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@ai_concepts
Aug 22, 2026
Domino the Whale Shark pumpkin carvingAI
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Domino the Whale Shark

A whale shark glides across this pumpkin, its wide flat head and tall tail fin outlined in carved light while dozens of drilled dots recreate the animal's famous spot pattern. The spots are the trick here: a power drill with a small bit makes them fast and perfectly round. Carve the body outline first, then drill the dots from the outside in, and use a bright LED puck so every hole reads from the street.

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IntermediateAnimalsArtisticClassic Cutout
whale-sharksharkwhaleoceansea-creaturefishanimalcutoutdrilledspotted

Save this design for carving night, then share a photo of your own jack-o'-lantern once it's glowing.

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Our tips for carving a similar design

The core trick here is the drilled spot pattern: dozens of small round holes that recreate the whale shark's famous markings and let light punch through in tidy dots. You outline the body, tail, and head as thin cut channels for a bright edge glow, then drill the spots across the peeled body so they read from the street. Cutting the outline first and drilling second keeps the shell strong while you work.

From pumpkin to porch

  1. Transfer the whale shark shape

    Pick your flattest pumpkin face and clean the inside through a lid or a bottom hole so the wall is about one inch thick. Tape your stencil in place and poke the outline of the body, wide head, fins, and tall tail with a pounce tool or pin. Mark the spot positions too so you know where every dot lands. Peel the paper and connect the dots lightly with a marker if the pattern is hard to read.

  2. Carve the body outline

    Use a fine detail saw to cut the thin channel that outlines the shark's back, belly, head, and fins. Keep the blade straight up and down and go slowly around the curves of the head and the point of the tail. Leave small uncut bridges where the outline nearly closes on itself so the surrounding shell stays connected. These cut lines will glow as the brightest part of the design.

  3. Peel the body for a soft glow

    Use a lino or ribbon tool to shave off just the outer skin inside the shark's body, leaving the flesh underneath. This peeled surface will glow a dim orange and separate the animal from the dark untouched pumpkin around it. Keep an even depth so the light spreads smoothly. Do not cut all the way through here, since the spots need solid flesh to sit in.

  4. Drill the spot pattern

    Have an adult run a power drill with a small bit, around one eighth inch, and bore each spot straight into the peeled body from the outside in. Work in rows and keep spacing even so the pattern stays natural and round. Clear the pulp from each hole with the drill or a skewer so light passes cleanly. Save any larger openings, like the mouth, for last so the shell does not weaken while you drill.

  5. Open the mouth and gills last

    Once the dots are done, cut through any wider openings such as the mouth line and gill slits for full brightness. These are your biggest holes, so doing them at the end keeps the face rigid while you handle it. Test-fit the shape and trim any rough inside edges at a slight bevel to help the light fan out.

  6. Light it and photograph

    Drop in a bright LED puck light, ideally one on the higher setting, so every drilled dot reads from a distance. Set the pumpkin on a step at dusk and check that the outline, the peeled body, and the spots each show at their own brightness. Rotate it until the head faces your walkway. Snap a photo in low light to catch the full glow.

Written with AI to match this design

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 water around the shark and the pumpkin's ribbed shell stay as untouched dark skin.

  • Peel & shade

    The whale shark's body is skin-peeled so it glows a soft dim orange behind the spots.

  • Cut through

    The body outline, fin edges, tail, and mouth are cut through for the brightest light, along with each drilled dot.

Learn the carving basics

Before you start cutting

How do I keep the drilled dots even and round?

Mark every spot from your stencil before you drill so spacing stays consistent. Hold the drill straight into the wall and let the bit do the work instead of pushing hard. A power drill with a small bit gives cleaner, rounder holes than a hand poke, so have an adult run it.

Will the thin outline and tail fin break?

They can if you cut them all at once, so leave a few small uncut bridges along the outline while you drill the spots. The tall tail fin is the most fragile part, so carve it carefully and support the shell with your other hand. You can trim the last bridges just before lighting if you want a cleaner look.

This is an AI concept image, so can a real pumpkin look like this?

Yes, the design is fully carvable on a real pumpkin. Keep the body wall about one inch thick so the drilled dots hold their shape, and use a bright LED rather than a candle so all the small holes light up. Save the widest openings for last to keep the face strong.

Your take belongs here, too.

Changed a detail? Made it simpler? Share a photo of your version and tell the community what worked.

Share your pumpkin

Want more designs like this? Browse our full library of pumpkin carving ideas, or pick a free printable stencil. Every pattern and template in our own collection is free to print at home.

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