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View all stencils →About this stencil
The friendliest face on the porch: two big round eyes above one broad crescent smile, and nothing else. All three shapes are full cut-throughs, so the whole design glows warm and even. With only three openings and no sharp corners, this is a perfect first carve; keep the saw moving in smooth curves and pop each piece out from the inside for the cleanest edges. This design is rated Beginner-friendly and takes most carvers around 30 minutes from trace to glow. Great for kids and first-timers. Big shapes, short cuts.
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 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 — 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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Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
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Beginner-friendlyCrescent Eyes and Curved Smile
Pure cheer: two upturned crescent eyes squint with delight above a huge toothless smile that curls up at both corners. All three shapes are pierced through so the whole face beams with candlelight, and the matching curves give it a warm, laughing character. This easy pattern rewards smooth cutting; saw each crescent in one steady motion following the curve, and round off the smile's corners rather than leaving sharp points.
Beginner-friendlySmall Triangle-Eyed Smile
Made with small pumpkins in mind, this cheerful face uses two modest triangle eyes and a single wide crescent smile with no teeth to fuss over. All three shapes are cut straight through, giving a warm, friendly glow from even a tabletop-sized pumpkin. It is one of the easiest carves on the site; on a small pumpkin, use a thin serrated saw and cut the smile from the center outward so the thin curve stays even.
Beginner-friendlyWhite-Pumpkin Happy Face
A cheerful jack-o'-lantern face with big rounded eyes, a small triangle nose, and a wide crescent smile with a single square tooth. Every feature is fully cut through, so the whole face glows once a candle goes in. It looks especially striking on a white pumpkin, where the warm light pops against the pale skin. An easy first carve; just leave the little bridge above the tooth intact so the grin holds its shape.
Beginner-friendlyCrescent Eyes and Broad Smile
Two upswept crescent eyes squint with joy above an enormous open smile that stretches nearly the full width of the pumpkin, curling up into playful points at each corner. Just three cut-through openings make the whole face, with no nose, teeth, or fragile bits anywhere. This easy design is pure beginner fun; carve the big smile first while the wall is strongest, then the two eye crescents, angling your blade slightly outward so the pieces push free cleanly.
IntermediateOval Eyes and Crescent Cheeks
This delighted face beams with two big oval eyes, a small triangle nose, crescent-shaped cheek accents, and an open grin showing a pair of stubby teeth, all dusted with tiny freckle holes. Every shape is pierced through, with the teeth left attached to the upper lip. Cut the delicate crescent cheeks with the tip of your saw only, since their thin curves are the easiest pieces to crack.
IntermediateOval Eyes and Eight Cheek Dots
Big oval eyes sit under arched brows above a round button nose and a broad smile showing four blunt square teeth, with four freckle dots sprinkled on each cheek. The eyes, brows, nose, mouth, and dots are pierced through while the tooth bridges stay connected. Poke the eight small cheek dots first, then cut the large features, leaving the tooth bars until the end so they keep support.