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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Freak in the Sheets pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. This jack-o-lantern pumpkin stencil features a friendly ghost with a round body, curling tail, two small oval eyes, and a simple curved smile, encircled by bold block-letter text reading "FREAK" arching across the top and "IN THE SHEETS" curving along the bottom. The ghost outline and the thick text are left solid while the letter interiors, eye dots, and background areas around the ghost are pierced through. Cut the small ghost eye ovals before opening the large background area around the body so those details stay supported. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Expert / Pro. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Intricate details and fragile supports need patience. Technique depends on the design; follow its PDF rather than assuming multiple depth layers.
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
- Tape the stencil centered on the pumpkin and transfer all outlines carefully, including each letter.
- Cut the ghost's two small eye ovals first while the surrounding wall is fully intact.
- Work through the letter cutouts in the arched "FREAK" text at the top, cutting each letter's interior counter (closed loops like "R" and "A" need their island bridges preserved).
- Repeat for the "IN THE SHEETS" text along the bottom curve.
- Cut the ghost body outline last, this large open area is the final step so the text bridges stay firm throughout.
- Use a bright LED to make the lettering silhouette pop against the glowing ghost body.
Tools you'll need
For a expert / pro carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and detail gouges if the pattern includes shading. 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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Two drooping, hooked eyes sag toward a small nose and an enormous lopsided open mouth, giving this face a wailing, ghostly howl. Every feature is pierced through, and the curled inner tips of the eyes are what sell the melting expression. This is a harder carve because the eye hooks and the long mouth curve leave narrow bridges of pumpkin, so cut those thin sections last and support the wall with your free hand.
AdvancedGhost with BOO Balloon Pumpkin Stencil
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AdvancedSkeletal Ghost Pumpkin Stencil
A skeletal ghost figure with a domed, skull-like head, jagged mouth slits, and broad swept wings dominates this pumpkin stencil. The design carves as widely spaced curved pierce-through sections that fan across both sides, leaving bold orange bridges to define the creature's torso and face. Lit from inside, the jack-o-lantern reads as a dark specter bursting outward. Cut the inner face details first before tackling the large wing panels so shifting your grip doesn't crack the delicate center column.
AdvancedSkeleton Ghost Pumpkin Stencil
A skeletal ghost charges forward with clawed hands outstretched, its skull face showing hollow eyes and a jagged open mouth, the lower body dissolving into flowing tattered shroud wisps in this hard pumpkin stencil. The cut pieces include the eye and mouth openings in the skull, the gaps between the outstretched claw fingers, and several large void areas within the billowing shroud body. The thin strips between the claw fingers are fragile; cut each finger gap fully before moving to the large shroud openings below.