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View all stencils →About this stencil
A slender crescent moon hangs in the upper corner while a diagonal trail of small round dots falls away beneath it, like fading moonlight. Each shape is pierced through, and the tiny dots do most of the sparkle work against the dark shell. For this easy pattern, punch the dots with an apple corer or drill bit for perfect circles, then saw the thin crescent in two smooth passes. 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
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Designed for a long pumpkin lying on its side, this pattern runs a band of five bold stars across the middle with ten round holes scattered above and below like floating orbs. Every star and circle is a simple cut-through, and the sideways layout makes it a fun tabletop centerpiece instead of an upright face. At medium difficulty the stars are the focus: poke each star's five points before cutting so the angles meet sharply.
IntermediateEight Teardrops Around Circle
Eight teardrop petals radiate around a central circle cutout, like a glowing daisy or sunburst wheel. Every teardrop and the center are pierced clean through, turning the pumpkin into a lantern that throws petal-shaped light across the porch. Cut the center circle first as your anchor point, then work around the ring, alternating sides so the wall stays balanced as you go.
IntermediateStar Above Two Chevrons
A six-point badge star shines above two stacked chevron stripes, with three small dots arcing over the top like a crest. Every shape is cut fully through the wall, giving the design the crisp look of a service badge or rank insignia glowing on the porch. Cut the chevrons from their outer ends toward the center points, and keep the rind strip between the two stripes intact for a clean military edge.
IntermediateSeven Unequal Honeycomb Cells
Seven hexagonal honeycomb cells of slightly different sizes cluster together, each one a glowing six-sided window separated by thick shared walls. Every cell is cut fully through, and those chunky connecting walls are what keep the pumpkin strong, so resist the urge to slim them down. Cut each hexagon side as its own straight stroke, finishing the corners cleanly with the knife tip, and start with the center cell to anchor the layout.
Beginner-friendlyPlain Plus and Four Round Dots
A bold plus symbol sits at the center with four round dots anchoring the corners, a clean five-hole design that reads instantly from the street. The cross and dots are all cut straight through, with no fragile details anywhere on the pattern. A great pick for nurses, EMTs, and first-aid fans: use a ruler when transferring the design so the cross arms stay perfectly square.
Beginner-friendlyTwo Curves Around a Round Core
Two sweeping comma-shaped curves swirl around a round central core, suggesting a spiral galaxy spinning across the pumpkin. Just three openings are cut through the wall, so the design comes together quickly yet looks striking and modern when lit. Keep the tapered tails of each curve narrow as you saw; cutting from the wide end toward the thin tip gives you the most control over those graceful points.