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Download the Rising Zombies pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. Two zombie figures rising from the ground face inward in this hard pumpkin stencil, their ragged arms reaching upward and their tattered lower bodies emerging from earth at the base of a tall oval negative space. The zombies read as solid orange silhouettes flanking a large central open oval, so the lit jack-o-lantern glows through that oval while the outstretched zombie arms and rotting fingers stand out in relief. Carve the finger details at the top of each arm before cutting the large central oval, as the fingers are the most fragile elements and benefit from the extra pumpkin mass still in place. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Advanced. 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
- Pierce all finger and arm detail points with a needle tool before picking up a blade.
- Cut each rotting finger at the top of the arms first, using short controlled strokes and leaving a thin connecting point until the last cut on each finger.
- Carve the tattered lower-body edges at the base of both figures, following the ragged hem line closely.
- Remove the large central oval in one piece by scoring the outline first, then pushing the piece inward gently.
- Free any small earth fragments at the base of the design last, since the oval removal can flex the pumpkin wall near those pieces.
- A candle set toward the back casts the zombie silhouettes as crisp shadows against the glowing oval, sharpening the drama of the raised arms.
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.
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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.
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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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The word "ZOMBIES" in dripping, horror-font letters anchors this stencil, with a row of grasping undead arms and hands rising above the text from a pool of slime below. All the negative space around the letters and arms is cut away, leaving the drip shapes and reaching fingers glowing against the pumpkin flesh. The thin drip strands between letters are the most fragile part of this carving, so cut each letter interior first and leave the connecting drips until the very end.
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A ragged zombie grips a chain-saw overhead while bursting through a set of vertical window bars on this expert zombie pumpkin stencil, its tattered body and grimacing face rendered in a detailed silhouette-plus-bridge style. The three vertical bar strips are the primary structural elements holding the upper and lower halves of the design together; do not cut them. Work from the outer edges of the figure inward, and carve the zombie's small face detail islands before removing the large surrounding body void.