Sep 14, 2026

I Love Alaska Heart Lettering Pumpkin

A block letter I, a large heart, and the two-letter abbreviation AK are cut through this pumpkin in a two-row layout, the heart nearly as tall as the I beside it and both sitting above the big serif-style AK letters below. This I-heart-state pumpkin carving idea reads instantly from across a yard, and the open AK letters need thin but intact horizontal cross-bars to keep their enclosed counters attached. Cut the heart before the letters so you can use its negative space to gauge how much room the A and K need beneath it.

This is an AI-generated concept image: a realistic, carvable design idea rather than a photo of a finished carve. AI concepts are always labeled and sit out the leaderboard and the contest.

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Medium Words & Letters Artistic Classic Cutout

alaska words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

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Want to try this?

Show off your home state with a bold, readable design anyone can spot from the sidewalk.

Some experience helps · Full cutouts + letter bridges

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse other lettering and heart stencils to swap in your own state.

Tools for this approach

Our suggestions for trying a similar carve. Start with what you already have.

Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
View on Amazon

A little extra help

Our tips for carving a similar design

The core trick here is a clean two-row layout: a block I and a plump heart on top, then the serif letters A and K below. Everything is a full cutout, so the whole design glows evenly, and the only real challenge is keeping the thin cross-bars inside the A and K attached so their inner shapes stay put. Carve the heart first, then use its footprint to judge how much room the letters need beneath it.

Written by PumpkinCarvingIdeas.com, inspired by the image above. These are our suggestions, not instructions from the uploader. This approach to the AI concept has not been tested on a real pumpkin.

From pumpkin to porch

Pick a flat face and open the back
Choose the smoothest, roundest side of a pumpkin as your canvas so the letters do not distort across ridges. Cut a lid or, better for lettering, a wide access hole in the back so the front stays uninterrupted. Scoop the insides and thin the front wall to about one inch with a sturdy scraper. A thinner wall makes the letters much easier to cut cleanly.
Transfer the layout
Print or draw the design with the I and heart on the top row and the AK on the bottom row, sized so it fills the center of the face. Tape the paper on and poke dots along every edge with a pin or a poking tool, or tape and trace with a transfer wheel. Keep the heart nearly as tall as the I so the top row reads as a balanced pair. Step back and check that the whole thing is centered before you cut anything.
Cut the heart first
Start with the heart since it is the largest opening and sets the spacing for the row below. Use a small carving saw and make slow, steady strokes, letting the tool do the work rather than forcing it. Cut the point of the heart last so the two upper lobes stay supported while you work. Once it drops free, you can eyeball how much vertical room is left for the A and K.
Cut the I and the letter outlines
Saw out the block I, including its top and bottom serifs, keeping the corners crisp. Then outline the A and K, but do not remove their interiors in one piece yet. Mark the thin horizontal cross-bar inside the A and the small enclosed spaces so you remember to leave those strips of skin in place. These bridges are what hold the letter shapes together.
Clear the counters carefully
Now remove the small enclosed areas of the A and K around the bridges you marked, cutting each little section on its own. Work with light pressure and support the pumpkin wall with your free hand away from the blade. If a bridge feels flimsy, leave it slightly wider rather than shaving it thin. It is better to have a chunky cross-bar than a letter that collapses.
Light it and photograph
Drop in one or two battery LED lights and skip open flame, which can scorch these thin letter walls. Set the pumpkin at eye level in a dark spot and check that every letter reads clearly from across the yard. If any edge looks fuzzy, clean it up with a fresh angled cut. Shoot the photo at dusk so the warm glow pops against the darker background.

Gather your supplies

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.

Three levels of light

Leave intact
The broad orange face around and between the letters stays untouched and dark, framing the message.
Peel & shade
Optional shallow shaving just outside the letters can add a faint halo, though this design reads fine without it.
Cut through
The I, the heart, and the A and K are cut all the way through for the brightest, cleanest glow.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the A and K from falling apart?

Both letters have enclosed inner spaces that need thin strips of skin, called bridges, to stay attached. Cut the outline first, then remove the small inner sections one at a time while leaving those cross-bars intact. If a bridge feels weak, make it a little wider rather than shaving it thin.

What size should the heart be next to the I?

Aim for the heart to be nearly as tall as the block I so the top row looks like a matched pair. Carve the heart first, then use the leftover vertical space to size the A and K below. This keeps the two rows balanced and readable.

Can I swap AK for my own state?

Absolutely, the two-row I-heart-state format works with any two-letter abbreviation. Just keep the letters chunky with generous cross-bars, since narrow strokes are harder to carve and weaker. Redraw your stencil so the bottom row fills the same width as the top row.