I Love Illinois Heart Lettering Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a flat-faced pumpkin and open the back

   Choose a pumpkin with a wide, smooth front panel so all four letter elements sit flat and even. Cut a lid or an access hole in the back rather than the top, which keeps the front face clean for lettering. Scoop out the insides and thin the front wall to about an inch so your blade passes through easily. A thinner wall also lets the letters glow more evenly.

2. 2

   Trace and transfer the layout

   Print or draw the message with the heart and I in the top row and the I and L filling the lower half. Tape the pattern smoothly to the flat face and poke closely spaced dots along every outline with a poking tool. Peel the paper and connect the dots with a marker so you have a clear map. Double check the spacing before you cut, since letters are hard to fix once opened.

3. 3

   Carve the heart and the outer letter edges first

   Start with the heart and the outer strokes of each letter, cutting straight through with a small serrated saw. Use gentle sawing motion and let the tool do the work instead of forcing it. Cut the largest, simplest shapes first while the pumpkin is still strong. An adult should handle all the sharp cutting.

4. 4

   Shape the L and the I verticals

   Open the tall vertical of each I and the full body of the L, keeping your cuts just inside the marker lines. Support the pumpkin from below with your free hand well clear of the blade. Remove each freed piece by gently pushing it inward or outward. Take your time on the corners so the slab-serif shape stays crisp.

5. 5

   Cut the small I crossbars last

   Save the little top and bottom bars of the I characters for the very end, when the surrounding areas are already open. Keep each crossbar at least a quarter inch thick so it does not crack under its own weight. Make slow, shallow passes and clear waste often. If a bar feels fragile, leave a touch more thickness rather than pushing your luck.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Drop a battery LED tealight or two inside and skip open flame, since candles can scorch the thin letter bridges. Set the pumpkin on a neutral runner or table and dim the room to make the orange channels pop. Shoot slightly off center so the letters read clearly without glare. Snap a few frames and share your favorite with the community.

Written with AI to match this design