There's no shortage of festive Halloween crafts to try with family and friends, but pumpkin carving is one of the best! Carving out scary, funny and cute pumpkin faces is an entertaining Halloween activity for all ages. There are zipper-mouthed pumpkins, smiling wicked witches, zombies, ghouls, candy monsters and so many more simple pumpkin carving ideas that'll boost your spooky decor on October 31. So, to get your creative juices flowing, gather your little ghouls and gals for a night of DIYing their jack-o'-lanterns with the ideas below.
Whether you're a beginner or an avid crafter, you're sure to appreciate these fun carving designs. We have a range of frightening looks based on classic Halloween movies, like the friendly ghosts from Casper or a blood-sucking pumpkin vampire based on Dracula. There are creepy crawler pumpkins and faces with lopsided grins. And we can't forget about the cooler ideas, including a pumpkin diorama and a mini pumpkin playhouse, that you'll want to last all season long.
After choosing an idea from our list below, grab your carving tools — X-Acto knives, cookie cutters, tea light candles and these printable carving stencils — to express your creativity. And if you're looking for more Halloween decorating inspiration, we have some of the best no-carve and painted pumpkin ideas too!
Punched Pumpkins
You can design your heirloom pumpkins and gourds with the spookiest cutouts using cookie cutters! After prepping and cleaning the pumpkins, push sturdy metal cookie cutters into them (think bats, skeletons, ghosts and vampires!).
Use a rubber mallet to hammer the cookie cutters through their flesh and save the cutouts. Cut out smaller details with a round hole cutter, before spraying vinegar on the carved areas so they last longer. Mix and match the punched cutouts to create a colorful pumpkin pattern.
Crow Pumpkin
Pick out a fresh pumpkin, wipe away the dirt and clean it with a water and vinegar spray mixture. Using a good pumpkin carving knife, keyhole saw or sturdy serrated kitchen knife, cut a round opening from the bottom of the pumpkin (this makes it easier to add lights).
Scoop out the inside pulp and seeds and trace this crow template onto the pumpkin using washable chalk markers. Use a craft knife set to cut along the template's lines before placing the carved pumpkin over string lights or a LED votive.
Feather Pumpkin
With our feather template, even a beginner can carve this beautiful design on their pumpkin's surface. Trace the template with these washable chalk markers and use Lino Cut tools to carve away the surface skin of the pumpkin, all while leaving the flesh exposed. Using a mix of long and short carving strokes will create texture on the pumpkin. Spray vinegar on the carved areas so they last longer before adding your string lights.
Tip: If your pumpkin isn’t glowing much, you can thin the flesh of the pumpkin by scraping away more of the inside flesh with a spoon.
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Candle Pumpkins
Use tall squashes for these cool candlestick designs. Cut a round opening from the bottom of the pumpkin using a carving knife before scooping out the insides. Download and trace this candlestick template with washable chalk markers. Then, cut along the template and place your new candlesticks over string lights to create that stunning glow!
Flame Pumpkins
For these eye-catching flames that'll illuminate your space, stick to orange pumpkins of various sizes. Download, trace and carve out this flame template. Make sure to cut the pumpkin's opening out from the bottom for your LED tealights and you're all set.
Fall-Inspired Pumpkins
These seasonal designs require surface carving, so try not to carve them all the way through your pumpkins. You'll need our templates (leaves, flowers and acorns), washable chalk markers for tracing and Lino Cut tools for the carving. Since these designs are more fall-themed and not just specific to Halloween, spray vinegar on the pumpkins to help them last as long as possible throughout the season.
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Headstone Pumpkins
Go for an eerie design with this headstone pumpkin that's inspired by old cemetery headstones. First, carve out our headstone template onto a tall, dark pumpkin. After adding the lights, place your new headstone on the front porch or lawn as a creepy welcome for guests.
Scalloped Edge Pumpkins
Carving out scalloped edges for your pumpkins creates a unique display you can stack on any table, mantel or desk. Cut your round opening from the bottom and scoop out the insides using a spoon or measuring cup. Keep carving the opening until you've created your desired bowl shape. Cut out V-shaped slivers and widen them until you have your scalloped edges. For this idea, you can add a tealight inside or place another pumpkin on top.
Note: All of your “pumpkin goo” can be composted in these handy bags!
Retro Carved Pumpkin
Use a round template (like a bottle cap or tape roll) to trace rows of connecting circles onto your pumpkin. Trace a larger circle onto the bottom of the pumpkin. Cut along the interior lines with a pumpkin carving knife. Cut out the bottom circle. Paint the pumpkin with two coats of white craft paint or spray paint before placing LED candle lights in the bottom to light it up!
For the pumpkin vase, use your knife to cut a round hole on the top of the pumpkin. Remove the top and clean out the insides. Place a vine plant inside the pumpkin (still in its small pot), and place a small vase inside with water. Arrange a few flowers in the vase while mixing it with the vines.
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Fancy Vampire Pumpkin
This one is super simple! Cut a hole in the center of your pumpkin, then cut plastic vampire teeth in half and hot glue them in place. Fold a black doily in quarters, and cut along one line to the center. Accordion-fold the doily all the way around and hot glue it to the bottom of the pumpkin.
Spider Pumpkin
This spooky spider pumpkin will look great on your front porch or anywhere in your house! Carve out a circle on the face of the pumpkin, spray paint it (inside and outside) black, and poke 12-13 holes along the edge where you carved it. Then, thread a needle with a metallic string and tie a knot on the end.
Start from the inside and pull the thread through the first hole, then through another hole directly across the pumpkin (poking the pumpkin from the outside) and tying it off inside. Repeat this step until you have all your holes filled. Take a length of string and start by tying it to one of the crisscrossed strings you just created about one inch from the outside of the hole. Continue making a spiral by knotting as you hit the crisscross that is already there, while continuing in a circular swirl. For the final touch, add a spider to your web!
Mini Playhouse Pumpkin
Here's a painting and carving combination where you cut out windows and doors for candle light to shine through. It's that easy!
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Spots and Dots Pumpkin
It may look elaborate, but this polka-dot pattern is fairly simple. Sketch your pattern with a marker, leaving enough space between dots so holes won't overlap. Punch it out with a power drill and various bits. Finish it off by placing LED string lights inside to bask in your handiwork's glow.
RELATED: How to Drill a Pumpkin in 5 Easy Steps
Black Cat Pumpkin
This idea doesn't require as much carving as the others. Cut out almond-shaped eyes, spray paint your pumpkins and add cat ears that you can DIY using toothpicks.
Kitten Pumpkin
If you want to do less carving but still have a show-stopping pumpkin, then this kitten pumpkin is pur-fect!
Mini Kitten Pumpkins: Take your mini pumpkins and spray paint them black with two coats of paint. Add rhinestones for the eyes, thread for the whiskers and pom-pom noses with a hot glue gun. For the ears, you can cut out triangles from velour paper, attach toothpicks to them with a hot glue gun, and stick the ears into the tops of the pumpkin.
Main Pumpkin: Begin by carving a circle on the top of your pumpkin and taking out all the seeds. Fill the pumpkin with crumbled newspaper and nestle the kitten pumpkins on top. Take water tubes and fill them with water for the fresh flowers and place them inside the pumpkin.
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Candy Holder Pumpkin
Craft a unique — and useful — front porch display with a large real or faux pumpkin. First, mark a hole on the top half of the pumpkin and carefully cut along the line with a pumpkin carving set. If you opted for a fake pumpkin, sand down any rough edges. Paint the entire pumpkin with black chalk paint and let it dry. Before the festivities begin, fill it with candy and write a message with chalk.
Goofy Grin Pumpkin
Make your own funny-faced pumpkin by tracing your face design with a marker before carving it out. Use discarded pumpkin circles for the eyeballs and add a tea light for a nighttime glow.
Pumpkin Succulent Family
Try this unique way to display your favorite succulents. DIY one for each member of your family and have them help you turn ordinary pumpkins into planters.
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Pumpkin Diorama
Add drama to your carved pumpkin by filling it with everything, from reindeer moss and twigs to mini headstones. Complete the over-the-top design with a full moon (a Ping-Pong ball that you can easily hang from a thin string).
Tree and Moon Pumpkin
Stack three pumpkins on top of each other and try your best at painting a tree. Poke out holes to represent stars and carve out a crescent moon at the top.
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Halloween Crafts and Pumpkin Carving
Pumpkin carving is a popular and entertaining Halloween activity for all ages. It allows for the creation of scary, funny, and cute pumpkin faces, boosting the spooky decor on October 31. There are various pumpkin carving ideas, including zipper-mouthed pumpkins, smiling wicked witches, zombies, ghouls, and candy monsters. Whether you're a beginner or an avid crafter, there are fun carving designs to suit everyone's preferences.
Pumpkin Carving Ideas
- Punched Pumpkins: Design heirloom pumpkins and gourds with spooky cutouts using cookie cutters. Use a rubber mallet to hammer the cookie cutters into the pumpkins and save the cutouts. Mix and match the punched cutouts to create a colorful pumpkin pattern.
- Crow Pumpkin: Carve a crow template onto a fresh pumpkin and place it over string lights or an LED votive.
- Feather Pumpkin: Carve a beautiful feather design on a pumpkin's surface using a feather template and Lino Cut tools.
- Candle Pumpkins: Use tall squashes for cool candlestick designs by cutting a round opening from the bottom of the pumpkin and placing them over string lights.
- Flame Pumpkins: Carve eye-catching flames on orange pumpkins of various sizes and place LED tealights inside.
- Fall-Inspired Pumpkins: Carve seasonal designs such as leaves, flowers, and acorns on pumpkins, spraying vinegar on them to help them last throughout the season.
- Headstone Pumpkins: Carve headstone templates onto tall, dark pumpkins and place lights inside for a creepy welcome for guests.
- Scalloped Edge Pumpkins: Carve scalloped edges for a unique display that can be stacked on any table, mantel, or desk.
- Retro Carved Pumpkin: Carve rows of connecting circles onto a pumpkin and paint it with white craft paint before placing LED candle lights in the bottom to light it up.
- Fancy Vampire Pumpkin: Cut a hole in the center of a pumpkin, glue plastic vampire teeth in place, and add a black doily to the bottom.
- Spider Pumpkin: Carve a circle on the face of a pumpkin, spray paint it black, and create a spider web using metallic string.
- Mini Playhouse Pumpkin: Combine painting and carving by cutting out windows and doors for candle light to shine through.
- Spots and Dots Pumpkin: Create a polka-dot pattern by sketching a pattern with a marker and punching it out with a power drill, then place LED string lights inside.
- Black Cat Pumpkin: Cut out almond-shaped eyes, spray paint pumpkins, and add DIY cat ears using toothpicks.
- Kitten Pumpkin: Spray paint mini pumpkins black, add rhinestones for eyes, thread for whiskers, and pom-pom noses, and create ears from velour paper attached to toothpicks.
- Candy Holder Pumpkin: Carve a hole in a large pumpkin, paint it with black chalk paint, fill it with candy, and write a message with chalk.
- Goofy Grin Pumpkin: Carve a funny-faced pumpkin and add a tea light for a nighttime glow.
- Pumpkin Succulent Family: Turn ordinary pumpkins into planters for succulents.
- Pumpkin Diorama: Fill a carved pumpkin with reindeer moss, twigs, mini headstones, and a Ping-Pong ball representing a full moon.
- Tree and Moon Pumpkin: Stack three pumpkins, paint a tree, poke out holes for stars, and carve a crescent moon at the top.
These ideas cater to both beginners and experienced crafters, providing a wide range of options for creating unique and spooky Halloween decorations.
