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View all stencils →About this stencil
Four nested rainbow arches glow from the lower half of the pumpkin, each band separated by a strip of untouched shell. The arch openings are cut all the way through while the curved ribs between them stay in place to define the rainbow shape. Start with the smallest inner arch and work outward so the narrow ribs keep their support as long as possible. This design is rated Intermediate and takes most carvers around 75 minutes from trace to glow. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
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 intermediate carve like this you'll want a x-acto knife, poker tool, ribbon scoop, and painter's tape. 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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Beginner-friendlyRound Eyes and Broad Crescent
Two big round eyes and one broad crescent smile make up this whole cheerful design, glowing warm amber against the shell. All three shapes are cut cleanly through with no teeth or interior details, so the face works on any pumpkin color, and it looks especially striking on a blue or white heirloom variety. As an easy carve, use a round cookie cutter or drill bit to keep the eyes perfectly circular, then saw the wide grin in two relaxed passes.
Beginner-friendlyFive Glowing Shapes
Five bold glowing shapes scattered across the pumpkin: two stars, a circle, a square, and a triangle, like a preschool lesson turned into a lantern. Every shape is cut fully through with generous spacing, so there are no fragile bridges and each opening throws its own pool of light. As an easy design it is ideal for carving with little kids: let them pick the shape order and poke the transfer dots while an adult handles the actual cutting.
Beginner-friendlyThree Rainbow Arches
Three nested arches stack like a glowing rainbow, each band cut fully through so the pumpkin lights up in bright concentric ribbons. The strips of pumpkin left between the arches form the rainbow's dark bands and keep the wall sturdy. It is an easy design with big visual payoff; cut the smallest inner arch first and work outward, and keep the leftover ribs at least half an inch wide so they stay strong.
Beginner-friendlyTall Oval Eyes and Small Smile
Two tall oval eyes and a small curved smile make up this cheerful minimalist face. All three shapes are cut fully through the wall, so the design carves in minutes and beams warm light from every opening. It is an ideal first pumpkin for young carvers with supervision; drill or poke a starter hole inside each eye so the saw can enter without stressing the surrounding rind.
Expert / ProPetal Border and Button Nose
A whimsical folk-art face with pupil-in-eye ovals, arched lash brows, a button nose, and a scalloped grin full of rounded teeth, all surrounded by a lush border of petals, leaves, and teardrops. Dozens of small openings cut through, which is what earns the expert rating despite the friendly look. Work from the center of the face outward to the border so early cuts never weaken the wall around later ones.