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View all stencils βAbout this stencil
A star-struck emoji face with two big five-point stars for eyes and a broad crescent smile beneath them. All three shapes are pierced completely through, so the stars and grin beam like the real starry-eyed emoji. It is an easy carve overall, with the star points as the only fiddly spots; poke a pilot hole in the center of each star and cut outward toward every point. 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
- π Small (5β7") β print at 80%
- π Medium (7β10") β print at 100% (recommended)
- π Large (11β13") β print at 130%
- π Giant (14"+) β print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?βΎ
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print at 100% for a 7β10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11β13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?βΎ
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?βΎ
Usually 5β10 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?βΎ
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?βΎ
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 β 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 β 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 β
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 β
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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Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
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IntermediateLovestruck Heart Eyes Face
This lovestruck face beams with two big heart-shaped eyes under curved brows, a wide open smile showing three square teeth, and playful dot dimples on each cheek. All the features are cut through the wall, so the hearts glow brightest and instantly read as the classic heart-eyes expression. Cut the notch at the top of each heart carefully with short strokes, since that little dip is what makes the shape.
IntermediateEight-Bridge Circular Smile
A big circular smiley face beams from the pumpkin, drawn with a segmented ring outline, two oval eyes, and a wide upturned smile with curled corners. The ring, eyes, and mouth are all cut through, while small bridges break the circle into sections that keep the face anchored to the shell. Leave every bridge intact until the end so the outline ring stays firmly attached.
AdvancedHeart Eyes and Seventeen Gems
The heart-eyes emoji comes to life with two big heart-shaped eyes, arched brows, and a wide toothy smile, all surrounded by seventeen small hearts and diamond accents scattered across the shell. Every heart, brow, tooth gap, and diamond is pierced through, so the whole pumpkin twinkles. Carve the large central face first while the shell is strongest, then work outward through the border hearts from biggest to smallest.
AdvancedArched Pupils and Twelve Rays
This pumpkin is absolutely thrilled to see you: arched eyes with hanging pupil tabs sit above a giant grin packed with separated square teeth, while short rays burst from each cheek like cartoon sparkle lines. All the shapes cut through, and the many thin bridges between teeth and rays are why it rates hard. Cut the small ray slits first while the wall is strongest, then do the teeth, always sawing away from the narrow bridges.
Beginner-friendlyRound and Triangle Goofy Eyes
One round eye and one sideways triangle eye give this pumpkin its delightfully goofy, mid-wink expression, finished with a huge upswept smile and two square teeth hanging from the upper lip. All shapes cut straight through for a bright, cartoonish glow. It is an easy crowd-pleaser; cut around each square tooth carefully, since they stay attached to the top of the mouth, and round off the smile's corners for extra charm.
IntermediateStar Eyes and Six Freckles
This starstruck face beams with two five-pointed stars for eyes, curved brows arching above them, a wide open grin with tiny teeth, and three round freckles dotting each cheek. All the features are pierced through the wall, and the star eyes are the showpieces. Cut each star from its center out to the points, and drill the six freckles with a small round bit for perfectly matched circles.






