40 Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Are Fun, Spooky, and Seriously Creative
Carving pumpkins is a Halloween tradition that never loses its charm. Whether you’re aiming for something simple, spooky, or a little more elaborate, there are countless ways to give your jack-o’-lantern a unique twist.
From ice-bucket pumpkins to character designs and playful patterns, these 40 carving ideas are perfect for kids, adults, and anyone looking to get creative this Halloween.
Slice Up a Scary Mummy Pumpkin
Antonis Achilleos provides this stacking mummy pumpkin carving idea. It requires minimal tools, making it a great project for beginner pumpkin carvers.
Carve and Dye Mini Pumpkins
Once you’re confident with your pumpkin carving skills, try something more complex such as the cute and colorful pumpkins featured on Cfabbridesign. To make them, you need white mini pumpkins, food coloring, bowls, and a knife.
Make a Pumpkin Alarm Clock
Turn your favorite pumpkin into an alarm clock with this tutorial from Built by Kids. The pumpkin clock is functional, and a great idea for anyone entering a pumpkin carving contest. You’ll need good carving skills and a quality set of tools to complete this project.
Keep It Simple With a Pattern
On Remodelanolacasa, you can learn how to use the Sonicrafter F30 to carve out a feather pattern on your pumpkin. If you prefer a geometric pattern over a scary face, this is a fun method to try.
Use Pumpkin Stencils
Everyday Dishes provides three unique pumpkin carving stencils you can download. The stencils include an owl, a feminine skeleton, and an alien. You can trace them onto your pumpkin and then carve them out.
Party Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Jack-o-lanterns don’t have to be scary, instead, try happy faces like these. Gather inspo from the cheerful designs featured on BHG.
Carve Your Pumpkin Using a Drill
Looking for easy pumpkin carving ideas that don’t require a lot of skill or a lot of time? Create designs with a drill. Everydaydishes shows how she made these easy patterned pumpkins.
Design Easy Vampire Pumpkin Candle Holders
Add a vampire-like touch to your pumpkins by burning a red tealight candle on top. Freutcake shares the tutorial for these easy-to-carve vampire pumpkins.
Engrave Your Pumpkin
Engrave your pumpkins with a cutter, grinding stone, and glitter. Handmadeintheheartland shares the tutorial, which you can customize to your liking.
Draw On Your Pumpkin
Some projects are easy, while others require more skill and creativity. If you want to go the easy route, try this project from Craftinomicon. The mini jack-o-lanterns are a perfect craft for small kids.
Cut Odd Shapes on Your Pumpkin
Make your pumpkin look like a mummy by carving odd shapes into it. BHG uses a greenish-gray pumpkin to make the mummy appear petrified. If you can’t find the right color pumpkin, paint one.
Make a Pumpkin With a Message
Greet your guests with a funny message delivered by your jack-o-lantern. After carving your pumpkin, print out your message on card stock and attach it to the pumpkin with a toothpick.
Try Themed Pumpkins
Makezine created these Bert and Ernie pumpkins. While the design is simple, these happy pumpkins make a big impact. The most important factor in creating a character-inspired pumpkin is choosing the right shape.
Decorate Your Pumpkin With Objects
Give your pumpkin a funny face using things you already have. Drawing inspo from a snowman, this pumpkin features a carrot nose and an old pair of reading glasses.
Go For Something Simple but Elegant
Invisibly provides a tutorial for creating this simple but elegant pumpkin. She uses a linoleum cutting knife to scrap away enough pumpkin flesh to create a leaf pattern.
Carve a Hat For Your Pumpkin
Ladyfaceblog used two pumpkins to create this 3-D design. She bought one pumpkin slightly bigger than the other to use for parts, such as the jagged hat and long tongue.
Monster Eyes Pumpkin Carving Idea
Martha Stewart created a set of big-eyed pumpkins with the use of candy eyeballs. Try this if you want an easy pumpkin carving idea that’s cute and customizable.
Create Anatomy Pumpkins
Symbolism is important, especially on holidays such as Halloween. Check out Brit for ideas on giving your pumpkins an anatomy-inspired theme.
Pumpkin Carving Idea With Visual Effects
Instructables provides a tutorial for creating a Tinker Bell inspired pumpkin. The design is best for intermediate to advanced carvers.
Drill Holes and Keep Your Pumpkin Abstract
The Garden Glove uses a drill with various-sized drill bits to create fun patterns. Drills provide one of the easiest ways to make clean cuts, and the design options are endless.
Use Marshmallows to Give Your Pumpkin Teeth
Marshmallows are the perfect size to act as teeth in your carved pumpkin. Crafty Moods shares a tutorial for this easy pumpkin carving idea.
Design a Scene With Two or More Pumpkins
Create interesting scenes using two or more pumpkins. They can interact in funny, cute, romantic, or funky ways, like the two featured on Woman’s Day.
Craft Braces For Your Pumpkin
Make your pumpkin stand out with a set of braces. Behance provides a picture tutorial for carving the pumpkin and applying the metal braces.
Consider Special Effects For Your Pumpkin
Ideal Home Garden uses dry ice to make their pumpkin scarier. You could also use an essential oil diffuser for a similar effect.
Carve Flowers in Your Pumpkin
How About Orange offers suggestions for the best pumpkin carving tools to create intricate designs like this. After carving this design, they illuminated it with LED tealight candles.
Monogram Your Pumpkin
Monogrammed pumpkins are simple but versatile. Use them on your front porch, beside your mailbox, or camper. You can also spell out a name or word by grouping several carved pumpkins together.
Ensure You Have the Right Tools
Check out Thebluebrick for suggestions on giving your pumpkin an elegant and charming look. You’ll also find tips on perfecting your carving technique.
Use a Hot Knife
Carving with a hot knife can help you achieve clean lines, which is important in a tall skinny pumpkin design like this one. {found on inmyownstyle}.
Don’t Carve Your Pumpkin All The Way Through
You don’t need to carve the pumpkin all the way through for it to illuminate. As long as you cut out most of the fleshy skin, your pumpkin will light up when you stick a candle inside.
Utilize Cookie Cutters as a Guide
Modern Parents Messy Kids uses cookie cutters to create easy designs on pumpkins. They start by using a rubber mallet to beat the cutter into the pumpkin and then trace around it with a knife.
Go For a Peek-a-Boo Pumpkin
When you’re short on time but still want a cute pumpkin, try this peek-a-boo style. The only carving you need to do is cut the top off of the pumpkin.
Paint Your Pumpkin
Don’t want the hassle or mess of having to clean out a pumpkin? Then this no-carve pumpkin project from The Spruce is the one for you.
Make a Mice Infested Pumpkin
This project from Martha Stewart is an easy pumpkin carving idea that makes a big statement. Use a carving knife to cut holes of different sizes in your pumpkin, then head to the store and pick up some cute plastic mice.
Create a Franken Pumpkin
If you have a pumpkin carving contest coming up (but a limited amount of time to design), try this Franken pumpkin from DIY Network. This pumpkin looks unique enough to win a prize while also being an easy pumpkin carving design to conquer in a few hours’ time.
Batman Pumpkin Carving Idea
If your kids love Batman, try one of these easy pumpkin carving ideas from Bat Blog. To make them, you can print out your favorite Batman icon or image, trace it onto your pumpkin, and cut it out.
Pumpkin Hamburger
Step up your originality with this hamburger pumpkin from Princess Pinky Girl. Carving is easy, the most difficult aspect is finding material to use as your hamburger patty and toppings.
Cookie Monster Pumpkin
Create this Cookie Monster pumpkin to go with your Sesame Street theme. You can even use this at a party to display your freshly baked cookies. Find out how to make this easy pumpkin carving idea at Shared.
Trick or Treat Pumpkin Carving Idea
Create a self-serve candy station this Halloween with these trick-or-treat pumpkins. Unique Ideas shares a list of fun and spooky pumpkin carving ideas.
Carve a Pumpkin Within a Pumpkin
Add drama by placing a tiny pumpkin into the mouth of your large jack-o-lantern. Find out how you can make this project a reality on DIY Network.
Pumpkin Ice Bucket
Turn your pumpkin into an ice bucket with this easy idea. First, find a pumpkin big enough to accommodate a bottle of wine or champagne. Then carve out a portion on one side, scoop out the insides, and add ice. {found on everydaydishes}.