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This free Spooky Tree in Moon pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A bare-branched tree fills a full circular moon in this expert-level pumpkin stencil, its trunk and sweeping limbs carved away while dozens of tight spiral curls on every branch tip remain as solid orange bridges. The lit jack-o-lantern shows the curled branch ends glowing like tiny flames against the open black sky of the moon circle. Tackle the small spiral cuts at the outermost branch tips before removing any large background sections, so the sheet stays supported while you work the most delicate shapes. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Expert / Pro. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Intricate details and fragile supports need patience. Technique depends on the design; follow its PDF rather than assuming multiple depth layers.
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
- Score the outer circle first so you have a clean boundary, but do not remove that ring yet.
- Starting at the top of the design, cut each spiral curl on the outermost branch tips using a fine hobby blade; these are the most fragile points and need the full stencil sheet for support.
- Work inward branch by branch, freeing the open sky sections between limbs in small pieces rather than one large pull.
- Cut the trunk and main lower branches last, since removing them early weakens the center of the stencil.
- Gently pop out the circular outer border ring and clean the edge with a detail blade.
- Use a battery-operated candle set in the center; the consistent glow highlights every spiral without the heat that wilts a freshly carved pumpkin overnight.
Tools you'll need
For a expert / pro carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and detail gouges 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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A menacing anthropomorphic tree creature with clawed outstretched arms, a roaring jagged-toothed mouth, and swirling branch-tentacle hair stands silhouetted inside a large circular moon in this expert pumpkin stencil. The entire moon disc interior is cut away and glows with light, while the creature silhouette and the area outside the moon ring remain as solid pumpkin skin. The swirling hair tendrils at the top create the finest detail against the glowing backdrop. Cut those wispy curling tips before clearing the large moon interior, to avoid cracking the delicate spiral ends once the surrounding wall is weakened.
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