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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the The Stump Speech pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. A caricature portrait of a suited male figure dominates this pumpkin stencil: the subject has distinctive swept-back hair, heavy open-mouthed expression, a pointing raised finger on one hand and a fist on the other, rendered in sweeping negative-space cuts against a solid silhouette. The broad facial features, jacket lapels, and hand details are all cut through, reading as bright shapes when the jack-o-lantern is lit. Cut the fine hair and facial detail lines first while the overall shape is still rigid, then remove the larger background areas last. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Advanced. Estimated time: 2-3 hours. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Fine details and narrow supports need careful planning. Follow the cutting and shading key in this design’s PDF.
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
This is a cut-through stencil: the gray areas on the printable pattern are the pieces you remove, and everything white stays attached. The steps below give you the safest carving order. Plan on about 2-3 hours from print to candle.
Set up first. Print the PDF at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the pumpkin clean, and thin the carving wall to about 1 inch where the design will sit. Tape the pattern on (snip small darts in the paper so it hugs the curve) and transfer every outline by poking dots along the lines, about one every 1/8 inch. Peel the paper away and carve dot to dot with short, straight strokes.
Carving order
- Cut the small facial details first. Start in the center of the face: the pursed mouth ring, the eye slits, and the small nose and brow shapes. These are the finest cuts, so keep the saw vertical and take your time.
- Cut the hair sweep. Remove the narrow hair pieces across the top one at a time. Thin white strips separate each lock; those bridges must stay intact or the hairstyle collapses.
- Cut the pointing hand and finger. The raised finger is long and narrow. Cut both sides of the finger toward the tip, then remove the rest of the hand and the sleeve pieces below it.
- Cut the face and collar pieces. Remove the large face shape around the mouth, then the shirt collar, tie, and lapel shapes. Leave a small tab on the biggest face piece and support it as you free it.
- Release the shoulders last. Finish with the wide suit pieces at the lower left and right. Cut each with a tab left attached, support the plug from behind, then finish and lift out.
Clear loose fibers out of each opening as you go, and never twist or pry the blade against the shell; back it out and recut instead. When every piece is out, wipe the cut edges dry and drop in a battery LED puck.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and small gouge 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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