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View all stencils →About this stencil
A chibi-style bearded soccer player in a striped jersey stands with a ball tucked under one arm and his other hand on his hip in this expert sports pumpkin stencil, with a detailed face, layered hair, jersey stripes, and individual fingers all rendered in fine linework. When lit, the figure glows in silhouette with the face and jersey detail visible as pumpkin-skin relief. Start with the most detailed facial features, particularly the brow, ear, and beard cuts, before working downward through the jersey stripes and ball pentagon pattern. This design is rated Expert / Pro and takes most carvers around 240 minutes from trace to glow. Sculpting-grade work. Three or more depth layers, fine detail.
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 tea 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
- Use a large pumpkin with a flat carving face; the tall figure needs vertical room and the face detail needs thick wall support.
- Transfer all lines with a fine pin tool, paying close attention to the brow, ear canal, beard outline, and jersey stripe boundaries.
- Begin at the top: cut the hair spikes, then the facial feature cutouts (eye, brow relief, cheek, ear).
- Move to the neck and jersey, cutting the vertical stripe gaps and collar opening.
- Carve the ball pentagon cutouts and the individual finger cuts on the holding hand next.
- Finish by opening the boot and leg cutouts at the base; these large areas go last to keep the pumpkin wall firm during all detail work above.
Tools you'll need
For a expert / pro carve like this you'll want a full ribbon tool set, clay sculpting loops, x-acto knife, and dremel (optional). 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 ↗
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 ↗
Homemory LED Tea Lights
24-pack of battery-operated lights
Battery-operated, flickering lights for a candle-like glow inside your finished pumpkin.
View on Amazon ↗
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