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The Jack-o-Lantern Face pumpkin stencil is a free printable PDF template. Print it, tape the pattern on, and trace it onto your pumpkin. This cheerful pumpkin stencil depicts a pumpkin-within-a-pumpkin: a wide jack-o-lantern face with a curling stem at top, four vertical rib lines crossing the body, and a grinning mouth with curling lip ends and individual tooth segments, all cut as negative space on the outer pumpkin. The vertical rib lines are the thinnest elements, each only a slim channel of open space; carve them with a single guided stroke from stem to mouth to avoid a wavy line. A warm candle light inside makes the rib lines read as glowing stripes across the face. It makes a fun jack-o'-lantern design for Halloween night. It is rated Beginner-friendly. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Larger shapes and shorter cuts. An adult should handle sharp carving tools.
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
- Thin the pumpkin wall to about 3/4 inch so the narrow rib channels cut cleanly.
- Carve the curling stem cut-out at the top first, following the spiral shape with the blade tip.
- Cut each of the four vertical rib lines from top to bottom in a single continuous stroke per line.
- Open the main smile channel, then carve the curling ends of the lips as smooth arcs.
- Cut each individual tooth gap working from left to right; keep the blade perpendicular to the mouth edge for clean rectangular gaps.
- Carve the two small eye shapes last so the face stays rigid during all the earlier interior cuts.
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, 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.
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