Retained Deer Head Pumpkin Inside a Round Window

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Hollow to consistent thickness

   Cut a back lid and scoop to a wall thickness of about three-quarters of an inch. Check the front face for flat areas that will help the stencil lie smooth during transfer, since the round window must be a true circle.

2. 2

   Transfer the stencil and mark connections

   Perforate the full design including the round outer window, the deer silhouette, and the small interior holes. Mark each antler-to-frame connection and the neck-to-rim connection with a bold marker line to remind yourself not to cut through them.

3. 3

   Cut the outer round window

   Saw around the outer circle, removing the rind outside the frame completely. Move slowly and keep the blade perpendicular to the rind so the frame edge is clean. A circle template traced in marker first makes the outer cut easier to follow.

4. 4

   Remove background panels around the deer

   Saw out the open background areas visible around the retained deer inside the window. Work above the antlers, beside the ears, and below the chin, leaving all connection points untouched. Push each removed piece inward and extract from the back.

5. 5

   Open eye and nostril holes

   Use a detail drill or fine saw to open the two small eye apertures and the nostril hole through the retained head. Keep both eye holes symmetric by measuring from the muzzle upward rather than placing them by eye. Adults handle all saw work close to the retained piece.

6. 6

   Light and display at close range

   Place an LED candle inside and set the pumpkin on a low wooden step at night. The circular frame focuses the glow tightly, making the retained deer look like a woodcut medallion rather than a flat carving.

Written with AI to match this design