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View all stencils →About this stencil
Two tall triangle eyes and a wide open smile with a single pointed upper notch make up this timeless jack-o'-lantern face, shown here glowing warmly from an ivory white pumpkin. Every shape is a straightforward cut-through with no attached pieces to protect. It is as easy as carving gets: make long straight cuts for the triangles and let the knife follow the smile's curve in smooth strokes, and it looks brilliant on white or orange pumpkins alike. 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.
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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.
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Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
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Beginner-friendlyTall Triangles and Twin Teeth
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Two chunky triangle eyes sit above a broad zigzag grin, where five blocky teeth alternate along the top and bottom of the smile. Everything cuts fully through, and the oversized features make this a great pick for a big pumpkin that needs to be seen from a distance. Carve the mouth as one long opening and leave each tooth attached to the rim, sawing the tooth notches last so they stay sturdy.
Beginner-friendlyClassic Grin with Two Teeth
The timeless jack-o'-lantern: two triangle eyes, a triangle nose, and a wide curved grin interrupted by two chunky square teeth, one on top and one on the bottom. Every feature is pierced straight through for maximum glow. This easy pattern is the classic first carve; angle each triangle cut slightly toward the center of the shape so the plugs pop out cleanly, and leave the tooth blocks generous so they do not snap.
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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.
IntermediateArched Eyes and Seven Slots
This cheerful face pairs tall arched eyes, each with a round pupil left attached at the top, with a triangle nose and a huge grin broken by seven tooth slots. The eyes, nose, and mouth are pierced while the pupils and tooth bars remain as connected shell. The attached pupils are the trickiest part, so cut around each one carefully and leave a generous bridge so they stay anchored.