Can you believe we’re already halfway through October? That means the leaves are already changing, the temperature is already dropping, the apple cider is being poured, and Halloween is almost upon us.
And if your house is anything like my house, then you’re preparing for what many people consider their favorite Halloween activity, outside of trick-or-treating. We’re talking about carving pumpkins, of course!
There’s nothing quite like watching your pumpkin evolve from a solid orange fruit into a hollowed-out, masterpiece of a jack-o’-lantern, which you can then proudly show off to the entire neighborhood.
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But some of you might be wondering how some people get their jack-o’-lanterns to look so perfect. You know what ones we’re talking about, with the extensive details, straight lines, and artistic touches.
Well, some people are just that good at carving pumpkins. But others take the easy route and use stencils to trace the design onto the pumpkin, allowing you to do pretty much anything with your jack-o’-lantern.
If you’re looking to “wow” your neighbors and trick-or-treaters this Halloween, while also enjoying some quality time with your family, then stick around for some spook-tacular DIY pumpkin carving ideas!
Halloween-themed pumpkin carving ideas
Let’s start this list with the obvious choices. We’re talking about witches, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, mummies, skeletons, black cats, bats, goblins, ghouls, demons… I think you get the picture.
You can find stencils for all of these scary Halloween creatures online, or you can try to freehand it.
You can also go the traditional route and give your pumpkin a face. It could be a funny face, scary face, sad face, ugly face, a face with teeth, or even a robot face. The possibilities are literally endless!
With that said, here are some of our favorite halloween-themed pumpkin carving ideas to give a try.
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25. Haunted house
Some of the most detailed pumpkins I’ve ever seen, outside of realistic portraits, are of haunted houses. From the windows to the paneling on the side of the house, these pumpkins are sure to take some time.
And it’s not just the house that needs detail. You can also create a scene around the house, complete with spooky trees, bats, owls, a cemetery, and anything else that might add a little spook to the design.
24. Witches and broomsticks
I’ve seen so many different ways of going about this. For example, you could do a close-up of a witch’s face. Just don’t forget to add the crooked nose, stringy hair, pointed hat, warts, and elongated chin.
Other pumpkin carving ideas for witch lovers include a witch’s point slippers, cauldron, a witch flying away on her broomstick into the moonlight, potion bottles, or funny sayings, such as “Broom Parking Only.”
23. Ghosts and ghouls
Ghosts and ghouls are among the most popular Halloween creatures, so it makes sense why so many people use them as inspiration when carving pumpkins. They’re also the easiest to carve, which helps.
I’ve seen some people shave the bottom of the pumpkin to give it a wavy ghost look, which looks great when lit up. I’ve also seen people add ghosts as ornaments to the pumpkin, if you want to get creative.
You can find some ghost-inspired pumpkin carving stencils here.
22. Spiders and cobwebs
For a simple yet striking idea, carve a large spider at the center of your pumpkin with its legs crawling outward. You can also add smaller spiders around it, or leave parts of the skin intact to give it a 3D look.
@shorty_do_op918 First pumpkin carving for my hubby and i and if i do say so myself we did a good job #spiders #pumpkincarving
♬ This Is Halloween (from The Nightmare Before Christmas) – Jack N Box
Or you can bypass the spider all together and go with a simple cobweb design, which can be created by carving delicate lines that radiate from a central point, with thicker lines interconnected by thinner lines.
21. Bats and black cats
For this design, you could carve a group of flying bats across the pumpkin and create a scene of bats swooping through the night sky. Or carve a full moon in the background with the bats flying across it.
But let’s not forget about the black cats. For a simple and stylish design, carve the silhouette of a sleek black cat sitting with its tail curled around its body. Take it a step further by adding a spooky backdrop.
Sports-themed pumpkin carving ideas
Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year, and not just because the stores are filled with candy and the weather is near-perfect, but because it means all of my favorite sports are in full swing.
Not only did the NFL regular season begin in September, but that was followed by the start of the MLB playoffs and start of the NHL season. And in one more week, the NBA will begin their regular season.
Maybe that’s why so many people honor their favorite sports teams and players when carving pumpkins. It’s the perfect way to announce your loyalty and could get interesting if your neighbors cheer for a rival.
With that said, here are some unique pumpkin carving ideas for all you sports fans out there!
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20. Logo of favorite team
Most people already have a flag of their favorite sports team hanging by the front porch, as well as yard signs and garden decorations that let the entire neighborhood know where your sports loyalty lies.
@packers Etch a Packers pumpkin! ???? #HappyHalloween #gopackgo
♬ original sound – Green Bay Packers
So, why not bring a pumpkin into the mix? They’re easy to trace and carve, won’t take a lot of time and effort, and will add a little flare to your front porch at night when your favorite sports team’s logo lights up.
You can find a bunch of stencils for sports team logos here and here.
19. Jersey of favorite player
You already have the team’s logo on your porch, but what about your favorite player? If you’re looking for an easy way to honor them this Halloween, carve out a jersey with their name, number, and logo on it.
@cookingwithkdubb My Patty pumpkin didn’t get the love he deserved the first time so I am reposting #chiefs #mahomes #nfl #football #sports #halloween #pumpkin
♬ Red Kingdom – Tech N9ne
If you want to bypass the carving, use paint instead. Some people place a smaller pumpkin (head) on top of a larger pumpkin (body) to make it look like a person, which you can dress up as your favorite player.
You can find pumpkin carving stencils for letters and numbers here.
18. Portrait of favorite player
Have you ever walked by someone’s front porch and been absolutely blown away at the realism behind their pumpkin carving skills? I’m talking about those carvings that look like an actual portrait of someone.
@detroitcandyco Happy Halloween #DetroitLions fam! ???? Ready for a monster game tonight on #MNF ????♀️ #OnePride #grit #pumpkincarving #Halloween #pumpkincarvingideas #carvingpumpkins #nfl #spookyseason #spookyszn @detroitlionsnfl #letsgolions #halloweentok
♬ Fall October Halloween horror classic(177261) – rareNote
It might take you several hours to complete, but the outcome is well worth it when you have a portrait of your favorite athlete sitting on your porch, in the form of a pumpkin. You’ll get plenty of compliments!
17. Equipment and apparel
Your pumpkin doesn’t have to be tied to a certain player or team. If you’re a general sports fan and want to give your home some extra flare this Halloween, why not carve your pumpkins up like equipment?
@peach..routinezz Carving my pumpkin!!⚽️???? What’s everyone’s costumes????? #fyp #viral #pumpkin #carve #halloween #fun #spooky #football #vlog #creative
♬ Spooky, Scary Skeletons – Andrew Gold
For example, you can carve 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons around the pumpkin to make it look like a soccer ball, or you can find a pumpkin shaped like an elongated sphere so you can carve it into a football.
You can find more sports-themed pumpkin carving stencils here.
16. Championship trophy
Start by choosing a trophy that resonates with your favorite sport, whether it’s a classic cup-style trophy for soccer or tennis, or a more specific design like the Vince Lombardi Trophy or Stanley Cup trophy.
To add some flair to your design, carve a small football, basketball, or baseball into the base of the trophy, or add engravings like the year, team name, or even a victory phrase like “Champions” or “MVP.”
Pop culture-inspired pumpkin carving ideas
Pop culture-themed pumpkin carving is a fun and creative way to merge fandoms and other personal interests with classic Halloween traditions. And it’s almost always a hit with the children in the family.
I mean, how many times have you seen the Mike Wazowski pumpkin, or the Mickey mouse pumpkin?
Using pop culture as inspiration when carving pumpkins not only celebrates the season but allows fans to express their love for beloved movies, shows, and games in a fun, festive, and visually striking way.
If that sounds like the type of pumpkin you want, then check out these fang-tastic pumpkin carving ideas!
15. Halloween classics and horror films
Halloween is a time of the year when families and friends gather around to enjoy classic films, such as Hocus Pocus, The Nightmare Before Christmas, the Halloween franchise, or A Nightmare on Elm Street.
If you can’t get enough of these Halloween classics, then why not carve your favorite characters into a pumpkin? Not many people can say they’ll have a Michael Myers, Jason, or Freddy Krueger pumpkin!
14. Superheroes and villains
Two of the most popular superheroes that you’ll see carved into pumpkins this Halloween are Spider-man and Batman. But that makes sense since spiders and bats are synonymous with the spooky season.
But let’s not forget about the villains. Their sinister expressions and dramatic features, like the Joker’s creepy grin or Thanos’ infinity stones, bring an extra level of intensity to the typical Halloween vibe.
You can find more superhero-inspired pumpkin carving stencils here.
13. Disney characters
If your child isn’t into Marvel or DC, then they might be into Disney characters. From beloved princesses like Cinderella and Snow White to iconic figures like Mickey Mouse and Simba, there’s a lot to consider!
For instance, Mickey’s iconic ears and Minnie’s signature bow translate easily into pumpkin art, while characters like Olaf and Elsa from Frozen are easy enough to carve that little ones can join in on the fun.
You can find more pumpkin carving stencils inspired by movie characters here.
12. Presidential election
With election day falling on Nov. 5, less than one week after Halloween, many people are using pumpkins to show their patriotism and promote who they’ll be voting for and encourage others to get out and vote.
Other interesting pumpkin carving ideas for election day include the American flag, portraits of former US presidents, the Capitol building, Uncle Sam, the Liberty Bell, and silhouettes of the US or a specific state.
11. Musical notes and artists
Musical notes are easy to trace and you can have a lot of fun with them. For example, you could carve out the actual musical notes for the Halloween theme song or a Halloween classic, like “Monster Mash.”
You can also do a realistic portrait of your favorite artist, whether that be Taylor Swift, Elvis Presley, or Jimi Hendrix. If you want a neat Halloween-themed idea, go with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” character.
Pumpkin carving ideas with words & expressions
You don’t have to be an artist to give your jack-o’-lantern some personality this Halloween. Wordsmiths can get in on the action too by carving out some of their favorite quotes, sayings, and Halloween puns.
While the most popular saying this time of the year would be “Happy Halloween,” you can get a little creative with it and go with something like, “Ghostly Greetings!” or “Have a Spook-tacular Halloween!”
It doesn’t even need to be Halloween related. You can do a famous quote, like William Shakespeare’s, “All that glitters is not gold,” or something that’s personal to you, like “I Beat Cancer, February 2024.”
Here are some more unique, word-inspired pumpkin carving ideas, with some stencils to match.
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10. Polka dot BOO!
This is a neat idea if you have several pumpkins to spare and a small word you want to spell out. Since we’re talking about Halloweed, the word “Boo!” (as shown in the photo below) is a perfect example.
Instead of carving out the actual letter, carve out small holes into the shape of the letter, and designate one letter per pumpkin. This also works with your child’s name, a surname, or for your house number.
If you need stencils for letters and numbers, click here.
9. I love you to the moon and back
Like I mentioned above, you don’t have to go with a Halloween-themed quote on your pumpkin. It could be a quote that holds special meaning to you or your family, or a quote from one of your favorite movies.
For example, the family above went with, “I love you to the moon and back.” You can also do a “Live, Laugh, Love” design, either all on the same pumpkin or like we did above, with one word per pumpkin.
8. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
The phrase “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good” is from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It’s a password used to activate the Marauder’s Map, which reveals the location of all Hogwarts’ students.
If you love Harry Potter, you can also carve your pumpkin into the Harry Potter logo, a silhouette of Harry Potter’s iconic face, a portrait of Dobby the male house elf, or whichever character you like the most.
7. ‘It’s a boy’ or ‘It’s a girl’
Some people like to use their pumpkin as a bulletin board to display some of the exciting things going on in their household. For example, pumpkin carving makes for the perfect pregnancy or gender reveal.
You can find a “It’s a boy” stencil here and a “It’s a girl” stencil here.
I’ve also seen homeowners or real estate agents use pumpkins as a “For Sale” sign or a calendar that displays Oct. 31. You can even use it as a “Just Married” sign, for all you happy newlyweds out there.
6. Ghost-themed ‘Happy Halloween’
There are so many different designs you could go with if you like the classic “Happy Halloween” pumpkin. For example, you could do block letters or go with a skull theme. You can also go with “Trick or Treat.”
Another idea I love when carving pumpkins is using it as a “Candy This Way” sign, that way all those trick-or-treaters know where you’re stashing all the candy. Another cool idea is to say “Got Candy?”
Funny pumpkin carving ideas that’ll make you laugh
These pumpkin carving ideas are for those who would like to humor themselves this holiday season. If that sounds like you, then you’re probably looking for ways to have a little fun with your pumpkin carving.
Don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas that’ll put a smile on your face, and make your guests laugh too.
You might have to play with the pumpkin guts or buy a small collection of pumpkins to make it happen, but we’ll have your jack-o’-lantern among the “best-dressed” and “best in show” in your neighborhood.
With that said, let’s take a look at five of the funniest, yet creative pumpkin carving ideas we could find.
5. Hungover pumpkin
You’ve probably seen this design a few times before, but now it’s your turn to give it a try. And don’t worry, it’s a lot easier than you’d think. First, you have to pick a pumpkin face that goes with the “sick” theme.
As you scoop out the guts of your pumpkin, make sure you set them aside because you’ll be using them as the “throw up.” All you need to do is make it look like the guts are spilling out of the pumpkin’s face!
You can find more pumpkin carving stencils of jack-o’-lantern faces by clicking here.
4. Pumpkin with a tiny face
I don’t know why, but these designs always make me giggle when I see them on a porch, especially from a distance. There’s just something about seeing a large pumpkin with a tiny face that gets me everytime.
You can really do this with any face stencil you find. Just minimize the size to as small as you want it, then start carving. Personally, I think the more basic the face (like the one shown above), the more funny it is.
3. Pumpkin skeleton body
This is an excellent idea if you’re feeling a little artistic or creative. You’ll need several pumpkins of varying sizes, and some kind of wooden or aluminum pole to ensure they stand upright, even in crappy weather.
Three pumpkins seems to be the magic number. One for the head, one for the body, and one for the legs. You can use any pumpkin face stencil for the head, and then follow the outline above for the rest.
2. Scrabble board with extra letters
Any Scrabble fans out there? Why not challenge your trick-or-treaters to a friendly game so they can earn their candy? Okay, you don’t actually have to challenge them to a game, but it’s still a unique decoration.
The Scrabble board can be shaved into the front of the pumpkin, but make sure you shave the boxes enough that the light shines through. You’ll need an extra pumpkin to carve out the Scrabble letters.
1. Pumpkin giving birth
For this design, you’ll need two normal-sized pumpkins, one smaller pumpkin, some sticks or carrots to use as arms and legs, and an apple or other fruit to use as the hands. You’re already halfway there!
Find a pumpkin face stencil that shows your pumpkin in distress, as if they’re giving birth. Use a toothpick to attach the arms and legs. Then cut a hole in the bottom pumpkin and feed the smaller one through it.
Tips for a Successful DIY Pumpkin Carving Session
Whenever I’m trying to learn or master something, I have one rule: ask the experts. And if you don’t have a means of asking those experts yourself, then find someone who does. Or someone who already has.
In this case, we’re turning to David LaRochelle, one of the most talented and famous pumpkin carvers in the world. He has been growing pumpkins since age 11 and started taking carving seriously in the 1980s.
He has carved pumpkins for everything from the Minnesota Timberwolves to luxury weddings and more.
In 2015, he sat down with MPR News and shared some of his best tips for those who want to master the art of pumpkin carving. And his number one, most important tip: make sure you pick the right pumpkin.
That means avoiding soft spots and pumpkins that are already starting to spoil, and avoiding ones that have deep ridges. And if you already have an idea for a design, find a shape that fits that design.
Some of his other tips include using a spoon with a serrated edge to hollow it out, thinning the shell to make it easier to carve through, using stencils or trace paper, taking your time, and being patient.
Other materials you might need include bowl for pumpkin seeds, candle or LED light, newspaper or tarp, toothpicks (for repairs), small saw, scraper tool, gloves, and anything else that’ll make your life easier.
He also suggested trying other techniques, such as shaving the outside of the pumpkin instead of cutting it. This allows you to play with different shades of orange. If you do it right, the light will still shine through.
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When you light it up, use between four and eight candles. And his final piece of advice: the pumpkin doesn’t have to be perfect. “The lopsidedness of a design can give it more character,” he said to MPR.