Sep 14, 2026

I Love Maryland Heart Lettering Pumpkin

On a wet brick ledge in a garden still holding its fall color, this Maryland pumpkin glows with I, a heart, and MD carved through in a squared block font. The D's curved outer stroke forms a closed counter, so carve the inner island of rind last and use a thin blade to navigate the tight curve where the arc rejoins the vertical. The design pops especially well on overcast days when the orange rind appears darker and the candlelight inside contrasts strongly. Scrape the interior wall behind each letter to about three-eighths of an inch so the glow is consistent across the whole name.

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.

No ratings yet · Sign in to rate

Medium Words & Letters Artistic Classic Cutout

maryland words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

Comments (0)

No comments yet — be the first.

Want to try this?

Show off your home state with a clean, glowing block-letter design you could carve in an afternoon.

Some experience helps · Cutouts + letter counters

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse similar lettering and state-pride stencils to swap in your own initials or abbreviation.

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 as a separate light window while keeping the closed shapes, like the counter inside the D, held together with unbroken rind islands. Plan the whole layout as full cutouts through the wall so the text reads as bright orange against dark skin. Because a real pumpkin does not exist for this AI concept, aim for a squared block font with generous stroke width so nothing gets fragile.

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

Plan and transfer the layout
Sketch or print an 'I', a heart, and 'MD' sized to fit the flattest front face of your pumpkin. Center the heart above the letters and keep every stroke at least half an inch wide so the walls stay strong. Tape the paper on and poke the outlines with a pin or a nail to dot the pattern onto the skin. Step back and check the spacing before you commit to any cutting.
Open the pumpkin and clean the wall
Have an adult cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top, so the design face stays intact. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then scrape the inside of the front wall down to about three-eighths of an inch behind the whole name. A thinner, even wall lets the LED glow read consistently across every letter. Use a sturdy scoop and take your time keeping the thickness uniform.
Score the outlines first
Trace all your dotted lines with a shallow scoring cut before cutting all the way through. This locks in the letter shapes and gives your saw a groove to follow. Pay special attention to the heart's V-notch and point, since clean corners there make the whole design look sharp. Do not remove anything yet.
Cut the simple letters and heart
Using a fine-toothed carving saw, cut fully through the 'I', the two strokes of the 'M', and the vertical of the 'D' first. Work with slow, steady strokes and let the blade do the work instead of forcing it. Push each freed piece gently inward or outward and lift it away. Save the trickiest shape for the next step.
Carve the D's counter and inner island last
The D's curved outer stroke forms a closed loop with an island of rind in the middle. Cut the outer arc, then carefully free the inner counter piece, using a thin blade to navigate the tight curve where the arc rejoins the vertical. Going last means the surrounding rind is still firm and supports your cuts. Trim slowly so the curve stays smooth.
Light it and photograph
Drop in a battery LED, warm white or amber, and set the pumpkin where the letters face you. Overcast light makes the orange rind look darker and the glowing text pop, so an outdoor ledge on a gray day works beautifully. Wipe any wet surface for a clean look and shoot slightly below eye level. Rotate the LED if any letter looks dimmer than the rest.

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 full orange skin around and between the letters stays untouched and dark, framing the message.
Peel & shade
Lightly peel a thin halo just outside each letter if you want a soft glow border, otherwise keep peeling minimal here.
Cut through
The 'I', the heart, and the 'M' and 'D' are cut clean through for the brightest orange light.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the D from falling apart?

The D has a closed loop with an island of rind in the center, so carve that counter last while the surrounding wall is still firm. Use a thin blade to ease through the tight curve where the arc meets the vertical stroke. Keeping the stroke width generous also gives the shape more strength.

What font works best for a design like this?

A squared block font is the safest choice because the wide, straight strokes leave plenty of rind to hold everything together. Avoid thin script or serifs that create fragile points. Size the letters so each stroke is at least half an inch wide.

Can I swap in my own state or initials?

Absolutely, the same layout works for any short abbreviation paired with a heart. Keep the total to three or four characters so they fit the flat front and stay readable. Just remember any letter with an enclosed counter, like an A, O, or B, needs its inner island carved last.