Spooky season is here, and Halloween is just around the corner. You’ve got your costumes on lock. You have a trick-or-treating plan of attack. All that’s left now is some good old-fashioned pumpkin carving stencil fun.
Maybe you’ve had your favorite jack-o-lantern design in mind for days. Maybe you’re more of a go-with-the-flow carver who plans to try different designs on the fly. Or maybe you like to take a more measured approach with the best Halloween pumpkin stencil designs out there. One thing’s for sure when you add fun decor touches to your porch: Whether you carve a scary face with glowing eyes or give your pumpkin a simple smile, there’s no wrong way to show off your creativity this fall.
If you’re seeking inspiration, check out these easy and free jack-o-lantern stencils and pumpkin carving tips to create your very own gorgeous gourds.
Free Jack-o-Lantern Patterns
From rubber chickens to shooting stars to robot Dracula, these designs are sure to capture your imagination.
Robot Pumpkin Stencil
Rubber chicken Pumpkin Stencil
Shooting Star Pumpkin Stencil
Paper Plane Pumpkin Stencil
Dracula-Bot Pumpkin Stencil
How to Carve a Pumpkin
Whether this is your first-ever jack-o-lantern, or you’d just like a little refresh, these tips can help you get started.
Step 1
Gather your materials. You’ll need:
- Newspaper, to protect your work surface and make clean-up a breeze
- A bowl large enough to hold scooped-out pumpkin seeds and strings
- Carving tools like a scooper, a poker and a serrated carving knife
- Tape, if you’re using a pumpkin stencil
- A candle or battery-powered light to illuminate your creation
Step 2
Prepare your pumpkin for carving. Cut off the top portion in a circle around the stem. Use a scooper to hollow out the inside, removing all the seeds and strings.
Step 3
If you’re using a pumpkin stencil, print your jack-o-lantern pattern at the appropriate size to fit your pumpkin. Tape your pattern to the pumpkin and use a poking tool or sewing pin to poke through the outlines of the pattern. When you’re done poking the outline, remove your pattern from the pumpkin.
Step 4
Use your carving tools to follow the outlines you made. Cut out any shapes where you want the light to shine through your jack-o-lantern completely, such as those marked in black on the pumpkin pattern. For shapes where you want the light to partially filter through, carve the surface of the pumpkin so that the hard outer layer is removed and the softer, lighter layer underneath is exposed.
Step 5
Light it up! Set a candle inside your pumpkin and use a barbecue lighter to bring it to sparkling life. For a flame-free jack-o-lantern, use a small battery-powered light instead.
