Snail With a Large Spiral Shell Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Transfer the pattern and plan your bridges

   Print the snail stencil sized to fit the flat front of your pumpkin and tape it smooth with a few folds around the curve. Poke the outlines with a pin or transfer tool, paying close attention to the thin lines that separate each shell ring. Those uncut lines are structural bridges, so mark them clearly with a marker before you remove the paper. Step back and confirm the spiral reads correctly before any blade touches the surface.

2. 2

   Open a lid and hollow the pumpkin

   Have an adult cut a lid in the back rather than the top so the front stays clean, angling the cut inward so the lid rests without falling through. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then thin the front wall from the inside to about one inch thick. A thinner wall makes the many ring cuts easier and lets more light escape. Save your scooped pulp bin nearby to catch cut pieces as you work.

3. 3

   Carve the outermost shell ring first

   Start with the largest outer band of the spiral and cut it through completely with a small keyhole saw or detail blade. Work slowly along both edges of the band, leaving the marked rind bridges intact between rings. Because you begin at the outside, the surrounding pumpkin wall keeps everything rigid while you cut. Pop the freed crescents out gently by pushing from the back.

4. 4

   Work inward ring by ring

   Move to the next band in toward the center, again cutting the open sections and leaving the narrow rind lines untouched. Each ring you finish is still braced by the rings you have not cut yet, so the shell never gets floppy. Take your time on the tight inner curves and keep your blade close to vertical for crisp edges. Finish with the small center dot last, since it is the most fragile spot.

5. 5

   Cut the snail body and antennae

   Outline the long body stretching below the shell and the two thin antennae reaching up. Cut the body as one open shape, but keep the antennae slightly thicker than they look on paper so they do not snap. Round the outer edges of the body cutout a touch for a softer, cuter look. Clear any clinging strings from the back of every opening.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Set a battery LED puck or a string of LEDs inside and close the back lid. Skip real candles, since the many bridges and thin antennae can scorch and weaken. Test in a dark room and rotate the light until the spiral and body glow evenly. Shoot your photo at dusk on a porch or bench so the warm light stands out against the fading sky.