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The Merlot Mortimer pumpkin stencil is a free printable PDF template. Print it, tape the pattern on, and trace it onto your pumpkin. A comical full-body skeleton stands upright in this pumpkin stencil, one hand raised with wispy steam rising from it and the other arm holding a wine glass, its cartoonishly large round skull grinning with exaggerated round eyes and a tiny circular nose. The torso shows a rib cage of horizontal bars, and the pelvis, legs, and clawed feet extend below in a loose stick-figure arrangement. Carve the wine-glass outline and the tiny nose circle first, as both are small isolated shapes that benefit from the surrounding wall being intact before you open the larger rib cage and body cavities. It makes a fun jack-o'-lantern design for Halloween night. 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
- Pin-transfer all lines, noting the wine glass, the small steam wisps above one hand, and the rib-bar grid in the torso.
- Cut the small circular nose and the wine glass outline first, as they are fully enclosed and most vulnerable.
- Carve the round skull opening next, following the outer cranium curve cleanly.
- Work downward through the rib cage, cutting each horizontal bar gap individually.
- Cut the pelvis and upper leg bars, keeping the thin connector between the pelvis and lower legs intact until the end.
- Finish with the feet and claw tips, then light with a tea-light placed centrally so the rib cage glows with layered depth.
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.
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