Mischievous Pumpkin Face with Wrinkle Holes and Cheek Diamonds

Plan the cutting sequence

Sketch all features on the pumpkin with a washable marker and number them in cutting order: (1) six forehead wrinkle holes, (2) both arched eyebrow slits, (3) both curved eye openings with pupils, (4) triangle nose, (5) sweeping mouth with teeth, (6) six cheek diamonds. This order preserves the upper face structure longest.

Hollow the pumpkin

Cut a back lid and scoop the interior to about three-quarters of an inch of wall thickness on the face panel. A slightly thinner wall gives the many small wrinkle and diamond holes clean edges that hold detail well under illumination.

Cut wrinkle holes and eyebrow slits

Cut the six short forehead wrinkle holes as narrow oval or rectangular slits radiating slightly upward. Then cut both arched eyebrow slits as separate independent holes above the eye positions. Keep every wrinkle hole at least three-quarters of an inch from its neighbors to preserve the rind between them.

Cut the eye openings

Each eye is a curved opening with a broad pupil tab attached to the upper eyelid rind. Cut the outer boundary of each curved eye, then carefully cut the inner pupil opening, leaving the broad tab firmly connected at the top. The pupil tab is what gives these eyes their intense, slightly manic look.

Cut the nose, mouth, and teeth

Cut the triangle nose, then open the sweeping smile. The eight thick rooted teeth alternate upper and lower lip attachment; confirm each tooth root is at least three-quarters of an inch wide before cutting the gaps between them. Cut teeth gaps last within each section of the mouth.

Cut the cheek diamonds and light up

Mark six diamond shapes on the cheeks and cut them at a very slight inward angle to suggest cheekbones. Cut them last when the face is fully open and structural tension is evenly distributed. Insert a warm LED and display so the full character of the face is visible straight on.