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View all stencils →About this stencil
A plain cross stands at the center while nine tapered rays of light fan outward around it, like a sunburst breaking through. This shaded design is carved on a continuous wall, shaving the skin away so the cross and rays glow warmly with no pierced openings, which suits a reverent, softer look. Shave the cross to an even depth first, then taper each ray shallower toward its tip so the light appears to fade outward. 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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IntermediateCross With Ten Rays
A bold cross anchors the center of the design while ten tapered rays burst outward around it like beams of light. The cross and every ray are pierced through, leaving dark shell between them that frames the radiating pattern. Cut the large cross first to relieve pressure on the wall, then work each ray from its wide outer end toward the narrow tip so the points finish clean.
IntermediateTwin Crosses Beneath Arches
Two crosses stand side by side, each framed beneath its own tall rounded arch like twin chapel windows. The arch outlines and the crosses are cut through the wall as narrow channels, so light traces the frames while the solid rind inside each arch makes the crosses read boldly. At medium difficulty the slim arch bands are the fragile part, so cut them in short segments and leave the interior panels firmly attached.
Beginner-friendlySimple Glowing Cross
A tall Christian cross glows from the center of the pumpkin, with slightly tapered arms that give the shape a hand-hewn, rustic feel. The entire cross is cut through, so candlelight pours out in one bold symbol while the rest of the shell stays untouched. Since this is an easy single-opening design, take the vertical beam in two long, steady strokes and the crossbar last to keep every edge crisp.
AdvancedCross in an Oval Ray Field
An ornate flared cross stands at the center of an oval field of sunburst rays that radiate outward to the design's edge. It is carved entirely in continuous-wall relief: the cross is left raised with beveled edges while the rays are shaved to alternating depths so light plays across the whole medallion. This hard shading piece rewards patience, so establish the cross outline deep and clean first, then carve every ray from the cross outward to keep the bevels crisp.
Expert / ProRadiant Cross and Lower Leaves
An ornate flared cross rises from a bed of scrolling leaves while sunburst rays fan out behind every arm, all carved in layered relief. Nothing pierces the wall: the cross, rays, and foliage are shaved at multiple depths so the design reads as glowing sculpture with crisp raised borders. This expert shading project demands patience, so map your three depth levels first and always carve the background rays before refining the cross's beveled edges.
Beginner-friendlyTriangle Eyes and Long O Mouth
Two crisp triangle eyes sit above a tall oval mouth frozen mid-gasp, the three-hole formula that has decorated doorsteps for generations. All three shapes cut straight through, so the whole face can be finished in minutes, making it the ideal last-minute design. Cut each triangle with three straight strokes that overlap slightly at the corners so the points pop out cleanly.