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While there are plenty of fun fall activities, few top the joy of bringing a pumpkin carving idea to life. It's a nostalgic, family-friendly tradition for all ages, whether you're setting out your glowing creation on the porch or enjoying the process of carving itself. To make things easier, our free and printable pumpkin stencils are perfect guides for creating stunning designs.
From simple patterns to more advanced, artistic options, there's a stencil for everyone. Classic Halloween themes like owls, cats, skulls and ghosts are great, while Disney-inspired stencils offer something fun for kids. These pumpkin carving ideas are perfect for families, friends or even for taking home the top prize at a local contest!
Ghost Moon
Just imagine the glow of a candle behind this creepy ghostly moon design as it sits out on your porch on Halloween night.
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Sad Heart Face
Pumpkins can be happy, scary and even sad, but with a matching pair of heart-shaped eyes it's also oh-so cute.
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Witch Hat
Bubble, bubble boil and trouble, this design will easily bewitch any trick-or-treaters.
Smiley Classic Face
When in doubt, go with a classic smiling jack-o'-lantern. It's a favorite design that people do year after year for a reason.
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Owl in the Moon
Put your skills to the test with this unique stencil of an owl on the moon that will look absolutely gourd-dous when the sun sets and it glows with a candle from inside.
Silly Face
Just because it's Halloween doesn't mean everything needs to be scary, and this stencil is perfect for those who want their pumpkins to be the perfect blend of scary and silly.
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Grinning Face
Finally, a pumpkin with a face that matches ours as soon as we see the house that's giving out full-sized candy bars.
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Bat
This design might look tricky, but it's actually quite doable, even if your carving skills are more beginner-level.
Crow Stencil
Fans of the Halloween horror The Crow might like paying homage to the cult classic with a matching pumpkin. Although this isn't necessarily a beginner-level carving, you'd be surprised how well you can achieve the creepy look yourself thanks to this easy-to-use stencil.
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Acorn Stencil
There will be a few squirrels a little disappointed to discover that this glowing acorn on your front porch is not, in fact, real. But it's still super cute, nonetheless!
Candle Stencil
If you're not the most skilled carver but want to try your hand at something a little trickier, then this stencil is perfect. The end result looks much cooler than a traditional jack-o'-lantern face.
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Feather Stencil
Attention to detail is everything with this feather stencil. For something with this many tight edges, opt for a smaller, thinner knife to really nail the feather's border. If you find that you can't quite get them right, feel free to freestyle it a bit.
Flames Stencil
Want a one-of-a-kind decorating idea? Use this stencil on a bunch of pumpkins, pop some candles inside, then line your driveway or walkway with them so trick-or-treaters have a lit path straight to your candy. Not only will it look absolutely spooktacular, but it'll make your holiday decor stand out from the rest of the block.
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Flower Stencil
This is what you would call a bold design but easy enough for carving newbies. If you really want to make a statement, create a "bouquet" of porch pumpkins by using the stencil on a variety of pumpkins of varying sizes.
Tombstone Stencil
Here lies one super cool pumpkin design. This expert-level design really shines once the sun sets and the candle is lit.
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Evil Queen Pumpkin Stencil
Snow White might be the star of the movie, but the Evil Queen from the Disney flick is just as fun to watch. This fierce face only looks scarier with a candle illuminating from behind.
Get the stencil at Creative-Type Dad
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Skeleton Stencil
Carvers at every level will be able to pull off this adorable (yet creepy) smiling face that you'll want to take a skel-fie with afterward.
Cat Stencil
Cute as a button and super creative, this one-of-a-kind stencil will look purrrr-fect on your pumpkin.
Annie O’Sullivan
Assistant Editor
Annie O’Sullivan (she/her) covers holiday, gift guide, travel, and lifestyle content at Good Housekeeping. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously reported for Runner’s World, NBC New York/NY 4 and Woman’s Day. Annie also has experience writing entertainment news and celebrity-focused content.
