High-Kick Cheerleader Pumpkin Carving with Pom-Poms

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep the pumpkin and pick your face

   Choose a tall, smooth pumpkin with a flat area big enough for a full standing figure. Cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top so the design side stays clean, then scoop the walls on the carving side down to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the fine pom-pom triangles much easier to push through. Wipe the surface dry before transferring your pattern.

2. 2

   Transfer the stencil

   Tape your cheerleader stencil flat against the pumpkin, smoothing out wrinkles so the figure stays symmetrical. Use a poking tool or pushpin to dot along every line, spacing dots closer together on the curves of the ponytail and skirt. Pay special attention to marking the bridges where the arms meet the pom-poms and where the kicking leg connects. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker if the pattern is hard to read.

3. 3

   Carve the body silhouette

   Start with the largest cutout areas: the space around the torso, the raised arms, and the gap under the kicking leg. Use a fine saw blade and let the blade do the work with gentle pressure, keeping the tool perpendicular to the surface. Leave the marked rind bridges intact so the arms and leg stay linked to the body. An adult should handle all the sharp cutting.

4. 4

   Cut the pom-pom starbursts

   Work each pom-pom from the center outward, cutting one narrow triangle at a time and removing the plug before starting the next. Rotate around the circle so you keep the round shape balanced rather than lopsided. Keep small slivers of rind between the triangles so the pom-pom holds together and does not collapse into one big hole. Take your time here, since these fine cuts are the star of the design.

5. 5

   Refine the skirt and ponytail

   Cut the pleated skirt as a series of clean vertical wedges so the folds read clearly when backlit. Trim the ponytail with a small detail blade to keep its curve smooth. Go back and clean up any ragged edges by re-tracing the cut lines, which sharpens the whole silhouette. Save the biggest openings for last so the shell stays rigid while you work the details.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Set a battery LED light or two inside for an even, bright glow, and skip candles so the fine bridges do not scorch. Place the pumpkin on a porch step or table and dim the surrounding lights to make the cutouts pop. Shoot slightly off-center to catch the depth of the pom-pom triangles. A cool evening keeps the carving fresh longer for game day.