Sep 14, 2026

I Love Florida Heart Lettering Pumpkin

The letters I, heart, F, and L are cut through this round balcony pumpkin at sunset, the heart sitting large between the I and the FL row below, all glowing warm against the city skyline. This Florida pumpkin carving idea works especially well on a wide, low-profile pumpkin because FL's two tall letters spread horizontally without overlapping. The F is the trickiest letter because its two horizontal arms can break off if the vertical backbone is too thin; saw the three horizontal elements first, then cut the vertical spine to maintain maximum support.

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

florida words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

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Want to try this?

Spell out your state pride with a clean, glowing I Love FL layout that reads great from across the porch.

Some experience helps · Cutout lettering + heart

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Look for bold lettering and heart stencils sized for a wide pumpkin face.

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 treating each letter and the heart as separate full cutouts, sized so the two tall FL letters spread side by side without their strokes touching. Plan the layout as two rows, with a small I and a large heart up top and the FL below, so the bright openings stay balanced. Since this is a concept image, you would carve it on a real pumpkin by keeping every stroke wide enough to stay strong.

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 wide pumpkin and clean it out
Choose a wide, low, flat-faced pumpkin so FL's two tall letters have room to sit next to each other. Cut a lid or a back door with an adult handling the knife, then scoop the inside clean. Thin the carving wall on the face to about one inch so your saw glides through easily. A flatter front holds crisp letter edges better than a very round one.
Transfer the layout
Print or draw the I, heart, F, and L at a size that fills the face with even gaps between elements. Tape the pattern down and poke the outlines with a transfer tool or pin so the dots show on the skin. Step back and check that the heart sits large between the I and the FL row before you cut anything. Keep at least a finger width of skin between every stroke so the walls stay strong.
Carve the small parts first
Start with the I since it is small and low risk. Use a fine carving saw and let the blade do the work with gentle pressure, keeping cuts perpendicular to the surface. Warm up your hand here before moving to the trickier letters. Push scraps inward and out rather than pulling them forward to avoid tearing edges.
Cut the F arms before its spine
The F is the fragile letter because its two horizontal arms can snap off if the vertical backbone gets carved too thin too soon. Saw the three horizontal elements first, the two F arms plus the base of the L, while the surrounding skin still supports them. Only then cut the vertical spines of the F and the L. This order keeps maximum material in place for as long as possible.
Open the heart last
Save the heart for last since it is the biggest opening and removing it weakens the face. Carve slowly around the curves, making short strokes and turning the pumpkin instead of forcing the blade. Ease the plug out carefully so you do not crack the point at the bottom. Clean up all edges with a paring tool for sharp, readable shapes.
Light it and photograph at dusk
Drop in one or two battery LED lights rather than a candle so the letters glow evenly and safely. Aim for warm white bulbs to get that soft orange sunset look. Set the pumpkin on a low table and shoot at dusk when the sky still has color behind it. Mist the cut edges with water if you display it over several evenings to slow drying.

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 untouched orange skin around and between the letters stays dark, framing the message.
Peel & shade
Shallow skin peeling just inside a letter edge can give a soft halo, though this design reads best kept simple.
Cut through
The I, heart, F, and L are all cut fully through for the brightest glow.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

Why carve the F's horizontal arms before its vertical spine?

The F's two arms only stay attached through the vertical backbone, so if you thin that spine first the arms lose their support and can break. Sawing the three horizontal elements first keeps the surrounding skin holding everything steady. Cut the spine last once the risky pieces are already defined.

How do I keep FL from looking cramped?

Use a wide, flat pumpkin and lay the two letters out with an even gap so their strokes never touch. Sketch the whole row lightly first and adjust spacing before you cut. On a narrow pumpkin the tall letters crowd together, so width really matters here.

Should I use a candle for that sunset glow?

No, use battery LED lights instead. They give a steady, even glow across all four cutouts without the fire risk, and warm white bulbs mimic the sunset tone nicely. A candle flickers unevenly and can scorch the thin lettering walls.