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View all stencils →About this stencil
A single oversized crescent moon curves up the side of the pumpkin, cut clean through so it glows like a slice of night sky. The whole design is one smooth opening with no interior details, which makes it a relaxing carve for any skill level. Cut the outer curve first, then the inner curve, and pop the crescent out in one piece 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.
View on Amazon ↗
Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
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Beginner-friendlyBroad Crescent and Two Dots
A broad crescent moon curving across the pumpkin with two small round stars punched into the sky beside it. The crescent and both dots are cut cleanly through, creating a calm celestial lantern that suits the whole autumn season, not just Halloween. This is a true beginner pattern; cut the inner curve of the crescent first, then the outer curve, and the piece pops free easily.
IntermediateSeven Stars in a Winding Trail
Seven five-pointed stars of varying sizes wind down the pumpkin in a gentle S-curve, like a constellation trailing across the night sky. Each star is a full cut-through opening, so the finished lantern twinkles from every angle. Star points are where beginners slip, so cut each arm from the outer tip inward toward the center and let the cuts meet, which keeps all five points sharp on every star.
IntermediateCrescent and Eight Stars
A large crescent moon curves along one side of the pumpkin while eight stars of varied sizes scatter across the rest of the face. Moon and stars are all cut-through openings, turning the pumpkin into a bright celestial lantern with plenty of glow for a dark porch. Eight stars push this to a medium carve simply on repetition, so rotate the pumpkin as you go and cut every star point with a pull stroke toward the center for clean tips.
IntermediateCrescent and Four-Ray Sun
A tall crescent moon pairs with a four-ray sun whose points frame a solid circle of rind at its center, creating a striking celestial emblem. The crescent and the four triangular rays are pierced through, while the sun's middle disc stays attached as a floating island of pumpkin skin. At medium difficulty, cut the four rays individually and avoid nicking the center circle's edge, since that untouched disc is what makes the sun read.
IntermediateThree Crescents and Five Stars
Three crescent moons stack down the center of the pumpkin, each curving the same direction, with five little five-point stars scattered around them like a night sky. Every moon and star is cut cleanly through, so the whole face twinkles once the candle is in. A pleasant medium carve; punch the small stars first with a detail saw, then cut each crescent from the inner curve outward to keep the horn tips sharp.
Beginner-friendlyCrescent and Four Stars
A thick crescent moon anchors the left side of the pumpkin while four five-pointed stars drift across the remaining space. All five elements are clean cut-through openings, so the pumpkin becomes a night-sky lantern with the untouched rind acting as the dark sky between them. It is an easy carve overall; the only care point is the star tips, so cut each star point-to-center in single strokes rather than trying to steer around the whole outline at once.