Two Ghost Silhouettes and Round Holes Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Hollow the tall pumpkin

   Cut a wide bottom lid, scoop out all seeds and stringy flesh, and scrape the front wall behind both ghost positions to about half an inch. The taller pumpkin has more surface area to carve, so thorough hollowing is important for even glow across both ghost shapes.

2. 2

   Plan the ghost positions

   Draw a vertical centerline down the pumpkin face. Place the two ghost shapes symmetrically, with at least one inch of rind between the inner arm of each ghost and the centerline. Mark the cluster of round holes above in the upper third of the face.

3. 3

   Transfer both ghost outlines

   Pin-transfer both ghost patterns onto the rind and score the outlines with a craft knife tip. Use the same ghost template for both shapes to keep them identical in size. Check that the bridges between each ghost and the edge of the pumpkin are at least three-quarters of an inch wide.

4. 4

   Cut the ghost shapes

   Cut each ghost aperture fully through from one arm, down through the scalloped hem, and back up to the other arm. Use a small pumpkin saw for the longer stretches and a craft knife for the tight curves. Remove each ghost piece through the back of the pumpkin.

5. 5

   Cut the round bubble holes

   Use a circle template to mark all the round holes above the ghosts and cut them with a controlled rotating knife motion. Space the bubbles irregularly at slightly different heights for a natural drifting-upward effect.

6. 6

   Display on a garden bench at dusk

   Place a warm battery LED inside and set the pumpkin on a garden bench as daylight fades. The two ghost shapes glow side by side with the round bubbles floating above them. The taller pumpkin silhouette makes this display read well from a greater distance than a squat pumpkin design.

Written with AI to match this design