Making Jack-o-lanterns is my favorite part of harvesting pumpkins. There are many kits available on the market or you can use your own creativity.
One of the things I like to do is cut off the top of the pumpkin, scrape the insides out so much so that the walls aren't real thick. I use an ice cream scoop to do this part.
Then I go select some leaves that have fallen on the ground. I use those as a template and trace the outline 3/4 ways around the pumpkin. Then I hand draw the leaf veins in.
With an exacto knife I carve out a 1/2 inch of the flesh leaving just the veins in tact. This is very time consuming and tedious, but worth it. Four or five hours later, my project is almost done.
On the backside that does not have any leaves, I cut a hole very low on the pumpkin, big enough to insert a light. I push the socket through and screw a bulb in. The outline of the leaves lit is so beautiful.