Underlined 100 Emoji Pumpkin

From pumpkin to porch

1. 1

   Pick a sturdy pumpkin and transfer the design

   Choose a tall, smooth pumpkin with a flat-ish front so the numerals sit upright and readable. Print or draw the slanted 100 large enough to fill the upper half, then tape the pattern flat and poke the outlines with a pushpin or tracing tool. Space your dots close together on the curves of the zeros so you get a clean line. Step back and check that all three characters and both underline bars are level before you cut anything.

2. 2

   Hollow out and add a light

   Have an adult cut a lid or, better, a wide hole in the base so you can set the pumpkin over an LED light later. Scoop the inside until the front wall is about one inch thick, which makes cutting easier and lets more glow through. A thinner wall also helps the finished numerals shine evenly. Skip real candles and use a battery LED so the closed interior stays safe.

3. 3

   Cut the 1 first

   Start with the slanted 1 since it is the simplest solid shape and gives you a feel for the pumpkin wall. Use a small saw and make slow, straight strokes, letting the blade do the work rather than forcing it. Push the freed piece gently inward and out. Clean up the edges with a light second pass so the stroke looks crisp when lit.

4. 4

   Carve the zeros with keeper bridges

   Each zero is a ring, so before cutting mark two tiny uncut bridges, one at the top and one at the bottom of each inner oval, to hold the center island in place. Cut the outer edge of the zero first, then the inner edge, leaving those little bridges intact. If you prefer the counters to glow instead, you can skin-peel the inside ovals rather than cutting them out. Work one zero at a time so the front stays supported.

5. 5

   Cut the two underlines last

   Save the two curved underline bars for the very end, since removing them early would weaken the lower wall while you carve the taller numbers above. Cut the upper bar first, then the lower one, keeping the gentle curve smooth with short strokes. Leave a comfortable band of uncut skin between the two bars so they read as separate strokes. Push the pieces out carefully to avoid cracking the thin section between them.

6. 6

   Light it and photograph

   Drop in your LED light, set the pumpkin on a flat porch or step, and dim the surrounding lights to check the glow. If any edge looks ragged, trim it with the tip of your tool for a cleaner line. Angle the numerals toward viewers so the slanted 100 reads instantly. Snap your photo at dusk when the warm interior light shows best against the shadows.