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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the America 250 Starburst pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Intermediate and takes most carvers around 75 minutes from trace to glow. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5 to 7"): print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7 to 10"): print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11 to 13"): print at 130%
- 🎃 Giant (14"+): print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?▾
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print the pattern at 100% for a 7 to 10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11 to 13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?▾
Standard 20 lb letter or A4 printer paper is fine. Heavier paper is harder to bend around the pumpkin curve. If your printer supports it, set the quality to 'best' so the lines are crisp.
How long will the carved pumpkin last?▾
Usually 5 to 10 days. Coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly and store the pumpkin somewhere cool overnight. Avoid direct sun. Battery LED pumpkin lights produce no heat and help it last longer.
Can I sell pumpkins carved with this stencil?▾
Yes, the carved pumpkin you make is yours. The license covers personal and small-scale commercial carving (selling carved pumpkins, photographing them, posting on social). You may not resell the PDF file itself.
What if my printer doesn't print the whole stencil?▾
Set 'Page scaling' to 'Fit' in the print dialog and uncheck 'Auto-rotate'. If it still cuts off, the design includes 0.25" of safe-area margin so a small crop won't ruin it.
How to carve this stencil
Print both PDF pages at 100% / Actual Size and check the one-inch ruler. The pattern canvas is 7 x 7 inches. Cut dark areas through and leave white areas intact. Use a fine saw and support the plugs around tapered details.
1. Cut the small details first
Open regions marked 1 and small unnumbered dark shapes. Use short strokes; approach sharp tips from both sides.
2. Work through the next openings
Cut areas marked 2. Leave all adjacent white material intact. Support each plug instead of pushing against narrow curves.
3. Follow the larger contours
Cut areas marked 3. Keep the white top and bottom gaps of the zero intact. Do not join the firework streaks.
4. Release the largest plugs last
Finish areas marked 4. Leave a small tab until each plug is supported, then cut the tab. Do not pry. Clear fibers and check with an LED.
Check narrow connections before carving. Pumpkin preview is simulated. This design has not been physically test-carved.
More America 250 stencils
Tools you'll need
For a intermediate carve like this you'll want a x-acto knife, poker tool, ribbon scoop, and painter's tape. Here's the kit we reach for, but start with whatever you already own.
Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon ↗
HOME MOST LED Pumpkin Lights
4-pack, battery operated, with remote + timer
Orange glow made for jack-o'-lanterns. The remote and timer light the pumpkin every evening without reaching inside.
View on Amazon ↗
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
View on Amazon ↗
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