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View all stencils →About this stencil
This free Skull Face pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A skull face pumpkin stencil built from two large circular eye sockets, a heart-shaped nasal cavity, two angled cheekbone tabs, and two rows of individual oval teeth lining an open jaw. All the white areas cut through, so the finished jack-o-lantern reads unmistakably as a skeleton against the dark. The two rows of closely packed oval teeth are the trickiest part: cut each tooth individually rather than scooping the whole jaw at once, and leave the tiny bridges between them for last so none tip inward. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Beginner-friendly. 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
- Transfer the stencil lines, then start with the two large circular eye sockets since they are the easiest to pop out cleanly.
- Cut the heart-shaped nasal cavity next, keeping the point of the heart crisp.
- Carve the two angled cheekbone tabs on either side of the face.
- Move to the upper row of teeth, cutting each oval slot individually and leaving the thin ridges between them intact until all slots are cut.
- Repeat for the lower row of teeth, then gently push both rows free together.
- Place the candle slightly below center so light fills the eye sockets evenly without flaring the small tooth gaps.
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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