Hockey Stick and Puck Pumpkin Beside Skates

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep the pumpkin

   Place the pumpkin on a folded towel to stop it rolling while you work. Cut a lid from the base rather than the top so the stem stays intact for display. Scoop out the interior thoroughly and scrape the back wall behind the planned cuts down to roughly three-quarters of an inch for clean light transmission.

2. 2

   Transfer the outline

   Print or sketch the stick-and-puck outline at the right scale for your pumpkin face. Tape the template onto the rind and trace every line with a pin tool, pressing firmly enough to leave a dotted impression. Remove the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker before cutting.

3. 3

   Cut the stick aperture

   Use a thin, flexible pumpkin-carving blade to follow the stick shape from handle end to blade tip in one continuous pass. Keep the blade perpendicular to the surface throughout. Work slowly around the curved blade end, as the rind tapers there and too much sideways pressure can crack the shell.

4. 4

   Cut the puck

   Switch to a small round punch or narrow detail blade for the oval puck opening. The puck should sit a short distance from the stick blade so both shapes read as separate objects. Pop the cutout free from the inside with a skewer if it sticks.

5. 5

   Add backed accents

   Use a small gouge or the tip of a linoleum tool to score the small side-detail marks referenced in the design notes. Scrape away only the outer skin and a thin layer of flesh, leaving the shell intact. Wipe the carved area clean with a damp cloth to make the pale flesh visible.

6. 6

   Light and display

   Insert a battery-powered LED puck or a warm-white tea light into the cavity. Place the pumpkin beside a pair of skates on the front step for the full hockey-night vignette. Keep flame away from children, and use flameless LEDs if the display is unattended.

Written with AI to match this design