A little inspiration for your doorstep
One pumpkin or a whole little crowd? Start with a look you love. Every idea comes with free printable stencils, pattern-specific instructions, and an adjustable A4 or Letter PDF.
Explore the ideasSingle-pumpkin favorites & 11 group ideas
Just one pumpkin? Start here.
Choose the classic face for straight-sided eyes, a moustache for a funny character, or a cat and moon for a complete little scene. Open a design to compare its paper silhouette, fit the size and download the PDF.
Two triangle eyes and a wonderfully wide, two-toothed smile.
View & print pattern
A splendid curled moustache beneath two button eyes, with a tiny smile below.
View & print pattern
A sitting cat, a curled tail and a crescent moon. A silhouette made for moonlit evenings.
View & print patternFrom a spark to a stencil
These are illustrated arrangements to help you plan. Choose one design or print a separate template for each pumpkin in the group.
01 / The conversation starters
Let the personalities clash: a beaming pumpkin, a distinguished moustache and one very unimpressed neighbor.
Use three pumpkins of different sizes. Put the tallest at the back and turn each face slightly toward the middle. Keep the print width specific to each pumpkin.
02 / For a little night-time magic
A watchful cat, a flying bat and a shooting star turn a small group of pumpkins into a night-sky scene.
Place the cat and bat side by side, with the star on a smaller pumpkin in front. Use an LED light in each one. These previews show illustrations, not photographed carvings.
03 / A cheerful welcome
Pair a wide, toothless laugh with heart-shaped eyes for a friendly greeting by the door.
Choose two similarly sized pumpkins so the different expressions stand out. Set both designs to a width that fits, then compare their printed outlines before transferring.
04 / An autumn look beyond faces
Mushrooms, a broad leaf and a paw print make an autumn group with no jack-o’-lantern faces at all.
Arrange the three pumpkins together on a stable surface. Keep the mushroom caps and stems as separate cuts. If you prefer paint, trace and fill these same dark silhouettes.
05 / Two pumpkins, one little story
One pumpkin is ready for bed. The other is just about to sneeze. Opposite expressions make the pair work.
Put the faces at roughly the same height. Leave a small gap between the pumpkins, and keep the scene simple so the yawning mouth and zigzag sneeze stay easy to spot.
06 / Just a little spooky
Invite a one-eyed pal, a little fanged grin and a waving ghost to the same doorstep.
Choose one as a solo pumpkin or print all three for a group. The ghost includes an open channel around the face; leave it connected as shown in the paper template.
07 / A porch for cat people
An arched silhouette, two close companions and a moonlit lookout give each pumpkin its own cat story.
Put the broad arched cat on the widest pumpkin and the taller moon scene on the tallest. Center the paired cats between them. Print each separately at a width that keeps the tails and the spaces between legs intact.
08 / For dog and cat households
A long, low dog, a playful fetch silhouette and a cat face turn three pumpkins into a pet-filled doorstep.
Choose a broad pumpkin for the dachshund so the back and tail fit without wrapping around the side. Angle the fetch scene toward the cat face. Leave space between the pumpkins so the different outlines read separately.
09 / A gently spooky street
A crooked house, a waving ghost and a bare tree make a small Halloween street without a row of matching faces.
Place the house in the middle, the ghost beside it and the tree slightly behind. Keep the gaps between the house’s separate roof and wall shapes open; the door and window shapes are cut away. Follow its detail page before transferring the design.
10 / Simple silhouettes for a small space
An acorn, a mushroom and an apple make a compact autumn group with a different outline on each pumpkin.
Check the actual-size print against each pumpkin before transferring. Use the Small designs’ width controls rather than shrinking a detailed scene. Set the pumpkins on a stable tray with space around each one; use the shapes as painted outlines if carving space is limited.
11 / For a slower, more detailed project
A moonlit garden, an owl among branches and a candle bring different heights and textures to a quiet night display.
Give the two detailed scenes the largest smooth surfaces and place the candle in front. Print all three before starting so you can compare their scale. Work through each detail page’s cut-and-keep notes; do not shrink a narrow branch just to match the other pumpkins.
Ready to make one?
Start with your pumpkins, ordinary printer paper, tape, a transfer tool and LED lights. An adult should handle the carving.
Pumpkin previews are illustrations. Check the printed pattern against your pumpkin before carving.
