Similar to This
View all stencils →About this stencil
Three teardrop flames of different heights rise across the pumpkin, with three small round embers floating above them like drifting sparks. Every flame and ember is cut fully through, so a candle inside makes the whole design flicker like real fire. Cut each flame from its rounded base up to the curved tip in one flowing motion, and drill-start the little ember dots so they come out perfectly round. This design is rated Intermediate and takes most carvers around 75 minutes from trace to glow. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
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 intermediate carve like this you'll want a x-acto knife, poker tool, ribbon scoop, and painter's tape. 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.
Related stencils
Carvers who liked this one also downloaded these.
AdvancedTree Pose with Raised Arms
A serene figure balances in yoga tree pose, arms raised overhead and one foot tucked against the standing leg, flanked by leafy sprigs on a shaved ground line. The design is entirely skin-shave shading with no pierced holes, so the figure glows in pale relief against the dark rind. Shave the torso and legs in long continuous strokes for smooth lines, then detail the thin arms and leaves with a fine gouge.
IntermediateThree Fish Above Two Waves
Three fish swim in a loose diagonal school above two rolling wave bands, with a trail of round bubbles rising toward the stem. Every element is cut through: fish bodies with notched tails, the long curved waves, and the bubble dots all become glowing openings. The waves are the longest cuts, so brace the pumpkin and saw them in smooth continuous strokes; poke the bubbles out first with a round tool while the wall is solid.
IntermediateEight Teardrops Around Circle
Eight teardrop petals radiate around a central circle cutout, like a glowing daisy or sunburst wheel. Every teardrop and the center are pierced clean through, turning the pumpkin into a lantern that throws petal-shaped light across the porch. Cut the center circle first as your anchor point, then work around the ring, alternating sides so the wall stays balanced as you go.
AdvancedBarred Eyes and Diamond Dots
A wildly ornate astonished face: two huge round eyes split by vertical bars, a tall oval mouth gaping in shock, and a halo of diamonds, dots, and curved flourishes radiating in every direction. All of it is cut through, from the barred eyes to the smallest accent dot, so the whole pumpkin erupts in patterned light. Rated hard for its piece count, work from the center outward and leave the outer diamonds and dots for the final pass.
IntermediateStar Above Two Chevrons
A six-point badge star shines above two stacked chevron stripes, with three small dots arcing over the top like a crest. Every shape is cut fully through the wall, giving the design the crisp look of a service badge or rank insignia glowing on the porch. Cut the chevrons from their outer ends toward the center points, and keep the rind strip between the two stripes intact for a clean military edge.
Beginner-friendlySix-Point Star with Round Tips
A six-point sheriff-style badge star with rounded ball tips glows proudly from the pumpkin in this tribute to law enforcement. The full star is removed as one big cutout, so the badge shines as a single bold panel of light. It is an easy carve despite the fancy silhouette; saw each point from its ball tip back toward the star body, and rotate the pumpkin as you go so every cut is at a comfortable angle.