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View all stencils →About this stencil
A round-bellied witch's cauldron with side handles and little legs, carved as one big glowing cutout, while three round bubble holes rise above the rim like escaping brew. Everything cuts fully through, so the pot blazes and the bubbles float as bright dots. One of the easiest spooky designs going; punch the three bubbles first, then saw the cauldron body in sections, leaving the handle nubs attached to the main opening. 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.
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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.
AdvancedCurled-Hand Ghost & Round Glow
A wide-eyed little ghost with curled hands and a wavy hem floats in front of a big round glow, its startled O-shaped mouth mid-boo. The circular background is cut through around the ghost, so the figure stays as connected rind while light floods the disc behind it. Those slim connector bridges at the hands and hem are the whole design; cut the large background sections first and save every bridge for careful final passes.
IntermediateWaving Wispy Ghost
A friendly ghost with trailing wisps waves from the pumpkin, its oval eyes and mouth left as darker raised skin against the pale shaved body. There are no pierced openings; you peel the skin away inside the ghost outline so the flesh glows gently when lit. Shave in smooth, overlapping strokes and stop at the eye and mouth outlines so those features stay dark and crisp.
Expert / ProWitch Cauldron Pumpkin Stencil
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.
Beginner-friendlyWitch Cauldron Pumpkin Stencil
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.
IntermediateRising Bat and Four Stars
A bold bat rises with scalloped wings spread wide while four small stars twinkle around it. The bat and every star are cut completely through the wall, turning the pumpkin into a glowing night-sky scene. The bat is one large connected opening, so it carves fast; poke a starter hole in the middle of the body and saw outward toward the wing scallops, finishing the little stars last.