Similar to This
View all stencils →About this stencil
The unmistakable outline of Arizona is cut clean through the pumpkin wall, with its straight eastern border and the stair-stepped notch along the Colorado River edge on the west. The entire state interior is removed, so it reads as one big glowing block of light. For this easy cutout, trace the jagged western edge in short segments rather than one long cut to keep each little step crisp. This design is rated Beginner-friendly and takes most carvers around 30 minutes from trace to glow. Great for kids and first-timers. Big shapes, short cuts.
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
- 1Print it
Download the PDF and print at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper.
- 2Prep the pumpkin
Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the guts, thin the wall to ~1 inch.
- 3Tape it on
Snip darts in the paper so it lies flat against the curve.
- 4Transfer the design
Poke along every line — about one dot every 1/8 inch.
- 5Carve it
Connect the dots with short straight cuts. Center first, work outward.
- 6Light it up
Drop in a battery LED pumpkin light and you're done.
Tools you'll need
For a beginner-friendly carve like this you'll want a paring knife, spoon / scoop, marker, and led pumpkin light. 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.
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 ↗
Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
Related stencils
Carvers who liked this one also downloaded these.
IntermediateMaine State Shape
Maine's craggy outline fills the pumpkin as a single glowing cutout, from the pointed northern crown down to its famously jagged coastline. The entire state interior is removed while the rind around it stays solid, so the border reads crisply once lit. The ragged coastal edge is what makes this a medium carve: trace it slowly with a fine saw and do not worry about tiny inlets, since the overall shape sells the design from a few feet away.
IntermediateTennessee State Shape
Tennessee's long parallelogram runs nearly the full width of the pumpkin, flat across the top with the jagged mountain border stepping down the eastern end. The entire state is removed as one wide glowing band. Since the opening is long and shallow, cut the straight top and bottom edges first, then work the stepped eastern corner in small bites to keep every notch sharp.
IntermediateNew Hampshire State Shape
The unmistakable tall, tapering outline of New Hampshire, cut fully through as one glowing state silhouette. Everything inside the border comes out, leaving the surrounding rind as the dark frame that defines the shape. This medium carve is one large opening, so work in short, connected saw strokes around the jagged northern border and remove the piece in two or three sections instead of forcing out one big slab, which can tear the notched edges.
IntermediateNebraska State Shape
The unmistakable outline of Nebraska, panhandle and all, cut fully through the pumpkin wall so the entire state glows as one bold window of light. There is nothing left inside the shape, making it a clean, graphic statement of Cornhusker pride. Rated medium because of the long straight edges; score the border lines first, then remove the shape in two or three sections so the corners stay sharp.
IntermediateOklahoma State Shape
Oklahoma's distinctive silhouette, from the long skinny panhandle to the notched southern border, cut fully through so the entire state shines as a single lit shape. The interior is removed in one large piece while the rest of the pumpkin stays solid. Because the panhandle is a narrow strip, this medium design carves best if you cut that section last and support it with your free hand as you finish.
IntermediatePennsylvania State Shape
Pennsylvania's blocky silhouette stretches wide across the pumpkin, straight along the top and bottom with the jagged Delaware River border zigzagging down the eastern side. The whole state is a single pierced opening that glows as one solid panel. Take the ragged eastern edge slowly with a fine saw, backing the blade out at each angle change so the small points do not snap off.