Triangle eyes, triangle nose, and a toothy grin glowing warm yellow on the front steps. The template every first carve starts from.
Save this design for carving night, then share a photo of your own jack-o'-lantern once it's glowing.
This is the timeless jack-o'-lantern: two triangle eyes, a triangle nose, and a wide toothy grin, all cut clean through so the light pours out. The trick is keeping the grin's zigzag teeth even and leaving small gaps of skin between them so the mouth reads as a smile instead of one big hole. Cut everything through the shell for maximum glow, and save the big mouth opening for last so the face stays sturdy while you work.
Written by PumpkinCarvingIdeas.com, inspired by @anonymous's photo above. These are our suggestions, not instructions from the uploader, and this approach hasn't been tested on their exact carve.
Choose a pumpkin with a smooth, mostly flat face and a sturdy stem. Have an adult cut a lid around the stem at an angle so it rests back in place without falling in. Scoop out the seeds and pulp, then thin the front wall to about an inch so your tools push through easily. A thinner wall makes clean cuts and a brighter glow.
Sketch two triangles for the eyes, one smaller triangle for the nose, and a long curved grin below. Use a washable marker or poke dot outlines with a pin so you can wipe away mistakes. Keep the eyes level with each other and center the nose between them. Space the grin so you have room for a row of pointed teeth.
Draw the mouth as a wide crescent, then mark triangle teeth pointing up from the bottom and down from the top. Leave a small band of skin between each tooth so they stay attached and the zigzag stays crisp. Those little skin bridges are what keep the grin from collapsing into a single blob of light. Double-check the pattern before any cutting begins.
Have an adult cut the two eye triangles and the nose triangle first, pushing the blade straight in and working slowly around each corner. Small cuts first keeps the pumpkin strong while you handle it. Push the loose pieces out from the inside so the edges stay clean. Take breaks and reposition your grip rather than forcing the blade.
Cut the mouth last since it's the largest opening and weakens the face most. Follow your tooth lines carefully, leaving those skin bridges intact between each point. Gently push each section out and tidy any rough edges with the tip of your tool. Going slow here protects those thin little teeth.
Drop in a battery LED tealight or puck light for a warm, safe glow, never an open flame. Set the pumpkin on your porch step and check the face from a few feet back. If any tooth looks uneven, trim it a touch. A dab of petroleum jelly on the cut edges helps it stay fresh for a few extra nights.
Check things off as you get ready.
Work on a stable surface, keep your free hand out of the cutting path, and have an adult handle sharp tools.
The whole outer skin of the pumpkin stays untouched and dark, framing the face.
Not used on this simple design, but you could shade-peel the mouth corners for a softer edge if you want.
The two eye triangles, the nose triangle, and every tooth gap in the grin are cut fully through for the brightest yellow glow.
Leave a small band of uncut skin between each tooth so they anchor to the pumpkin instead of floating free. Cut the mouth last, after the eyes and nose, so the face stays strong while you work. Push the pieces out gently from inside rather than prying from the front.
Keep the eyes roughly the same size as each other and make the nose a bit smaller so the proportions feel like a face. A good rule is to fit both eyes and the nose in the upper half of the pumpkin, leaving the lower half for the grin. Mark with dots first so you can adjust before cutting.
A battery LED tealight or a small puck light with a warm white or amber tone gives that cozy yellow glow. Skip real candles since they're a fire risk and can scorch the lid. Thinning the front wall to about an inch also lets more light through for a brighter face.
Changed a detail? Made it simpler? Share a photo of your version and tell the community what worked.
Want more designs like this? Browse our full library of pumpkin carving ideas, or pick a free printable stencil. Every pattern and template in our own collection is free to print at home.
The best new carvings, ideas worth stealing, and how-tos for carving season. Short, seasonal, and gone by November.
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