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View all stencils →About this stencil
A serene human figure balances in yoga tree pose, arms raised overhead and one foot tucked against the standing leg. The whole silhouette is a shaded design: you shave the skin inside the figure so the body glows softly, while thin bridges of rind keep details like the bent knee readable. At medium difficulty, work from the torso outward and shave the narrow arms and standing leg gently to avoid breaking through. 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.
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Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
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A wide arched window is carved through the pumpkin with three mountain peaks left standing in dark silhouette, while a full moon glows from a separate round opening above. The sky area around the peaks gets cut away and small snowcap notches pierce the summits, so light outlines the whole range. Keep the peak silhouettes attached at the base as you saw the sky sections, since they anchor the entire scene.
Beginner-friendlyLightning Bolt and Three Dots
A jagged lightning bolt zigzags down the center of the pumpkin, flanked by three round dots that glow like sparks of static. All four shapes are pierced through, and the small count of cuts makes this a fast, satisfying easy carve with a bold graphic punch. Cut the bolt's long diagonals first, then finish the sharp inner angles from each direction so the points stay crisp instead of tearing.
AdvancedGymnast in a Split Leap
A gymnast frozen mid split leap, legs stretched into a full horizontal line with arms swept back and hair in a neat bun. The entire figure is cut through as one connected opening, so she glows like a spotlight silhouette on the pumpkin. Rated hard because the legs taper to slim points at the toes; carve from the torso outward and finish the narrow limb tips last with light, shallow strokes.
IntermediateTwo Palms on an Island
Two palm trees lean over a small island mound, one tall and one short, with feathery fronds fanning out overhead. The trunks, fronds, and island base are all cut fully through so candlelight pours out in a glowing tropical silhouette. The narrow fronds are the fiddly part of this medium design, so cut each leaf from its tip toward the trunk and leave the thickest junctions for last to keep the shape supported.
IntermediateDesert Cactus & Sun
A tall saguaro cactus with two upturned arms stands over small desert dunes while a round sun hangs in the upper corner. The cactus body, sun disc, and low mound shapes are all cut out completely so candlelight pours through the whole scene. Cut the big cactus trunk first, then the sun, and save the thin dune slivers for last so the wall stays sturdy while you work.
Beginner-friendlyFour Diamonds and Eight Dots
Four diamonds run in a straight column down the front of the pumpkin, flanked by a staggered row of round dots on each side, turning a tall pumpkin into a modern lantern. All twelve openings are cut through, and their regular spacing is what sells the design. Mark the vertical centerline first and measure each diamond's position before cutting, since even spacing matters more here than fancy knife work.