Similar to This
View all stencils →About this stencil
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. 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.
Related stencils
Carvers who liked this one also downloaded these.
Beginner-friendlyRound-Eyed Simple Smile
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.
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-friendlyGiant Nose and One Tooth
A big-hearted face dominated by an oversized triangle nose, flanked by two small round eyes, with a wide crescent smile carrying one square tooth. Every feature is cut through, and the giant nose becomes the brightest window on the whole pumpkin once the candle goes in. An easy pattern with generous shapes; cut the huge nose last so the wall keeps its strength while you work.
Beginner-friendlyRound Eyes and Square Tooth
A cheerful four-hole face: two big round eyes, a small triangle nose, and a wide upturned smile with a single square tooth hanging from the top lip. Everything is a simple cut-through opening with no fragile details, making it one of the friendliest first carves for kids helping out. Drill or trace the round eyes with a cup or cookie cutter for perfectly smooth circles.
Beginner-friendlyTall Triangles and Broad Smile
This is the timeless jack-o'-lantern: two tall triangle eyes, a small triangle nose, and a broad crescent smile, all cut straight through the shell. With only four openings and no fragile details, it is an ideal first carve for a new pumpkin carver. Poke pilot holes at each triangle corner before sawing so your straight lines meet exactly where they should.
Beginner-friendlyRound Eyes and Button Nose
Two round glowing eyes, a tiny button nose, and one big sweeping smile give this pumpkin the friendliest face on the block. All four openings are cut straight through, with no teeth, brows, or tricky details to manage. It is about as easy as carving gets, ideal for a toddler's first pumpkin with adult hands on the saw; drill the eyes and nose with a round cutter, then take the long smile in one smooth curve from corner to corner.