eyes, centered in the upper half of the face. Below them, draw a wavy mouth line: start at one corner, dip gently, rise to a middle crest, dip again, and end at the other corner. Mark two blunt rectangular teeth hanging from the top edge of the wavy line.

Cut the oval eyes

Pierce near the center of one oval and saw smoothly around the shape, keeping the blade perpendicular to the rind. Tall ovals require rotating the pumpkin rather than bending the wrist; position yourself comfortably before each cut. Repeat for the second eye.

Cut the wavy mouth and teeth

Saw the wavy mouth outline in a single continuous motion if possible, entering at one corner and exiting at the other. If the wave is complex, cut it in two passes from the center outward. After removing the mouth background, cut the narrow slots on either side of each blunt tooth, keeping each tooth root wide and firmly attached.

Cut the diamond sparkle holes

Mark six small diamonds around the face, three to each side, keeping them spaced well away from the mouth and eyes. Use a small chisel to score the four corners of each diamond before cutting; this prevents the corner tips from tearing. Cut each diamond as a contained enclosed shape.

Seal and light

Spray the cut edges lightly with pumpkin preservative to slow browning on the white rind. Place a warm LED inside and position it slightly forward to push light into the mouth and eye openings. The white rind will glow softly around the features, giving the design a ghostly luminescence.