Sep 14, 2026

I Love Minnesota Heart Lettering Pumpkin

Tall and slightly cylindrical, this Minnesota pumpkin carving idea shows I, a heart, and MN pierced through the rind in chunky capital letters, glowing warmly on a concrete front step. The N has no enclosed counters, which makes it one of the easier letters in this series to cut cleanly; plan the two diagonal strokes first and save the vertical legs for last. This jack-o-lantern reads well from street level because the tall pumpkin shape raises the lettering naturally above the ground. Stabilize the pumpkin with a ring of rolled paper towel inside the base so it does not tip on uneven pavement.

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.

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Medium Words & Letters Artistic Classic Cutout

minnesota words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

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Want to try this?

Try this bold lettering pumpkin to show off your home state with a warm glow.

Some experience helps · Full cutouts + clean lettering

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse similar word and lettering stencils to spell out your own state pride.

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 clean cutout that reads from the street, with the heart as the eye-catching center. Since these letters have simple, chunky shapes, the plan is to transfer a clear stencil, cut the diagonals and curves before the straight legs, and light it with an LED for an even orange glow. Keeping the letters thick and evenly spaced is what makes the message legible after dark.

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

Pick a tall pumpkin and clean it out
Choose a tall, slightly cylindrical pumpkin so the lettering sits high enough to read from the sidewalk. Cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top so the front face stays smooth for your letters. Scrape the inside wall behind the design down to about one inch thick so cutting is easier. A thinner wall glows brighter and takes a blade more cleanly.
Transfer the stencil
Print or draw the I, heart, and MN sized to fill the front face with even margins. Tape the stencil flat, smoothing it over the curve, and poke through the outlines with a pin or transfer tool. Step back and check that the letters line up on a level baseline before you cut. Straight, evenly spaced letters are what sell the message.
Cut the heart and curves first
Start with the heart in the center since it is the visual anchor, using a small saw blade and gentle pressure. Cut the curved parts of any letters next while the surrounding rind is still fully supported. Let each piece come free on its own instead of forcing it. An adult should handle all the sharp tools.
Cut the letters, saving straight legs for last
For the N, cut the two diagonal strokes first, then finish with the vertical legs so the letter stays stable while you work. Do the same idea across the M and I, leaving the longest straight cuts until the end. This keeps the face rigid so nothing cracks or sags. Push out each cut piece toward the inside with a fingertip.
Clean the edges and add light
Trim the inside edges of each opening at a slight outward angle so more light escapes and the letters look crisp. Wipe away pulp bits with a damp cloth. Set a battery LED light inside, never a candle, so the glow is safe and steady. Add a rolled paper towel ring inside the base to keep the pumpkin from tipping on uneven pavement.
Stage and photograph it
Place the pumpkin on a front step near mums or fall greenery for a cozy backdrop. Shoot at dusk when the LED glow balances the sky light for the warmest look. Get down to the pumpkin's level so the lettering reads straight on. Wipe the front clean of any smudges before the photo.

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
Optionally shave a thin halo just around each letter to add a soft dim glow that frames the message.
Cut through
The I, heart, and MN letters are cut fully through the rind for the brightest light.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the letters from looking crooked?

Draw a level baseline on your stencil and line it up with a natural vertical rib on the pumpkin before taping. Transfer all the outlines first, then step back and check the spacing before any cutting. Small adjustments are easy at the dot stage and impossible once you cut.

Which letter should I cut first and which last?

Start with the heart in the center and any curved strokes while the rind is still fully supported. On the N, cut the two diagonals first and save the vertical legs for last so the face stays rigid. Cutting the longest straight lines last helps prevent cracks.

Will the tall shape make it tip over?

A tall pumpkin can be top heavy on uneven concrete. Cut your access hole from the bottom or back and tuck a ring of rolled paper towel inside the base to steady it. Set it on a flat spot on the step and test it before adding the light.