Sep 14, 2026

Kansas State Rectangle Pumpkin

Kansas appears as a wide, low rectangle with three straight sides and a small irregular bite taken from the upper right corner where the Missouri River forms the northeastern boundary. The cutout is one of the easiest state map jack-o-lantern ideas to carve because most of the border is a straight line. Saw the three clean edges first, then use very short saw strokes along the short northeastern notch so the thin corner skin does not snap before you complete the cut.

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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Easy Words & Letters Artistic Classic Cutout

kansas words artistic cutout easy state-map map usa

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Want to try this?

Want to try this? Kansas is basically a rectangle, so it is a friendly first state map to carve.

Beginner friendly · Single cutout + notch detail

Read our carving tips

Similar stencils

Browse other state map stencils if you want a different shape.

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 trick here is that Kansas reads as one clean rectangle with a small irregular bite out of the upper right corner where the state's northeastern border steps in. Because three of the four sides are dead straight, you can lay out the shape with a ruler and cut most of it with confidence. The plan is to draw the box, cut the three straight sides, then finish the fiddly notch with short, patient strokes so the thin corner does not tear.

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 flat panel and open the pumpkin
Choose a pumpkin with a wide, mostly flat face so your rectangle sits without curving out of shape. Cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top, which keeps the front face clean for the design and makes it easy to set over an LED. Scoop the insides and thin the carving wall on the front to about one inch so your blade passes through easily. A thinner wall also lets more light glow through the finished cutout.
Draw the Kansas rectangle
Use a ruler and a washable marker to draw a wide, low rectangle centered on the face. Keep the top and bottom lines level and the left and right sides square, since straight geometry is what sells this shape. On the upper right corner, sketch a small stair step notch to stand in for the northeastern border where the Missouri River angles in. Step back and check that the box looks balanced before you cut anything.
Cut the three straight sides first
Start with the long top edge, then the two vertical sides, using steady full strokes with a small serrated carving saw. Keep the blade perpendicular to the surface so the edges stay crisp and the light window is even. Leave the bottom edge and the notched corner for last so the panel stays supported while you work. Adults should handle the saw, and always cut with the blade moving away from your free hand.
Finish the northeastern notch carefully
The little stepped corner is the only tricky part, so switch to very short saw strokes here. Cut the small segments one at a time and let each piece drop out before starting the next, which keeps the thin corner skin from snapping early. Go slow and resist the urge to pry, since prying is what usually cracks a fine detail. If a sliver does break, a dab of toothpick and a trimmed edge can tidy it up.
Cut the bottom edge and clear the window
With the detail done, saw the long bottom line and gently push the whole rectangle inward to release it. Clean up any ragged edges with the tip of your blade so the border reads as sharp geometry. Wipe away leftover marker lines with a damp paper towel. The open window is now your full light area.
Light it and photograph at dusk
Set a bright LED puck or a string of battery lights inside and rest the pumpkin over it. Shoot your photo at dusk so the warm glow of the cutout pops against the still visible orange skin. A little crumpled parchment or tissue behind the opening can soften and spread the light for that even glow. Keep the display out of heavy rain so the cut edges last longer.

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
All the outer pumpkin skin around the rectangle stays untouched and dark, framing the shape.
Peel & shade
Optionally shave a thin skin border just outside the rectangle for a soft halo that makes the state edge pop.
Cut through
The full rectangle with its stepped corner is cut clean through for the brightest glow.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the rectangle edges looking straight and sharp?

Draw your lines with a ruler and take your time transferring them onto the curved surface. Hold the saw perpendicular to the pumpkin so the walls of the cut stay square rather than beveled. Straight, clean edges are what make this design read as a map instead of a plain hole.

What is the notch in the upper right corner and how big should it be?

That small stepped bite represents the northeastern border where the Missouri River angles the state line. Keep it modest, just a shallow stair step, so it stays recognizable without weakening the corner. Save it for last and cut it in short strokes so the thin skin holds.

Since this is a concept image, will a real pumpkin glow this evenly?

This is an AI concept, so no real pumpkin was carved, but you can get close on a real one. Thin the wall behind the window and tuck a bright LED or a diffusing sheet of parchment inside to spread the light. A single big opening like this glows very evenly in practice.