I Love Kansas Heart Lettering Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a flat face and open the base

   Choose the smoothest, flattest section of the pumpkin so your letters sit on one plane and read clearly. Cut a hole in the bottom rather than the top so you can set the pumpkin down over an LED light later. Scoop the pulp and scrape the inside wall on the carving side down to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the letters easier to cut and lets more light pass through.

2. 2

   Transfer and space the letters

   Print or draw the layout with I and the heart on the top row and K and S on the bottom row. Tape the pattern down snugly and poke the outlines with a pin or transfer tool, spacing dots close together on tight curves. Keep even gaps between letters so nothing crowds. Step back and check the spacing before you cut anything, because letters are hard to fix once opened.

3. 3

   Score every outline first

   Before cutting through, trace each letter and the heart with a linoleum cutter or the tip of a poking tool to score a shallow guide line. This keeps your saw on track and prevents wandering into a neighboring stroke. Work slowly around the inside corners of the K where the diagonals meet the vertical bar. Scoring first is what keeps block lettering crisp.

4. 4

   Cut the simple shapes before the tricky ones

   Start with the I and the heart, since they are the most forgiving. Use a small saw and let the blade do the work with gentle strokes, keeping the tool moving in and out rather than forcing it. Save the K and S for last, cutting their strokes as separate pieces and easing out each chunk cleanly. Keep the K's diagonals at least three-eighths of an inch wide so the tips do not snap off.

5. 5

   Clean the edges and bevel for glow

   Once every letter is open, run your knife around each edge to smooth ragged cuts. Angle the cut slightly wider toward the inside so more light spills out and the letters look brighter. Test-fit an LED light and check that all four shapes glow at similar strength. Widen any stroke that looks dim or muddy.

6. 6

   Light it and stage the photo

   Drop a battery LED puck or a string of warm LEDs inside and settle the pumpkin over the base opening. Skip real candles, since the enclosed letters trap heat and open flames are a fire risk. Photograph it near a hearth, a lantern, or a cluster of flameless candles for that warm amber setting. A little petroleum jelly on the cut edges slows drying and keeps the letters sharp for a few extra days.