Sep 14, 2026

I Love Michigan Heart Lettering Pumpkin

Carved through in chunky rounded letters, this Michigan pumpkin carving idea reads I, a heart, and MI on a large two-row layout that fills the face from side to side. The slab-serif I in the lower row has pronounced top and bottom serifs forming small rectangular tabs; carve those tabs carefully so they stay attached to the main stroke rather than popping free. The broad heart shape at upper right is the biggest single cutout and will deliver the most light, so place the candle or LED directly behind it for maximum impact. Photographed indoors against a cozy living room background, this jack-o-lantern works equally well as a tabletop display.

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

michigan 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 bold, glowing letters anyone can read from across the room.

Some experience helps \u00b7 Full cutouts + lettering

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse other word and state-pride stencils to spell out your own message.

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 whole design is built from chunky, rounded cutouts arranged in two rows: the letter I, a big heart, and the letters MI. The trick is spacing and even stroke width, so trace a clean template first and let the heart be your largest opening for the brightest glow. Cut the letters through fully, keep the small serif tabs on the I attached to their main stroke, and save the biggest hole for last.

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 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 the 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.

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 pumpkin's natural orange skin around and between the letters stays untouched and dark.
Peel & shade
Optional: lightly peel a thin border just inside each letter edge for a soft halo glow around the shapes.
Cut through
The I, the heart, and the letters M and I are cut clean through, with the heart giving the brightest light.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the serif tabs on the I from breaking off?

Carve slowly and never fully separate the little rectangular serifs from the vertical stroke. Keep them as one connected shape so the tabs stay anchored to the main stroke. Use a fresh, sharp detail blade for the tight corners and support the rind from behind as you cut.

What size pumpkin works best for this layout?

Pick a tall, wide pumpkin with a smooth, flat front so the two rows fit without wrapping around the curve. A larger face also gives you room to make the strokes chunky and easy to read. Avoid heavily ribbed pumpkins, since deep grooves distort the letters.

Why place the light behind the heart?

The heart is the biggest single cutout, so it releases the most light and naturally becomes the focal point. Nudging the LED toward it makes that shape glow brightest while the letters stay readable. Test in a dark room and adjust the light position until the whole face looks balanced.