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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Love at First Light pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. Two facing human profiles, one with short-cropped hair and one with a pointed ear detail, are arranged nose-to-nose inside a heart shape so their silhouettes form both the couple and the lobes of the heart on this easy romantic pumpkin stencil. The large heart interior is cut away entirely on each side of the profiles, while the facing figures remain as solid dividers. The narrow chin-to-chest strip between the two faces is the key bridge; run your blade along each profile edge independently rather than trying to cut the gap in a single pass. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Beginner-friendly. Estimated time: 60-90 minutes. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Larger shapes and shorter cuts. An adult should handle sharp carving tools.
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
This is a cut-through stencil: the gray areas on the printable pattern are the pieces you remove, and everything white stays attached. The steps below give you the safest carving order. Plan on about 60-90 minutes from print to candle.
Set up first. Print the PDF at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the pumpkin clean, and thin the carving wall to about 1 inch where the design will sit. Tape the pattern on (snip small darts in the paper so it hugs the curve) and transfer every outline by poking dots along the lines, about one every 1/8 inch. Peel the paper away and carve dot to dot with short, straight strokes.
Carving order
- Score both facing profiles. Trace the white channel that runs between the two faces, from the hairlines at the top down past the noses and chins. This winding strip of pumpkin skin is what forms both profiles; it must survive the whole carve.
- Cut the profile edges one at a time. Cut along the left face's edge in one pass, then the right face's edge in a separate pass. Never try to clear the narrow gap between the noses in a single cut; the strip between them is the design.
- Remove the left half of the heart. Cut around the left lobe and down to the long curved point at the bottom, leaving a small tab on the outer curve. Support the plug, cut the tab, and ease it out without pressing on the profile strip.
- Remove the right half. Repeat on the right side, including the swept hair notch at the top of the right lobe. The two tapering points at the bottom of the heart are the most fragile spots, so saw into each tip from both sides and lift the final plug out gently.
Clear loose fibers out of each opening as you go, and never twist or pry the blade against the shell; back it out and recut instead. When every piece is out, wipe the cut edges dry and drop in a battery LED puck.
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, 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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Beginner-friendlyLOVE Pumpkin Stencil
Four tall serif capitals spell out "LOVE" in a single row, each letter sized to span the full height of the pumpkin face, with the word cut completely through so it glows solid when lit. The letterforms use clean, wide strokes with minimal internal bridges, making this one of the most legible word-carving pumpkin stencils in the set. Because the "O" and the interior counter of the "V" require small floating pumpkin islands, remove those internal pieces before fully clearing the surrounding letter to avoid them dropping out unexpectedly.
IntermediateHeart Wreath Pumpkin Stencil
Six hearts arranged in a ring point inward toward the center, with a tiny seventh heart crowning the top and small round dots filling the gaps between them like beads on a wreath. Every heart and dot is cut fully through, creating a lantern that throws a circle of glowing hearts across the porch. For this medium carve, poke a starter hole in each heart and cut the notch last; the dots are quick work with an apple corer or drill bit.
IntermediateRing of Hearts Pumpkin Stencil
Eight hearts arranged in a ring, each one pointing outward like petals on a wreath, with eight small round dots glowing in the gaps between them; the center of the pumpkin stays solid. Every heart and dot is cut through, turning the whole design into a radiant circular pattern. A medium carve that rewards accuracy: trace the stencil carefully so the ring stays even, and drill the dots before sawing the hearts around them.
IntermediateInterlocking Double Hearts
Two large hearts overlap and interlock, their outlines woven so one band passes over and under the other like linked rings. Nothing is pierced: you shave away only the skin along the heart outlines, leaving pale glowing bands against the untouched orange wall. Sketch the over-under crossings on the pumpkin before you shave, since keeping those weave points straight is the trick to this medium-level etch.
Beginner-friendlyI Heart Florida
A bold I sits beside a big full heart, with the letters F and L stacked underneath, spelling out Florida love in thick serif type. The heart and all three letters are cut completely through for a bright, readable message after dark. This easy carve suits first-time letter cutters; keep the serifs slightly chunky rather than trimming them thin, and cut the heart's inner notch before removing the rest of the shape.
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This hometown tribute stacks I heart on the top line and MS below in thick block letters, with a plump heart doing the talking. Each letter and the heart are pierced as separate bold shapes with plenty of shell between them, keeping the wall strong. For this easy design, cut the S from the center outward in two hooked passes so its curves stay even, then finish with the heart.