Waddles and Chick the Penguins

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a tall pumpkin and prep it

   Choose a large, tall pumpkin with a smooth flat-ish face so the two figures fit with room between them. Cut a lid from the bottom instead of the top so the stem stays intact for looks, and scoop the inside until the front wall is about one inch thick. A thinner wall cuts more easily and glows brighter. Wipe the face dry before you tape on your pattern.

2. 2

   Transfer the pattern

   Print the parent and chick silhouette sized to your pumpkin, then tape it flat and poke the outlines with a pin or a transfer tool. Space the dots closer together along the curved neck so that delicate line stays accurate. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker if it helps you see the shapes. Double check that the chick sits clearly smaller and to the side of the parent.

3. 3

   Carve the thin neck curve first

   Using a small pumpkin saw, cut the narrow curved neck arc before anything else while the pumpkin is still strong and stable. Take slow, gentle strokes and let the saw do the work rather than forcing it. Leave a small uncut rind tab at the base of the neck so the piece stays anchored and does not snap. That tab is your safety net until the rest is done.

4. 4

   Open the larger body shapes

   Move on to the parent's body and the chick's body, cutting these bigger openings next. Keep a hand supporting the shell near each cut and remove the freed pieces by pushing gently from inside out. Work from the smaller inner details toward the largest openings so the face stays rigid as long as possible. Clean up rough edges with the saw tip for a crisp silhouette.

5. 5

   Remove the neck tab last

   Once every other section is cut and the pieces are out, go back and carefully slice through the small rind tab at the base of the neck. Support the neck curve with your fingers as it releases so it does not tear. Trim any stray fibers and gently bevel the inside edges of both figures to let more light escape. Take your time here since this is the most fragile moment.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Drop in a bright LED puck or string light, never a candle, and set the intensity so both silhouettes read clearly. Shoot in a dark spot at dusk with the lamp behind or beside you to avoid glare on the skin. Get low and level with the pumpkin so the parent's bent neck and the tiny chick tell their story. A little steam from a warm interior can add mood, but wipe the lens between shots.

Written with AI to match this design