Turn any photo into a stencil
Anyone can carve an incredible pumpkin
Upload a photo. Get a printable stencil in minutes. Six carving styles — from a simple sawing stencil to a sculpted portrait.
Kids as young as 12 carve portraits with Style 4+
Pick the right style
Every style differs in technique, tools, shades, and level of detail. Click any style to learn how it works.
Best for
Simple or quick carvings
Create a stencil, transfer it, saw out the shapes. Fast to carve, easy to follow, bold results.
Shades: 2 — pumpkin skin · light through holes
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Best for
Animals and pets
No sawing — remove the orange skin to reveal a soft glowing layer beneath. Pumpkin stays strong and lasts much longer.
Shades: 2 — pumpkin skin · scraped glow (dim to bright)
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Best for
2D cartoons and logos
A black Sharpie adds a third shade darker than the skin itself. Bold contrast, no sawing, pumpkin stays intact.
Shades: 3 — Sharpie · pumpkin skin · scraped glow
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Best for
3D cartoon characters
Four shades, three techniques. The most detailed of all styles. A few sawed bright spots make characters really pop.
Shades: 4 — Sharpie · pumpkin skin · scraped glow · light through holes
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Best for
Plants, flowers and organic shapes
Sawed holes take center stage as the brightest shade. Vivid, natural results. Easier to follow than Style 3+.
Shades: 3 — pumpkin skin · scraped glow · light through holes
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Best for
Faces and portraits
Carving deeper into the scraped layer creates a glow from dim to bright. The most lifelike, three-dimensional results of any style.
Shades: 3 — pumpkin skin · scraped glow (dim to bright) · light through holes
Learn this style →
Free download
Get The Ultimate Book on Pumpkin Carving — free
64 chapters covering every technique, every tool, all nine carving styles. Written by someone who has carved pumpkin portraits for over 30 years and taught 500+ kids. Illustrated with real carvings by the author and his students.
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