Free Printable Pumpkin Carving Patterns For The Most Boo-tiful Jack-o'-Lanterns In Town
Alright, ghouls and guys… let’s give 'em pumpkin to talk about! At Haylie’s Dailies, I love creating free holiday resources for families! (Like this Family Fall Fun Bucket List. And these Printable Halloween Coloring And Activity Pages For Kids. Oh, and this Autumn Scavenger Hunt.)
This year, I created a whole pumpkin patch worth of free, printable stencils for your most boo-tiful jack-o’-lanterns! 🎃
But, before you head to the pumpkin patch and get carving, read on for 5 tips to help you pick the perfect pumpkin.
Psst >> Planning a Halloween party? Check out these easy party ideas and free resources for your next monster mash!
step 1: get the perfect pumpkin
Here’s how you pick out a great pumpkin that will stay fresh for a long time:
You want a pumpkin that’s solid to the touch. (And this may seem obvious but… make sure your pumpkin doesn’t have any soft spots, green or brown patches, bugs, and/or cuts.)
Choose a pumpkin with a sturdy stem that is at least 2” wide. And opt for a greenish stem if possible - this means your pumpkin is fresh!
While real candles look gorgeous inside your jack-o’-lantern, you want to keep the pumpkin as cold as possible. Candles can actually start to cook the inside of your pumpkin, which causes it to decay faster! (Who knew?!) Try a battery-operated candle or a glow stick! (A glow stick! How fun is that?!)
Many of us try to find the roundest and smoothest pumpkin, but don’t be afraid to get one that’s misshaped! It adds character!
step 2: pick your poison Pattern
Now it’s time to pick your favorite pattern. Scroll down to the bottom of this post and pick a printable pumpkin face from the templates I created. Choose from one of three categories:
The Classics
Wholesome As Heck
Decorative Designs
step 3: print your favorite pumpkin face
Each pattern below is saved as an individual PDF. Just click on the one you like to open the PDF and print.
step 4: get your tools ready
(*These products are Amazon Affiliate links, meaning: at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. Thank you!)
You’ll need:
A pin
Tape
A scooper and carving tools (I’m linking to a few below, but you can also use a big metal spoon and a knife)
>> Pumpkin Carving Kit // Pumpkin Scraper Glove (As Seen On Shark Tank!)
A candle or fake lights for inside the pumpkin (As mentioned above, while real candles look gorgeous they do make your pumpkin decay faster. Try a flickering battery-operated candle so it still has that real-candle-feel. (Psst… Make life easier on yourself and get fake candles with a remote!) If you opt for the glow stick option, just remember you will probably have to replace the glowstick every night. I’ll share a few options below.)
>> Battery Operated LED Pumpkin Lights with Remote and Timers // 12-Pack Flameless LED Candles Tea Lights Battery Operated // Pack Of 12 White Votives in Clear Cup
step 5: carve that gourd-geous pumpkin
Follow these steps to carve the perfect pumpkin!
Cut your hole from the bottom of the pumpkin, not the top. This helps prevent the sides from caving in later.
Scoop out the pumpkin guts and seeds.
Scrap the walls with a big metal spoon or the scooper from a carving kit. You want the final walls to be about an inch thick.
Wipe down the exterior of the pumpkin.
Tape the pattern to the pumpkin on the sides and corners.
Use a pin to make closely spaced pinpricks and outline all the black portions on the pattern. Make sure you pierce the paper.
Remove the paper.
Carve the pattern along the pinprick lines. (*🎃 Pumpkin pro tip: if you are having a hard time seeing the pinprick lines, take some flour and rub it on the pumpkin. The flour will fill in the holes and help you know where to carve.)
Reach into the pumpkin and gently poke the pieces from the inside out.
Stick in a candle or a fake tea light and show off your gourd-geous jack-o'-lantern!
Alright, who’s ready to carve out some fun?! Let’s go!
47 printable pumpkin carving patterns:
the classics
wholesome as heck
decorative designs
Thank you for letting me be part of your yearly carving tradition!
I hope you have a spook-tacular Halloween!
XOXO, Haylie
>> Psst… looking for more Halloween content? 💌 Make sure to subscribe to receive creative blog posts in your inbox! And check out these posts:
🛍️ Shop Fall Finds At The Haylie’s Dailies BOO-tique!
🎉 Easy Spook-Tacular Halloween Party Ideas And Free Resources For Your Next Monster Mash
✔️ Fall Fun Bucket List For The Whole Family
🔎 Keep The Kids Entertained While You Sip Your #PSL With This Autumn Scavenger Hunt
🖍️ 14 Free Printable Halloween Coloring And Activity Pages For Kids
🎵 Spook-Tacular Kid-Friendly Songs For Your Halloween Party Playlist
🎃 5 Tips To Pick The Perfect Pumpkin
👻 5 Ways To Make Halloween Inclusive For Trick-Or-Treaters Of All Abilities