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View all stencils →About this stencil
A sweeping spiral galaxy wraps across the entire pumpkin face, its curved arms shaved in graduated depths so the core glows brightest, while three ringed planets and scattered stars orbit the edges in raised relief. Nothing is pierced; every effect comes from continuous-wall shading at different thicknesses. Expert-level patience pays off here: establish the spiral arms as broad shallow bands first, then deepen toward the center in passes to build the luminous gradient. This design is rated Expert / Pro and takes most carvers around 240 minutes from trace to glow. Sculpting-grade work. Three or more depth layers, fine detail.
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 expert / pro carve like this you'll want a full ribbon tool set, clay sculpting loops, x-acto knife, and dremel (optional). 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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Expert / ProSpiral Galaxy and Four Stars
A sweeping spiral galaxy with two luminous arms curling around a bright core, surrounded by four-point stars and a scatter of small stardust dots. The entire scene is skin-shave work with no pierced holes: the arms are shaved wide and shallow while the dots and stars are picked out individually. An expert pattern because of its long tapering curves; keep your gouge moving in smooth continuous strokes along each arm.
IntermediateFive Curves Around a Dark Sun
Five curved galaxy arms swirl around a solid dark core, each tapered blade cut fully through so the design spins like a glowing cosmic pinwheel, with five small round star holes drilled between the arms. The center circle stays as untouched shell, anchored by the skin between the arms. At medium difficulty, the keys are the tapered arm tips; saw from the wide end of each arm toward its point, and drill the star holes before cutting the arms nearby.
Expert / ProLayered Compass Star Relief
A layered compass-rose mandala: an eight-point star nests inside a larger star, all wrapped in a ring of carved circles and framed by a shaved border medallion. The entire design is relief work at several depths with no pierced openings, which is why it rates expert. Establish the shallowest background layer first, then step each inner layer progressively deeper so the star points read as crisp raised facets.
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.
IntermediateNine Triangles and Six Dots
Nine triangles in alternating sizes form a tidy three-by-three grid, with six small round dots tucked into the gaps between rows. Each triangle and dot is cut straight through, producing a clean modern lantern that glows like patterned tilework. This medium design is all about alignment, so tape the template securely, transfer every corner point before cutting, and carve the triangles row by row to keep the grid looking sharp and even.
IntermediateSix Waves Sun and Starfish
A half-sun sets over two rows of curling surf, six stylized waves in all, with a chunky starfish tucked at the end of the bottom row. Each wave curl, the sun, and the starfish are individual cut-through openings separated by healthy strips of skin. For a medium carve like this, work top row first and keep the skin bridges between waves at least finger-width so the pattern stays strong through the whole session.