Single-Line LOVE Lettering Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a smooth face and mark your baseline

   Choose the flattest, cleanest side of the pumpkin so the letters sit on an even plane. Wipe it dry, then use a pencil or washable marker to draw a light horizontal baseline across the middle. This line keeps all four letters sitting level and evenly spaced. Sketch or trace the L, O, V, and E with equal gaps between them.

2. 2

   Open a back access hole

   Instead of cutting the top, cut a round opening in the back of the pumpkin with a sturdy knife handled by an adult. This keeps the front face uninterrupted and lets you place a light behind the letters later. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then scrape the inside wall on the letter side down to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the letters easier to cut and helps them glow evenly.

3. 3

   Mark the bridges on the O

   Before you cut anything, find the enclosed oval island in the center of the O. Draw two small rind bridges, one at the top of the oval and one at the bottom, connecting it to the outer letter body. These little tabs are the only thing holding the island in place, so keep them wide enough to survive the carving. Leaving them uncut is what stops the middle of the O from falling out.

4. 4

   Cut the simple letters first

   Start with the L and the E, then the V, using a small serrated carving saw and gentle pressure. Cut with slow strokes and let the blade do the work rather than forcing it. Push each freed piece out toward you from the front so the edges stay clean. Save the O for last since it is the fragile one.

5. 5

   Cut the O around its bridges

   Carve the outer edge of the O first, then carefully cut the inner edge of the letter body, stopping short at each bridge so the oval island stays attached. Work slowly around the curves and keep your other hand clear of the blade. Once the letter is open, check that both bridges are holding firmly. Clean up any ragged edges with the tip of your tool.

6. 6

   Light it from behind and photograph

   Set a warm white LED near the back wall of the pumpkin rather than directly under the letters. Placing it toward the back spreads the glow so all four characters read at the same brightness with no hotspots. Test it in a dark room and nudge the light until the spacing looks even. Photograph it at dusk with the letters facing your camera.