AITall empty triangle eyes and two slanted brow cuts give this classic pumpkin carving idea a menacing squint, while a wide six-tooth grin and six round cheek holes add personality. Cut the brow slots before the eyes so the rind stays firm while you work. Placing the finished jack-o-lantern on a dark porch lets the cheek dots scatter extra light around the design.
The menacing expression depends entirely on the slanted brow slots cut above the eyes before the eyes are opened. If the brows are cut after the eyes, the rind around the eye openings is less stable for the angled brow cut. Cut brows first, eyes second, nose third, and the wide grin and cheek holes last. Placing the finished lantern on a dark porch where the cheek dots scatter extra light around the face amplifies the intimidating effect.
Cut a back or bottom lid and hollow to a 25mm wall. Set the pumpkin on a cutting board with a non-slip mat underneath. Tall triangle eyes require firm downward pressure on the saw, so stability on the work surface is important before cutting.
Transfer the template with an awl, making sure the slant direction of each brow slot is clearly marked. Both brow slots should angle inward toward the nose; the inner end of each brow is lower than the outer end. Step back and confirm the angle reads as intended before piercing.
Each brow is a short angled rectangular slot. Cut along each side of the brow in two parallel strokes and remove the thin sliver of rind between them. Keep the slot narrow; a brow that is too wide looks like a second eye rather than a brow. Clean slot edges with a detail knife.
The tall triangles extend further down the face than standard triangle eyes, which intensifies the squinting expression combined with the brows. Cut each triangle carefully, pivoting cleanly at the corners. Follow with the small diamond nose centered below the eyes.
Score all six tooth roots before cutting any gaps. Alternate rooting: odd teeth to upper lip, even teeth to lower lip. The wide span of the grin means you are removing a large amount of rind from the lower face, so the hollowing is doing real structural work here; maintain the 25mm wall especially near the corners.
Drill six round holes in two arcs on the cheeks using an 8mm bit. Place an LED inside and position the lantern in a dark corner of the porch where shadows emphasize the stern brow expression. The scattered cheek dots add an unexpected softness around the hard-set face.
Written with AI to match this design
Check things off as you get ready.
Work on a stable surface, keep your free hand out of the cutting path, and have an adult handle sharp tools.
Cheek panels between the round holes, forehead between the brow slots, and rind bands beside the tall triangle eyes
None, all features are full cutouts
Both tall triangle eyes, both slanted brow slots, the diamond nose, the full six-tooth grin with all gaps, and all six circular cheek holes
A brow slot width of about 6 to 8mm is ideal. That is narrow enough to read as a linear brow shape rather than an open area. If the slot is cut too wide, the face looks like it has four eyes rather than brows. Use a ruler to mark the two parallel lines before cutting and keep them strictly within that width range.
The tall triangle is still three straight cuts, but the longer vertical sides require keeping the saw blade perfectly vertical throughout each stroke to avoid beveling the cut. A beveled cut is less visible from the front but reduces wall thickness unevenly. Go slowly on the tall sides and keep your wrist locked rather than rotating as you push down.
Yes. The brows, tall eyes, and six-tooth grin alone make a complete and readable jack-o-lantern face. The cheek holes are a finishing detail that scatters extra light but does not change the core expression. Omitting them drops the difficulty and carving time noticeably.
Changed a detail? Made it simpler? Share a photo of your version and tell the community what worked.
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