Nevada State Map

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a smooth panel and transfer the outline

   This is an AI concept image, so no real pumpkin exists, but you can recreate the look on any medium pumpkin with a flat, blemish-free area on the front. Choose a spot without deep ribs so your straight cuts stay straight. Print or draw the Nevada outline, tape it flat, and poke the corners and edges with a pushpin to transfer a dotted guide onto the skin. Connect the dots with a washable marker so you have one clear shape to follow.

2. 2

   Cut a low access hole and clean the wall

   Rather than a top lid, cut a round opening in the back or bottom so the front panel stays intact. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then scrape the inside of the front wall down to about one inch thick. A thinner, even wall makes the straight edges easier to saw and lets more light through. Keep the carving surface flat and steady on a table before you start the outline.

3. 3

   Saw the top edge first

   Start with the nearly level top line since it anchors the whole shape. Use a small carving saw held straight into the pumpkin, not angled, so the opening reads as a sharp corner. Let the saw do the work with gentle back-and-forth strokes and avoid forcing it. Adults should handle all the sharp tools here.

4. 4

   Cut the two long side edges

   Work the straight left side and the straight right side next, each as one continuous line from top toward the base. Aim for smooth, unbroken strokes so the edges look confident rather than wavy. Leave the pointed base uncut for now, which keeps the panel connected and prevents it from flexing or breaking loose. Pause and check both sides against your marker line as you go.

5. 5

   Finish the angled base and remove the piece

   Now cut the two angles that meet at the blunt point at the bottom. Because the top and sides are already done, make these final cuts slowly so the freed piece does not tear as it drops. Push the cutout gently inward and lift it out. Tidy the corners with a paring knife and wipe away any leftover marker.

6. 6

   Light it low and photograph

   Set a warm white LED puck or tealight-style LED low inside so the glow rises up and fills the whole silhouette evenly. Skip real candles; the enclosed shape traps heat and an LED gives a steadier light. Turn off the room lights, take your photo slightly off-center so the point catches the light, and rub a little petroleum jelly on the cut edges to slow drying.

Written with AI to match this design