New Jersey State Map

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Prep the pumpkin and pick your side

   Choose a pumpkin with a wide, flat, blemish-free area facing out. Have an adult cut a lid or, better for stability, a hatch in the back so the front stays intact. Scoop the insides and thin the front wall to about one inch so it is easy to saw. A smooth interior wall also lets the light spread evenly behind the cutout.

2. 2

   Transfer the New Jersey outline

   Print or draw the state at the size you want, keeping it a bit smaller than your flat area. Tape the pattern down and poke closely spaced holes along the entire outline with a pin or awl. Pay extra attention to the jagged upper-left edge where the Delaware River zigzags, since those tiny angles are what make the state recognizable. Remove the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker.

3. 3

   Score the outline before you saw

   With a fine carving saw, trace the whole outline shallowly first, just breaking the skin. This gives your blade a track to follow and reduces slips on the tight coastline curves at the bottom. Go slowly around the sharp inlets rather than forcing the saw. Keep the blade straight up and down so the opening reads clean when lit.

4. 4

   Cut the shape, waist last

   Now saw fully through along your scored line, starting at the top and working down both sides. Leave the narrowest waist section for the very end so the still-attached flesh supports the piece as you work. When only the waist remains, hold the cutout gently from behind and finish those last strokes, then ease the whole state shape out in one piece. Clean the edges with the saw for a sharp silhouette.

5. 5

   Light it and place it

   Drop a battery LED tealight or a small LED puck inside, not a real flame, since the deep single opening funnels heat and an open cut can scorch. Set it in a dark spot so the bright orange shape pops. Aim the pumpkin so the flat front faces the walkway. Test from across the porch to confirm the outline reads clearly, and nudge the light until the whole state glows evenly.

Written with AI to match this design