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A round-bellied witch's cauldron sits on a small tripod base while a large plume of swirling smoke and flame rises above it, branching into curling tendrils with scattered circular bubble cutouts floating free in this witch pumpkin stencil. The cauldron interior is a large open void, the smoke tendrils are narrow pierced ribbons, and each bubble is a tiny individual circle punched through the skin. Cut the cauldron body first, then remove the larger smoke ribbons; leave the small bubble circles for last and use a round drill bit or small gouge to keep them clean. This design is rated Expert / Pro and takes most carvers around 240 minutes from trace to glow. Sculpting-grade work. Three or more depth layers, fine detail.
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; mark each small bubble circle with a center dot so none are missed.
- Cut the large cauldron interior as a single oval, removing the piece cleanly.
- Carve the tripod base legs, using short controlled cuts at each foot.
- Work up through the smoke column: cut the widest central ribbon first, then the branching side tendrils from bottom to top.
- Finish with the bubble circles; a round leather punch or small drill bit makes cleaner holes than a knife for these tiny shapes.
- Place the light source low inside so smoke tendrils glow from below, making the bubbles appear to float upward.
Tools you'll need
For a expert / pro carve like this you'll want a full ribbon tool set, clay sculpting loops, x-acto knife, and dremel (optional). 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.
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A bubbling witch's cauldron sends three curling plumes of steam up the pumpkin's face, all rendered in carved shading rather than pierced holes. You shave the skin to different depths so the pot, bubbles, and smoke glow in layered tones while the wall stays fully intact. Work the steam swirls shallow and the cauldron mouth deepest to get that lit-from-within brew effect.
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A witch's cauldron viewed straight on forms this easy witch pumpkin stencil, with three bubble circles floating above the pot, a wide rectangular opening for the cauldron mouth, a thick rim strip, and two claw-footed legs flanking a centered spout at the base. All the shapes are cut through as separate open pieces, glowing independently when lit to suggest a bubbling brew. Cut the three small bubble circles near the top of the design first, since they sit in isolation and are easiest to control before the larger cuts below loosen the wall.
IntermediateWitch on a Left-Brushed Broom
A witch in a pointed hat rides her broom across the pumpkin, cloak trailing and broom bristles brushed out to the left as one bold glowing silhouette. The entire figure is cut through as a single connected opening, so the drama comes from the outline rather than fine interior detail. For this medium carve, start with the big body mass and work outward, cutting the hat point and individual bristle tips last so the surrounding rind supports your blade the whole way.
IntermediateBent Hat with Nine Sparkles
A tall witch hat with a jauntily bent tip glows from the pumpkin, its wide oval brim carved as a separate opening beneath the crown so the solid hatband reads as a dark stripe between them. Around the hat, small circles and diamonds sparkle like scattered magic. This medium design hinges on that hatband bridge; cut the crown and brim as two independent openings and never saw across the band, then finish with the little sparkle shapes using a drill and detail knife.
Beginner-friendlyBent Crown and Broad Brim
A classic witch hat fills the pumpkin face, its tall crown bending over at the tip above a broad, gently curved brim. The whole hat is removed as one pierced piece, making a big bright silhouette with no interior details to fuss over. As an easy single-cut design, just keep your blade angled slightly inward as you saw so the large panel pulls free without wedging.