26 Pumpkin Carving Stencils for the Best Jack-o'-Lanterns on the Block (2024)

FAQs

Do you cut out the black or white of a pumpkin stencil? ›

Tape stencil onto pumpkin. Trace stencil with a dull pencil or poke through paper with a thumbtack to transfer image. Make sure to trace shadow lines and inside shapes onto pumpkin as well. Remove stencil and mark which areas should be cut out (white), scratched (gray), or left alone (black).

If you are carving your pumpkin, take the stencil cut out and place loops of tape on its backside so that you can stick the stencil directly on the pumpkin. If you are painting instead, use the page with the stencil removed so that you can paint inside where the stencil once was and create the same shape.

Download and Print an Easy Pumpkin-Carving Template

Simply resize the pattern to fit your pumpkin, print it, then tape the stencil to your pumpkin and start carving. Or you can cut out the pattern, and trace it on your pumpkin then carve out the design.

Trace your pencil lines with puff paint and let dry completely for a few hours. Cover the stem of the pumpkin with masking tape and spray your pumpkin with matte spray paint or chalk paint, and let dry. Repeat with a second coat if needed. Hint: We found that using a lighter paint color shows off the 3D design best.

Painted pumpkins generally last longer than carved ones. Be sure to choose a pumpkin that's fairly smooth and give it a good wipe down with a moist towel or rag before you start painting.

"Carve no more than three days before Halloween," Evan recommends. If you plan to celebrate on the weekend before or after Halloween, pick a pumpkin carving date a few days before the celebration. Carve too early, and your pumpkin will scare off trick-or-treaters with its rotten teeth!

“The typical jack-o'-lantern normally has a three-day life expectancy at best,” said Marc Evan, co-founder of Maniac Pumpkin Carvers in Brooklyn, New York, in a phone interview.

Fun pumpkin carving fact: you can get sharpie or permanent marker off of a pumpkin with rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover.

It is recommended that you measure your pumpkin and select the appropriate size to print and use. Simply measure the pumpkin's height and subtract 1 to 2 inches of space from the top and the bottom. For example, if your pumpkin is 11 inches tall, then the 8-9 inch pumpkin carving stencil would be best.

Pumpkin Masters® has created an App that allows you to take a photograph and turn it into a carvable design. It's fun.

What tool do you use to skin a pumpkin for carving? ›

I like a sturdy paring knife. It's small enough to do fine details, and strong enough to cut through the stiff shell. You'll also need a strong spoon to scoop out the innards and scrape it clean. But if you want to get fancy there are pumpkin carving kits that have a variety of different tools.

Cut around the outlines with a serrated carving tool.

Then go around your outline of each letter, making long straight cuts as often as possible since they're easier to cut. Work slowly so you don't accidentally break off pieces of the pumpkin skin that you want to keep on.

Cut along your outlines with a serrated knife.

Push the knife straight into the pumpkin along the outline of your design. Use an up-and-down sawing or rocking motion to cut through the skin. Start by making rough cuts to remove large sections and go back to clean up the edges.

If you're making a dish such as a pumpkin soup, risotto or scones, cutting away the pumpkin skin is required, which is the fiddliest and toughest part. To do this without hurting yourself or wasting the flesh, use your sharp knife to get between the flesh and the skin to ensure it glides through the skin easily.