Heart Eyes Pumpkin Surrounded by Small Heart Cutouts

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Plan the layout

   Sketch the two large heart eyes first, then lightly sketch the six-tooth smile and finally the ring of small hearts and diamonds around the cheeks. Count your small shapes and space them evenly, leaving at least a third of an inch of rind between each one. Photograph the sketch before cutting as a reference.

2. 2

   Prep and scoop

   Cut a lid and hollow the pumpkin to about one inch of wall thickness. Thinner walls make small cutouts easier but weaker; one inch is a good balance for this many holes.

3. 3

   Cut the large heart eyes

   Transfer both heart templates and cut completely through the wall. These are your largest and most prominent cuts, so take your time on the curves. Freeing each piece from inside confirms your blade passed fully through.

4. 4

   Cut the brow slots and smile

   Add the two pairs of curved brow holes above each eye, then cut the six-tooth smile. Root each tooth broadly so no single tooth projects more than half an inch without support on at least two sides.

5. 5

   Work through the border cutouts

   Moving outward from the face, cut each small heart and diamond individually, rotating the pumpkin to approach each shape from a comfortable angle. Cut the shapes farthest from the eyes last so you always have solid rind to grip while working. Use a narrow blade for the tightest points.

6. 6

   Light and photograph

   Insert a battery LED and view in a darkened room to check that every small hole is fully open and glowing. A dark background makes all the small lights read at once. Display at table height so the ring of hearts surrounds the face at a natural viewing angle.

Written with AI to match this design