I Love Michigan Heart Lettering Pumpkin Carving Idea

Plan the layout and prep the pumpkin

Choose a large pumpkin with a broad, flat front so all the letters fit side to side. Cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top, then hollow the inside until the front wall is about one inch thick. A thinner wall carves more easily and lets more light through. Wipe the face dry before you transfer your design.

Transfer the two-row design

Print or draw the I, heart, and MI so the top row reads I plus heart and the bottom row reads MI. Tape your template flat and poke closely spaced dots along every edge with a pin or awl. Space your dots tighter around the heart curve and the rounded letter corners so the shapes stay smooth. Remove the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker to check spacing before cutting.

Score the outlines first

With a small carving saw, trace over your dotted lines to lightly score every letter and the heart. Scoring first gives you a guide groove and helps prevent slips. Double check the stroke widths look even and matching before you commit to full cuts. Adults should handle all the sharp tools here.

Cut the letters, keeping serif tabs attached

Start with the smaller shapes: cut out the I, the M, and the second I. On the slab-serif I, the top and bottom serifs form small rectangular tabs, so carve slowly and leave them connected to the vertical stroke instead of cutting them free. Push each piece gently inward or pull it out once its outline is fully cut. Support the surrounding rind with your free hand to avoid cracking.

Cut the heart last for maximum light

Save the broad heart at upper right for the end since it is the biggest single opening. Cut the two top humps first, then the sides, then meet at the bottom point. Removing this large piece last keeps the face rigid while you work the smaller letters. Clean up any ragged edges with a detail blade.

Light it and photograph

Place a battery LED inside and nudge it toward the heart so that shape reads brightest. Test in a dark room and rotate the light until all the letters glow evenly. Set the pumpkin on a table against a warm, simple background for a cozy tabletop display. Skip open flames so the thin serif tabs and letter bridges stay cool and intact.