Sep 14, 2026

I Love South Dakota Heart Lettering Pumpkin

Sitting on a weathered garden bench in autumn twilight beside a glowing lantern, this South Dakota pumpkin carving idea glows with I, a heart, and SD cut through in wide block letters. The D in SD has a curved outer wall forming a closed counter, so score the inner boundary of the counter first and then remove the interior piece while keeping the curved outer stroke intact. Candlelight escaping from the heart and both letters throws a warm patch on the wooden bench below, which adds to the evening atmosphere. Carving the D's counter slightly oversized relative to the template will give more light and make the letter more readable from a few feet away.

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

south-dakota words artistic cutout heart lettering state-pride usa

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Want to try this?

Spell out your state pride with clean block letters and a bright heart cutout.

Some experience helps · Lettering + cutouts

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Look for simple word and heart stencils to build your own state 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 core trick here is treating text as a lantern, cutting the I, the heart, and the S and D all the way through so the light reads clearly from a few feet away. The one part that needs care is the D, whose enclosed counter must be removed while the curved outer stroke stays intact. Since this is a concept image, think of it as a plan: keep letters wide and blocky so the pumpkin wall stays strong between cutouts.

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 round pumpkin and plan your layout
Choose a tall, evenly round pumpkin with a smooth front face so the letters sit flat and readable. Sketch the layout on paper first: I and heart on the top row, S and D on the bottom row. Keep generous gaps between each shape so you never cut two openings right next to each other. Tape your paper template to the front and check it from a few feet back before you commit.
Open the pumpkin and clean the wall
An adult should cut the lid, angling the blade inward so the lid rests on a ledge instead of falling in. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then scrape the inside of the front face until the wall is about one inch thick. A thinner, even wall makes cutting the letters far easier and lets more light through. Save some scooped flesh in case you want to patch a slip later.
Transfer the letters and score the D's counter
Poke through the template along every letter outline with a pin or awl to leave a dotted guide, then peel the paper. Before any full cuts, lightly score the inner boundary of the D's enclosed counter so you know exactly where the hollow center ends and the curved outer stroke begins. Scoring first protects that curved wall from an accidental slip. Take your time on curves and keep the blade shallow on this pass.
Cut the simple shapes first
Start with the I and the heart, since they are open shapes with no islands to protect. Use short saw strokes with a fine carving blade and let the tool do the work rather than forcing it. Push the cut pieces out from inside to avoid chipping the front face. Cutting these first gives you a feel for the wall thickness before you reach the trickier D.
Carve the S, then hollow the D
Cut the full S as one flowing opening. For the D, cut the outer edge of the letter, then carefully remove only the interior counter piece you scored earlier, leaving the curved outer stroke standing. Cutting the counter slightly oversized gives more glow and keeps the D readable from a distance. Work slowly around that curve so the outer wall stays connected top and bottom.
Light it and photograph at dusk
Drop in a battery LED light rather than a candle so the enclosed D counter and all the letters stay safe and bright. Set the pumpkin on a bench or step and check readability from several feet away, widening any letter that looks dim. Shoot your photo at twilight when the warm glow spills onto the surface below. A nearby lantern or fall mums makes a nice backdrop.

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 main pumpkin skin around the letters stays untouched and dark for contrast.
Peel & shade
Shave a thin halo just outside each letter to add a soft dim glow that frames the words.
Cut through
The I, the heart, the S, and the D's counter are cut fully through for the brightest light.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the D from falling apart when I hollow its center?

Score the inner edge of the enclosed counter before making any deep cuts so you know where the hollow ends. Then remove only that center piece, leaving the curved outer stroke attached at the top and bottom. Go slowly around the curve and avoid prying, which can crack the thin wall.

How big should I make the letters so they read from the sidewalk?

Keep each letter wide and blocky and fill most of the front face. Cutting the D's counter a little oversized helps the letter read clearly from several feet away. Test by standing back before you finalize any narrow gaps.

Since this is a concept image, can a real pumpkin actually hold all four cutouts?

Yes, as long as you keep solid skin between each shape and thin the front wall to about an inch. Cut the open shapes like the I and heart first, then the S and D, and never let two openings meet. Wide block letters leave plenty of supporting pumpkin between them.