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View all stencils →About this stencil
The Little Grumble pumpkin stencil is a free printable PDF template. Print it, tape the pattern on, and trace it onto your pumpkin. A small round cartoon monster occupies this pumpkin stencil: a chunky body with two large circular eyes, a frowning row of square teeth, a curly stem-like antenna on top, sideways horns, stubby arm appendages, and splayed feet all carved as separate islands of light. The design has many floating cut-through pieces spread across the face of the pumpkin. Start with the two circular eye holes since they are the most central reference points, then position the surrounding appendage cuts relative to them. It makes a fun jack-o'-lantern design for Halloween night. It is rated Beginner-friendly. Estimated time: 60-90 minutes. 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
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 60-90 minutes 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 two circular eyes. Start with the two round eyes at the center of the design. They anchor the whole face, and every other piece is positioned relative to them.
- Cut the frowning mouth. Remove the curved mouth band below the eyes, working around the small rounded bumps along its top edge. Use short strokes at each bump so the points do not tear.
- Cut the antenna and eyebrow slivers. Remove the two small leaf shapes and the thin curved strokes at the top of the head, plus the thin sliver pieces beside each eye. These are narrow, so let the saw do the work without twisting.
- Cut the horns. Remove the two curved horn shapes at the upper left and upper right. Cut into each pointed tip from both sides rather than turning the blade at the point.
- Cut the arms and claws. Remove the reaching arm piece on the left with its stubby claw fingers and the hanging arm piece on the right. Cut each small finger bump individually before freeing the main arm shape.
- Finish with the body and leg squiggles. Cut the wavy outline pieces along the lower body and the two bent foot shapes at the bottom. These are the largest remaining pieces, so leave a small tab on each until the end, then support and remove them.
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 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.
View on Amazon ↗
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