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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. 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
This is a cut-through stencil: the dark numbered regions on the printable pattern are the pieces you remove, and everything white stays attached. The numbers give you the safest carving order, and the steps below walk through them one by one. Plan on about 45-65 minutes from print to candle.
Set up first. Print the PDF at 100% scale on letter or A4 paper. Cut the lid at an angle, scoop the pumpkin clean, and thin the carving wall to about 1 inch where the design will sit. Tape the pattern on (snip small darts in the paper so it hugs the curve) and transfer every outline by poking dots along the lines, about one every 1/8 inch. Peel the paper away and carve dot to dot with short, straight strokes.
Carving order
- Open the four small dots. Cut the four regions marked 1 at their scattered positions. Preserve the uneven circle sizes and the broad white shell between each dot and the neighboring star.
- Trace the large left star. Cut region 2 along its five unequal points, including the long upper tip and lower-right point. Keep the inward white notches attached to the background.
- Finish the smaller stars. Cut both regions marked 3 at the right and below. Follow their distinct five-point outlines without making them identical. Support each plug before completing the narrow points.
Clear loose fibers out of each opening as you go, and never twist or pry the blade against the shell; back it out and recut instead. When every region is open, wipe the cut edges dry and drop in a battery LED puck.
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 ↗
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A bold medical plus sign glows at the top while a row of small square windows and a larger doorway below turn the pumpkin into a tiny lit-up hospital. Every shape cuts straight through, and the straight-edged squares make this an easy, tidy carve, perfect for healthcare workers or a first-responder porch display. Score each square with a ruler before cutting so the windows line up in a neat row.
IntermediateSeven-Rib Shell and Three Dots
A fan-shaped scallop shell spreads seven glowing ribs from a hinged base, crowned by three small round dots floating above like sea spray. Each rib is its own cut-through opening separated by strips of intact wall, so the shell keeps its elegant ridged look when lit. Cut the center rib first and work outward symmetrically, keeping the dividing strips at least a finger-width so the fan stays strong.
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.
IntermediateFour Trailing Stars and Dots
Four five-pointed stars in descending sizes sweep diagonally across the pumpkin, joined by a few small round dots that read like distant sparkles. Each star and dot is cut fully through, so the cluster twinkles convincingly once a candle goes in. The star points are what make this a medium carve; drill a starter hole at the center of each star and always saw from the middle out toward each tip to keep the points sharp.
IntermediateSix Petals and Six Dots
A six-petal flower blooms at the center, each teardrop petal cut fully through around a solid rind disc that forms the flower's middle. Six small round holes circle the bloom like scattered seeds, letting extra pinpoints of light through. Designed to shine on a bottle gourd or pumpkin as a garden lantern; a medium carve where the main care point is keeping the petal tips from tearing into the neighboring holes.
IntermediateEight-Point Star and Diamonds
A large eight point star anchors the center while small diamonds and dots scatter around it like a burst of night sky sparkle. Every shape is a clean cut-through opening, so the pumpkin throws star shaped light across nearby walls and steps. Cut the big star's inner corners with a fine blade and pop the little diamonds out gently to keep their sharp points intact on this medium pattern.