Sandy the Coastal Starfish

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick and prep the pumpkin

   Choose a round, smooth pumpkin with a flat side facing out and no soft spots. Have an adult cut a lid from the bottom or the back rather than the top, which keeps the front face clean for the design. Scoop the inside and scrape the carving wall down to about one inch thick so your tools pass through easily. A thinner wall also lets the dots punch cleanly without tearing.

2. 2

   Transfer the starfish

   Print or draw a simple five-pointed starfish sized to fill the front of the pumpkin. Tape it flat and poke the outline with a pushpin or a transfer tool, spacing dots close together along every edge. Mark the small circle details along the center of each arm as single pin points so you know where to punch later. Peel the paper and connect your dots lightly with a marker if it helps you see the shape.

3. 3

   Cut the star from the center out

   Using a small serrated carving saw, start near the middle of the star and cut outward toward each arm tip. Working from the center keeps the blade steady and helps the points stay attached until you are ready. Gently push each freed piece inward and out. Take the arm tips slowly since they are the thinnest part of the silhouette.

4. 4

   Punch the dot details

   Switch to a round corer or a clean apple corer for the small circles running along each arm. Press straight in with a slight twist so each dot comes out as a neat round hole. Space them evenly and leave a little pumpkin between dots so the arm does not weaken into a slot. Clear any plugs from inside the pumpkin.

5. 5

   Clean up the edges

   Run your saw or a paring tool back along the star outline to smooth any ragged spots. Scrape the inside edges of the cut so light spreads evenly through the opening. Wipe the front with a damp cloth to remove marker lines. Dab cut edges with a little petroleum jelly to slow drying and keep the shape crisp longer.

6. 6

   Light it and stage the scene

   Set a warm white or amber LED puck or string light inside, never a candle, so the cutout glows safely for hours. Place the pumpkin on a porch step with a lantern and a few seashells for the coastal look. Photograph it at dusk when the light inside reads brightest against the darker skin. Bring it indoors on warm nights to make it last.

Written with AI to match this design