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View all stencils →About this stencil
A round jack-o-lantern face is carved within a jack-o-lantern, depicting a pumpkin-shaped head with a leering triangular eye, a jagged zig-zag mouth, and a bent stem on top, all surrounded by curling flame-like cuts along the exterior. The layered design creates an open-mouthed, angry pumpkin-face-within-a-pumpkin effect that reads as a bold silhouette when lit. Carve the curling outer flame cuts first, since they form the structural rim; leaving them for last risks cracking the thin outer edges after the interior is removed. This design is rated Advanced and takes most carvers around 150 minutes from trace to glow. Multi-layer cuts with skin-peel shading. Plan your cuts first.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5–7") — print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7–10") — print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11–13") — 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 at 100% for a 7–10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11–13 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 5–10 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 double the lifespan.
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
- Transfer the stencil and begin with the curling flame-like cuts along the outer rim of the face shape.
- Cut the top stem piece and the bent cap next while the pumpkin wall has full support around the center.
- Carve the triangular eye opening, then the small triangular nose.
- Work through the zig-zag mouth, cutting each tooth gap as a separate downward plunge rather than a continuous sweep.
- Remove the large open areas of the lower face last to avoid the carved wall sagging.
- Light with a candle rather than LED to let the flame silhouette flicker against the carved cuts.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a linoleum cutter set, x-acto knife, peel tool, and pin transfer wheel. Here's the kit we reach for — 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.
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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.
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Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
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Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
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Beginner-friendlyThree-Opening Surprised Face
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A lovable goofy face with two big round eyes, a small triangle nose, and a wide smile broken up by three blocky teeth. Every shape is a full cut-through opening, so the eyes, nose, and mouth glow while the rest of the pumpkin stays untouched. It is a great first stencil; start with the smallest tooth cuts before opening the large mouth so the wall stays sturdy.