@stemandseed
Sep 5, 2026
Side by side
A sly grin and a big triangle-eyed classic sharing the brick steps. Carve two moods and let the neighbors pick a favorite.
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Our tips for carving a similar design
The core trick here is contrast: one pumpkin gets a sly, sharp-browed grin while the other keeps the timeless triangle-eye, jagged-mouth classic. Both are pure cutout faces, so the plan is to carve clean holes for maximum glow and let the two moods sit together. Pick two round pumpkins of slightly different sizes so the pair reads as a duo.
Written by PumpkinCarvingIdeas.com, inspired by @stemandseed's photo above. These are our suggestions, not instructions from the uploader, and this approach hasn't been tested on their exact carve.
From pumpkin to porch
Pick and prep both pumpkins
Choose two firm pumpkins with flat sides facing forward, one a bit larger for the classic face. Cut a lid or, better, a bottom access hole so each sits stable on the steps. Scoop out the seeds and scrape the front wall down to about one inch thick so cutting is easy. A thinner wall lights up better and is kinder to your knife hand.
Transfer the two face designs
Tape a sly-grin stencil to the smaller pumpkin and a triangle-eye classic to the larger one. Poke along the lines with a pushpin or a transfer tool to dot the outlines onto the skin. Remove the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker if you want a clearer guide. Keep the two faces at the same eye height so they look like companions.
Carve the small details first
Start with the narrowest cuts: the angled eyebrows and slim eyes on the grinning pumpkin, and the pointed mouth teeth on both. Use a small carving saw and let the blade do the work with gentle sawing, not force. Cut the smallest shapes before the big ones so the surface stays firm while you work. Adults should handle all the sharp tools.
Open the big shapes last
Once the fine details are done, cut the large triangle eyes and nose on the classic pumpkin and the wide mouths on both. Push each cut piece gently inward and then out to avoid cracking neighboring edges. Save these big openings for last so the pumpkin wall keeps its strength while you carve. Trim any ragged edges from the inside for a cleaner glow.
Light and place them together
Drop a battery LED into each pumpkin, warm white or amber for that classic orange glow. Skip real candles since these faces have big open cuts that can scorch. Set the pair side by side on the steps with the larger classic slightly behind. Nudge the lights until both faces glow evenly.
Adjust and photograph
Step back in the dark and check that neither face is washed out or too dim. If one glows brighter, thin its wall a little more from inside or swap in a softer light. Shoot from straight on at their eye level to capture both moods in one frame. A dark backdrop like the brick steps makes the glow pop.
Gather your supplies
Check things off as you get ready.
Work on a stable surface, keep your free hand out of the cutting path, and have an adult handle sharp tools.
Three levels of light
- Leave intact
The full outer skin of both pumpkins stays dark, keeping the faces sharp against the orange bodies
- Peel & shade
Optional shallow scraping just inside the mouth edges can add a soft glow rim, though this design leans on clean cuts
- Cut through
The eyes, noses, and grinning mouths are cut all the way through for the brightest light
Before you start cutting
Should the two pumpkins match in size?
A slight size difference actually helps the pair read as two characters rather than twins. Give the classic triangle face the larger pumpkin so its big cutouts have room to breathe. The smaller grinning one then feels like a sidekick.
How do I keep the thin teeth from snapping?
Carve the teeth as part of the mouth by cutting the dark gaps around them rather than the teeth themselves. Leave each tooth attached to the pumpkin above and below where possible. Work slowly with a small blade and avoid prying pieces sideways.
What light color gives that warm classic glow?
Warm white or amber LEDs give the cozy orange look seen in classic jack-o-lanterns. Cool white can look harsh and washed out through the big cutouts. Use one light per pumpkin so each face glows on its own.
Your take belongs here, too.
Changed a detail? Made it simpler? Share a photo of your version and tell the community what worked.
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