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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Tears of Joy Emoji pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. This emoji pumpkin stencil captures the classic tears-of-joy face: a large circular outline frames squinting crescent eyes, a wide open-mouth smile, and two teardrop shapes streaming from the outer eye corners. Most of the interior is pierced through, leaving thin curved bridges for the eyes, brow shapes, and a tongue strip inside the mouth. When lit, the laughing face reads instantly from across a porch. Keep the two small teardrop cutouts for last, as they are isolated from the main body and can shift if the stencil loosens. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Beginner-friendly. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Larger shapes and shorter cuts. An adult should handle sharp carving tools.
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
- Tape the stencil to a smooth section of the pumpkin and transfer all lines with a stylus.
- Begin with the large circular outer ring, cutting the perimeter in segments to prevent the pumpkin from flexing.
- Cut the wide open-mouth area next, then the two inner brow-and-eye accent pieces above it.
- Remove the crescent squinting-eye shapes on each side, taking care not to snap the thin bridge between eye and brow.
- Cut the two teardrop pieces last; hold the surrounding skin steady with your free hand while making these small cuts.
- Use a candle or LED so the broad open sections glow and the solid bridges outline the laughing expression clearly.
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, 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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