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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Gale Gardener pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. A leaf-hooded guardian lifts swirling wind and leaves. Create a shaded pumpkin with an original hero design, depth key and individual carving steps. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Intermediate. Estimated time: 90 minutes. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
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
Print both pages at 100% / Actual Size and check the one-inch ruler. The artwork box is 7 x 7 inches.
Carving key
White / K: leave skin and flesh intact. Light gray / 1: shallow scrape for a softer glow. Dark gray / 2: deeper scrape for brighter light. Never cut through. These are relative depth levels, not millimeters.
1. Lay in the leaf hood
Shallow-scrape the light-gray hood leaves, flowing hair, jacket and body panels. Preserve the white veins and folds between them.
2. Work around the face
Deepen the dark brows, eyes, nose and lips with a narrow scraper. Leave the white cheek, forehead and tiny highlights untouched.
3. Raise the wind ribbon
Scrape the dark wind curl and floating leaf surfaces more deeply. Keep the white leaf veins and the spaces between the curls crisp.
4. Finish the gauntlets
Follow the gray map on the gloves and sleeves. Check the leaf and wind glow with an LED; deepen gradually without breaking through.
Previews are simulated. This design has not been physically test-carved. Brightness depends on remaining wall thickness.
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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, 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 ↗
Reviews from carvers
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