Ghost-Surprised Face Very Tall Skinny Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep the pumpkin

   Cut a wide back opening for scooping rather than a top lid, since the tall shape makes reaching down inside from the top awkward. Scoop to an even 2.5-centimeter wall thickness throughout. The extra height means more flesh to remove, so plan for 15 to 20 minutes of scooping.

2. 2

   Identify the rib direction

   Run your fingers down the pumpkin surface to feel the vertical ribs. Mark a straight center line down the face panel between two ribs. Plan each eye hole to sit on a flat panel between ribs, running vertically with the rib direction.

3. 3

   Mark the eyes

   Draw two tall narrow rectangles or softly pointed ovals, each about 6 to 8 centimeters tall and 3 to 4 centimeters wide. Position them side by side in the upper third of the face so there is plenty of rind above them and between them.

4. 4

   Mark the mouth

   The long oval mouth should span roughly one-third of the total pumpkin height, about 18 to 20 centimeters. Center it below the eyes with at least 5 centimeters of rind between the bottom of the eyes and the top of the mouth.

5. 5

   Cut eyes first, then mouth

   Use a thin serrated saw to cut the two eye holes, removing each plug inward. Cut the much larger mouth opening last. The mouth requires the most material removal, so having the eyes already open gives you a feel for how the wall responds before tackling the big cut.

6. 6

   Light and display

   Stand the pumpkin beside a front door at night with an LED pillar candle inside. The narrow silhouette and glowing specter face look most striking when viewed straight-on. The tall shape casts a long shadow up the wall behind it.

Written with AI to match this design