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View all stencils →About this stencil
One big five-pointed star dominates the pumpkin with three small round dots arcing beneath it, like a shooting star leaving a trail. Both the star and the dots are straightforward cut-through openings, making this a perfect first stencil for young helpers with an adult on the knife. Drill or poke the three dots first as warmups, then saw the star point to point, backing out at each corner. 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.
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Three nested rainbow arcs curve over a low half circle sun, filling the bottom of the pumpkin with stacked bands of light. Each arc is cut through while narrow ribs of rind stay between the bands, which is what creates the layered glow. Keep those ribs at least half an inch wide as you carve this medium design, since they carry all the structure.
IntermediateThree Unequal Stars and Dots
Three five point stars in different sizes drift diagonally across the pumpkin, joined by a scatter of small round dots like distant starlight. Each star and dot is cut fully through, turning the whole pumpkin into a little constellation lantern. The medium challenge is the stars' inner corners; use a thin blade, cut point to point, and finish the tiny dots with a drill or apple corer.
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Two big round eyes and one broad crescent smile make up this whole cheerful design, glowing warm amber against the shell. All three shapes are cut cleanly through with no teeth or interior details, so the face works on any pumpkin color, and it looks especially striking on a blue or white heirloom variety. As an easy carve, use a round cookie cutter or drill bit to keep the eyes perfectly circular, then saw the wide grin in two relaxed passes.
Beginner-friendlyBroad Five-Point Star
One broad five-point star fills the front of the pumpkin as a single dramatic cutout. The entire star is pierced through, leaving a clean rim of pumpkin around it, so a candle inside turns the whole shape into a lantern window. As an easy design it is ideal for beginners; draw a guide dot at each of the five points before cutting, then connect them with straight strokes so the star stays symmetrical.
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A bold sun built from a glowing circular ring surrounded by eight fat triangle rays, evenly spaced like a compass. Every ray and the ring band are cut fully through, so the whole emblem blazes with candlelight while the center disc and surrounding skin stay dark. This easy design suits first-time carvers; cut the ring in short arc sections rather than one continuous pass to keep the circle round.
Beginner-friendlyThree Rainbow Arches
Three nested arches stack like a glowing rainbow, each band cut fully through so the pumpkin lights up in bright concentric ribbons. The strips of pumpkin left between the arches form the rainbow's dark bands and keep the wall sturdy. It is an easy design with big visual payoff; cut the smallest inner arch first and work outward, and keep the leftover ribs at least half an inch wide so they stay strong.