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This free Skull and Crossbones pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A skull-and-crossbones design with a feminine twist fills this pumpkin stencil: a small round skull wears a decorative bow on top, its large eye sockets rendered as open flame shapes, while a pair of crossed bones extends to the left and right behind it. The cut-out eye flames and a tiny tooth row are pierced through against the solid skull mass, and four rounded bone ends glow as separate openings at the corners. Cut the small decorative bow petals at the crown before opening the larger eye shapes, so the thin pumpkin wall connecting the bow to the skull doesn't flex and tear. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. 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
- Transfer the stencil by pin-pricking along all cut lines, including the small bow loops at the top and the four rounded bone tips.
- Start with the bow petals and the tiny tooth strip at the skull's base, these are the most isolated small cuts.
- Carve the four rounded bone-end openings at the corners next, working from the outer edge inward.
- Cut the two flame-shaped eye sockets, keeping cuts smooth to preserve the pointed tips of each flame.
- Open the crossed-bone bars last, slicing the long rectangular areas carefully to avoid snapping the narrow bridges near the skull center.
- Place a warm LED candle inside so the flame eyes and bone tips glow symmetrically.
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.
View on Amazon ↗
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