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About this stencil
This free Tidal Power pumpkin stencil is a printable PDF pattern you can print at home, tape to your pumpkin, and trace. A curling ocean wave rises over a scallop shell. Print this shaded pumpkin stencil with a depth key and individual instructions for foam, water and shell. Use it as a carving template for your Halloween jack-o'-lantern. It is rated Intermediate. Estimated time: 60 minutes. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Comfortable knife handling required. Small details and curves.
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
Print both pages at 100% / Actual Size and check the one-inch ruler. The artwork box is 7 x 7 inches.
Carving key
White / K: leave skin and flesh intact. Light gray / 1: shallow scrape for a softer glow. Dark gray / 2: deeper scrape for brighter light. Never cut through. These are relative depth levels, not millimeters.
1. Trace the wave and shell
Transfer the main curl, three backward plumes and scallop shell. Leave white channels between these forms intact.
2. Scrape the pale foam
Remove skin from the light-gray foam and shell surface. Keep the scalloped foam edge broad and softly lit.
3. Deepen water and shell ribs
Scrape the dark-gray water cores and four shell ribs in thin layers. Retain pale separation between the ribs.
4. Check the curl and plumes
Use an LED to compare the central curl with the smaller plumes. Stop before any dark region pierces the pumpkin wall.
Previews are simulated. This design has not been physically test-carved. Brightness depends on remaining wall thickness.
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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, 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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