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View all stencils →About this stencil
A bear strides across the pumpkin in full profile, head lowered slightly and all four legs mid-step. This is a shading pattern with no pierced holes: you shave the skin away inside the bear so the lighter flesh forms the whole animal in warm relief. Work from the spine outward in long strokes, and shave a touch deeper around the legs and muzzle so the outline stays well defined. 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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A graceful dragonfly spreads four broad wings from a segmented body that runs straight down the pumpkin, with two small antennae curling from its head. Nothing is pierced; instead you shave the skin inside each wing and body segment so the shapes read as pale etched panels against the orange rind. Use a loop tool and keep the shave shallow so the wing outlines stay crisp.
IntermediateLeaf Columns and Diamond Rows
Designed for tall, elongated pumpkins, this pattern runs two columns of paired leaf openings up the sides with a ladder of small diamonds climbing the center strip between them. Every leaf and diamond is cut through, turning the whole pumpkin into a glowing botanical lantern. Work from the bottom rows upward so the shell above stays strong while you carve, and keep the leaf pairs level with each other as you go.
IntermediateFan Tail Fish with Low Notches
A plump fantail goldfish glides across the pumpkin as one big glowing silhouette, with a rounded body, sweeping double tail, and small notched fins along the belly. The entire fish is pierced through in a single connected shape, so it lights up like an aquarium at night. At medium difficulty the low fin notches are the detail work; cut the broad body and tail first, then nick out the small fin points with short careful strokes.
IntermediateWide Wings and Notched Tail
A bird bursts forward with both wings spread wide, every flight feather notched along the wing edges, above a fanned notched tail. The whole spread-wing shape is one dramatic cut-through, so the bird blazes as a single figure of light. Rated medium because of the many feather notches along the wingtips; cut the main body opening first, then nibble out each feather notch with short strokes so the points stay defined.
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.
Beginner-friendlyTall Toes Above a Low Paw Pad
A big glowing paw print built from four oval toe pads arranged above one broad heart-shaped main pad. All five shapes cut cleanly through the wall, and the generous spacing between pads makes the layout very forgiving. Drill a starter hole in the center of each pad and saw outward to the line; the smooth convex curves are ideal practice strokes for young or first-time carvers.