Little Ghost Holding a Balloon Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a smooth panel and place the string over a rib

   Choose the flattest, cleanest face of the pumpkin for the design. Tape your pattern down and shift it so the thin balloon string falls in the valley between two natural ribs. That gives the fragile strip a little extra support and reduces splitting. Poke transfer holes along all the lines with a pin or awl before you remove the paper.

2. 2

   Open the lid or a back door and hollow out

   An adult should cut a lid around the stem or, better, a wide door in the back so you keep the front face intact. Scoop the pulp and scrape the inside wall behind the design down to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the outline cuts easier and lets more light through. Save some flesh if you want to test scraps later.

3. 3

   Saw the balloon ring and the three dots

   Start up top with the balloon outline, cutting the full ring cleanly through the rind with a fine detail saw. Cut the three dots inside as separate small openings, leaving solid skin between them. Work slowly on the curves and let the saw do the work rather than forcing it. Push each freed piece out gently from the inside.

4. 4

   Cut the ghost outline and eyes

   Follow the ghost's body outline with the same fine saw, keeping the line an even width all the way around the wavy hem. Cut the two round eyes as their own openings. Leave all the skin inside the ghost body untouched so it stays dark against the glowing edge. Take breaks on the tight bottom curves so you do not overshoot.

5. 5

   Save the balloon string for last

   Now carve the thin vertical string connecting the balloon to the ghost's hand. Make two shallow passes to define both sides before you cut all the way through, and support the strip with a finger on the inside as you finish. If it feels weak, leave one tiny uncut bridge midway and clean it with a paring knife. This is the piece most likely to break, so patience pays off.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph at dusk

   Drop in a battery LED, warm white or amber, and set it low so light spreads up through every outline. Skip real candles, since the narrow string and thin walls can scorch. Blot the cut edges dry and rub a little petroleum jelly on them to slow browning. Shoot your photo at dusk when the glow reads strongest against the fading sky.