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View all stencils →About this stencil
Three plump five-pointed stars scatter across the upper face of the pumpkin while a small crescent moon tucks into the lower corner, capturing a dreamy bedtime sky. Every shape cuts cleanly through the wall, and the generous star sizes keep the sawing forgiving. Cut the crescent's inner curve before its outer curve so the thin horn tips at each end release without cracking. 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.
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IntermediateEight Hearts and Eight Dots
Eight little hearts march in a straight row around the middle of the pumpkin, each topped by a small drilled dot, forming a glowing band of love. Every heart and dot is cut fully through, and the design is made for a wide, flat pumpkin where the horizontal band can wrap the whole front. Mark a level guideline around the pumpkin first so the hearts stay evenly spaced and perfectly aligned when lit.
IntermediateSeated Rabbit with Split Ears
A seated rabbit in profile with two tall split ears, a rounded back, and tucked front paws, cut through as a nearly single silhouette with slim gaps defining the ears and feet. The shell around the bunny stays whole so the glowing shape reads crisply from a distance. Carve the narrow gap between the ears first; it is the finest cut on an otherwise smooth outline.
IntermediateSeven Hearts in a Tall Zigzag
Seven hearts zigzag down the front in an alternating left-right column, with small round dots sprinkled between them for sparkle. Each heart and dot cuts fully through, and the vertical layout is made for tall, skinny pumpkins and gourds. A medium carve mostly for the layout; tape the stencil straight down the tallest face before transferring, and carve from the top heart downward so shavings fall clear of finished cuts.
IntermediateSeven Stars in a Winding Trail
Seven five-pointed stars of varying sizes wind down the pumpkin in a gentle S-curve, like a constellation trailing across the night sky. Each star is a full cut-through opening, so the finished lantern twinkles from every angle. Star points are where beginners slip, so cut each arm from the outer tip inward toward the center and let the cuts meet, which keeps all five points sharp on every star.
IntermediateThree Rainbow Arcs and Sun
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 Crescents and Five Stars
Three crescent moons stack down the center of the pumpkin, each curving the same direction, with five little five-point stars scattered around them like a night sky. Every moon and star is cut cleanly through, so the whole face twinkles once the candle is in. A pleasant medium carve; punch the small stars first with a detail saw, then cut each crescent from the inner curve outward to keep the horn tips sharp.