Happy Face

• Give your cantaloupe a comical twist by carving a smiling face into the side. Use a nontoxic marker to sketch the shape of two round eyes and a large “U” shaped mouth onto the side of the cantaloupe. Cut enough of the rind away that the cheerful orange -- not green -- flesh shows through. Choose a half-moon shape for a grinning mouth or an upside-down “U” for a sad mouth.

Elegant Flowers

• Carve an elegant floral motif in a cantaloupe for a table decoration or fruit centerpiece. Draw a small circle in the middle space of a cantaloupe. Draw five small petals around the circle. Repeat the process to create a chain of flowers around the circumference. Cut the first flower out with a shallow cut, leaving the green flesh exposed. Cut the next flower deeply to expose the orange flesh. Repeat the pattern to create an alternating green and orange floral chain. Alternately, carve a single large flower onto the side of the cantaloupe and cut the petals alternating between green and orange.

Bold Checkers

• An angular checkered pattern adds a modern appeal to a simple cantaloupe. Draw horizontal lines at even intervals around the cantaloupe. Draw vertical lines at matching intervals around the cantaloupe. Cut every other square from the fruit to create an orange and beige checkered pattern, or cut every other square shallowly to create a beige and green pattern. Add detail by carving a simple shape, such as a star, into every green or beige square.

Amusing Dots

• A dotted pattern brings a whimsical touch to a plain cantaloupe. Draw big and small circles in a random pattern around the cantaloupe for a general polka-dot theme. Carve the whole circle from the fruit or just carve a circular outline, depending on how colorful you want the results. Draw dots in a spiral pattern, starting at the top and ending at the bottom of the fruit, to create a classic design.

Convenient Bowls

• Cut a whole cantaloupe in half before carving designs in the rind to create a centerpiece that also serves as a handy bowl. Draw a zigzag line around the middle of the cantaloupe for a simple design. Alternately, draw a swirled line around the middle of the cantaloupe for a fluid style or a wave-shaped line for an aquatic look. Cut the fruit along the line, spoon out the seeds and scoop out the flesh with a melon baller. Place the balls back in the hollowed-out rind to create an attractive bowl. Carve the outside of the bowl with a simple design, such as zigzag stripes, for added character.