Three Glowing Rainbow Arch Pumpkin on a Concrete Step

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Hollow the pumpkin

   Cut a back or bottom lid to keep the opening hidden from the front. Remove all pulp and seeds, aiming for about an inch of wall thickness. A consistent wall produces an even warm glow across all three arch bands.

2. 2

   Transfer the arch template

   Print and tape a three-arch template centered on the face. Mark both endpoints of each arch at the pumpkin's surface with a pushpin, making sure all three arches share the same two base endpoints. Remove the template and confirm the marks look symmetrical before cutting.

3. 3

   Cut the outermost arch slot

   Using a detail saw or carving knife, cut along the outer edge of the widest arch slot, then cut the inner edge, and remove the rind strip between them. Keep both cut ends firmly rooted into the rind at the base so the arch does not detach. Adults should handle all cutting.

4. 4

   Cut the middle arch slot

   Repeat the same process for the middle arch, maintaining the same slot width as the outer arch. Check that the rind band between the outer and middle arch is solid and roughly equal in width all the way across.

5. 5

   Cut the inner semicircle

   For the innermost band, cut a simple semicircular opening rather than a narrow slot, keeping the base edge rooted into the lower rind. This wider opening at the bottom of the rainbow naturally brightens the center of the design.

6. 6

   Light and display

   Place a warm LED tea light inside and set the pumpkin on a concrete step or porch ledge. The warm glow through the three openings reads as a cheerful stacked rainbow. Photograph it after dark for the best effect.

Written with AI to match this design