Sep 14, 2026

I Love Rhode Island Heart Lettering Pumpkin

Perched on a stone patio with a sunset harbor view, this Rhode Island pumpkin carving idea spells out I, a heart, and RI in blocky cutout letters that glow a deep amber at dusk. The R carries a small curved leg extending from its round counter; cut the bowl of the R first, then carefully remove the interior counter piece before adding the diagonal leg to prevent the junction from cracking. The waterfront backdrop makes this jack-o-lantern especially fitting for a coastal New England display. Set the pumpkin at patio-railing height so the carved face catches the fading sky behind it and the lettering glows against both light sources.

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

rhode-island words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

Comments (0)

No comments yet — be the first.

Want to try this?

Want to try this? Spell out a little state pride with clean cutout letters and a glowing heart.

Some experience helps / Full cutouts + letter counters

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Similar stencils pair short words with a heart shape for easy layout.

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 shape, the I, the heart, and the RI, as full cutouts so they read as bright glowing letters against the untouched skin. Keep the letters blocky and well spaced so the walls between them stay strong, and save the trickiest piece, the R with its curved leg, for careful last cuts. A slotted counter inside the R keeps its round hole open without weakening the letter.

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
Pick the flattest, tallest face of the pumpkin so all four elements fit in one vertical column. Sketch or tape a stencil with the I on top left, the heart top right, and R and I side by side below. Leave at least a finger width of skin between letters so the walls do not blow out. Poke the outlines with a transfer tool or push pin before you cut anything.
Open the pumpkin and clean it out
Cut a lid or a wide bottom hole and scoop the insides until the carving wall is about one inch thick. A thinner wall on the carving face makes the cutouts easier and lets more light through. Scrape the inside of the letter area smooth so the shapes cut cleanly. An adult should handle all knife and saw work.
Cut the simple letters first
Start with the I on the top left, cutting it as a solid blocky shape all the way through. Then cut the heart to its right, working from the center outward and easing into the point at the bottom. Doing these first gives you a feel for the pumpkin wall before you tackle the harder letter. Push cut scraps out gently from the inside.
Carve the R and its counter
Cut the outer bowl of the R first, then carefully remove the interior counter piece so the round hole reads clearly. Add the diagonal leg last, cutting slowly at the junction where it meets the bowl so that corner does not crack. Finish with the second I beside it. Take small strokes and let the tool do the work.
Clean edges and set the light
Bevel the inside edges of each cutout slightly so more light spills out and the letters glow wider. Wipe away loose pulp and dry the cut faces. Set a battery LED or two inside, never a candle, and aim them so the heart and letters light evenly.
Stage and photograph
Place the pumpkin at railing or bench height so the carved face catches both the interior glow and the fading sky behind it. Coat the cut edges with a thin smear of petroleum jelly to slow drying. Shoot at dusk when the LED balances the sunset for that deep amber look. Refrigerate overnight between displays to keep the letters crisp.

Gather your supplies

Check things off as you get ready.

Tall firm pumpkin with a flat face
Printed lettering stencil and tape
Pumpkin scoop or scraper
Small detail saw or serrated carving knife
Push pin or transfer tool
Battery powered LED lights
Petroleum jelly for edge sealing

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 broad orange face around and between the letters stays untouched and dark.
Peel & shade
Shave a thin border just outside each letter for a soft amber halo if you want the shapes to bloom.
Cut through
The I, the heart, and the RI are cut fully through for the brightest glow.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the R from cracking at the leg?

Cut the round bowl of the R first, then remove the inner counter piece, and add the diagonal leg last. Make small slow strokes right at the spot where the leg meets the bowl, since that thin junction is the weak point. If it feels fragile, leave the leg slightly thicker than the stencil shows.

How much space should I leave between the letters?

Aim for at least a finger width of solid skin between each cutout. Those walls hold the whole face together, and blocky letters with generous gaps read more clearly when lit. Crowding the shapes risks the walls tearing as you push scraps out.

Since this is a concept image, can a real pumpkin look this even?

Yes, though real letters will follow the pumpkin's ribs and curve a bit. Pick the flattest face you can find and thin the inside wall so the light spreads evenly. Small differences in letter size are normal and still read as I heart RI.