Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Look Ghoulishly Good
Creative Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Look Ghoulishly Good
It's no secret that we love Halloween and a good carved pumpkin really takes the cake. But forget the same old pumpkin decorating ideas you've been doing year after year and take a zombie crawl to the spookier, sophisticated, or fun side of pumpkin decorating. Mix up your DIY Halloween decorations with one of these easy ideas from our roundup that's full of inspirational designs that are so much cooler than the standard, grinning jack-o'-lantern. (Don't get us wrong, in a pinch there is nothing better than simple triangle eyes and a nose.)
Spend a weekend with the kids making a boo-tiful DIY pumpkin marquee, an easy Mason jar-inspired pumpkin, or pumpkin lanterns that'll help light the way for future trick-or-treaters. Or, rather than an expected orange display, gray, white, terrazzo, or even plaid carved creations make for much more creative fall porch decorations. Another idea? Put your pumpkins to good use this year around the house in a purely genius new way, how about trying a DIY ice bucket, candy jar, pumpkin purse, or even a terrarium.
There are plenty of ideas for beginners in this roundup, so no matter your skill level, you're guaranteed to have the best-looking creation on the block. To hone your skills before you get started don't miss our expert's pumpkin carving tips. You've never seen pumpkins like this before, and each project is just as scary (or sweet) as the next. Happy haunting and carving!
Night Sky Pumpkins
Three different night sky scenes will light up your front porch or party table with seasonally appropriate motifs.
To make:
Harvest Moon: Cut a hole in the bottom of a medium heirloom pumpkin; scoop out the pulp and seeds. Cut a round opening in the front of the pumpkin. Cut a piece of white vellum paper that is just larger than the hole and draw the craters of the moon on it with a gray paint pen. Center the vellum to the inside of the pumpkin and attach it with straight pins. Attach a few lengths of twine around the opening with hot-glue. Wrap a bundle of dry wheat or grass with twine, and attach to the pumpkin with hot-glue.
Crescent Corn Moon: Cut out a crescent moon shape from a piece of cardboard. Remove the kernels from a few ears of flint corn, and attach to cardboard with hot-glue. Glue a piece of colorful twine around the edge of the moon to cover up the cardboard. Glue a loop of twine to the back of the cardboard, and loop around the stem of a pumpkin to hang.
Stars and Constellations: Cut a hole in the bottom of a medium heirloom pumpkin; scoop out the pulp and seeds. Lightly draw constellation shapes with a pencil. Using an awl or electric drill with a small bit, drill main points along the constellations. Thread orange waxed twine between the points with a large-eye sewing needle. Use a large and medium drill bit to create single stars and a linoleum carving tool to create starbursts.
Gnome House Pumpkin
Little hands will love helping create this sweet little gourd cottage and keeping an eye out for the gnomes that are surely going to move in.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of a medium-size blue Hubbard squash; scoop out the pulp and seeds. Cut out the door and circular door window. Etch lines in the door with a linoleum carving tool, and insert toothpicks (shortened if necessary) to create window muttons. Lightly draw flower design on either side of door with a pencil, and use linoleum carving tool to etch out. Insert the door into the opening and hold in place with toothpicks. Hot-glue mini glass balls into acorn caps to create lights; attach to pumpkin with hot-glue. Cut half to two-thirds off of a wood round; attach to pumpkin, above the door to create an awning.
Cut a hole in the bottom of a small brown or green acorn squash; scoop out the pulp and seeds. Cut a circular window, and insert toothpicks (shortened if necessary) to create window muntins. Lightly draw flower design around window with a pencil, and use linoleum carving tool to etch out. Stack pumpkins and add wood round steps and ginkgo leaves.
Painted Faux-Bois Pumpkin
Adding paint to an etched faux-bois (the artistic imitation of wood) pumpkin helps the colors pop, adding fun flair to this sophisticated design.
To make: Lightly sketch a faux-bois pattern on a pumpkin with a pencil. Use a linoleum carving tool to etch out the pattern. Once complete, paint unetched part of the pumpkin with acrylic paint. If you get any paint in the etched grain, you can remove it up with the carving tool once dry.
Pumpkin Candy Dispenser
Why go for a store-bought candy bowl when you can get creative with this DIY dispenser?
To make: Trace the bottom of a glass bowl or storage container onto the front of a medium pumpkin. Cut out around tracing then scoop out pulp and seeds. Insert bowl, making the hole slightly bigger if necessary. Attach a piece of thick rope with hot glue.
Honeycomb Pumpkin
Think completely outside the box with this honeycomb design. We guarantee the unique look will impress your guests!
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of a medium orange pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Draw a honeycomb pattern on the front; etch out. Cut out a few of the combs and paint the remaining combs with yellow craft paint. Lean a honey dipper against its side.
Bean Bag Toss Carved Pumpkin
Turn your carved pumpkin into a ring toss game that will be a fun activity for the whole family.
To make: Cut a large hole in the bottom of one large and one medium pumpkin; scoop out the pulp and seeds. Trace our face template on the pumpkins, scaling up or down as necessary. Cut out the faces, and then stack the medium pumpkin on top of the large one, using skewers to help hold them in place. To play, toss beanbags into your gourds' mouths, awarding 10 points for the bottom and 20 for the top.
Marquee Sign
Light up the whole neighborhood with this bright and cheery marquee sign pumpkin.
To make: Cut a large hole in the bottom of an oblong pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Carve desired word or phrase—think BOO, WELCOME, or your last name—or download our FAIR template and trace on the long side of the pumpkin, scaling up or down as necessary. Chisel out letters and border. Remove the bulbs from a strand of globe string lights. Cut holes along the border of the chiseled area for the light sockets; insert sockets then bulbs. Plug in lights and prepare to amaze your trick-or-treaters.
Wood-Burning Stove Pumpkin
No cabin evening is complete without a roaring fire.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of an extra-large pumpkin, and scoop out pulp and seeds. Trace the door template on the pumpkin, scaling up or down as necessary. Chisel out the outline, and use a knife to cut out the windowpanes. Paint the pumpkin (excluding chiseled section) black. Fill with sticks longer than the hole, and top with battery-operated tea lights. Remove the stems from four small pumpkins, and paint pumpkins black; place stove pumpkin on top. Rest a piece of solid, expandable drain pipe over the stem; attach pipe to the wall or ceiling to help it stay upright.
Hen and Chicks Pumpkin Designs
Celebrate your favorite feathered friends with this sweet, simple duo.
To make the hen pumpkin: Cut a hole in the bottom of a large pumpkin, and scoop out pulp and seeds. Trace the hen template. Use a knife to cut out the body and a pencil to lightly trace the comb. Paint comb with red acrylic paint. Tie together several strands of raffia and hot-glue in place to create the tail. Insert a piece of white chicken wire behind the hen's body, then adhere twigs with hot-glue to create legs and feet.
To make the chicks pumpkin: Trace the chick template onto a smaller whole pumpkin. Use a potter's needle to indent the outline, then chisel out using a potter's ribbon tool. Insert a black pushpin for the eye; adhere twigs with hot-glue for the feet.
Jigsaw Pumpkin Carving
Keep the kids entertained with a DIY jigsaw pumpkin.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of a pumpkin, and scoop out pulp and seeds. Trace the puzzle template on the pumpkin, scaling up or down as necessary. Use a knife to cut out the puzzle pieces. Use craft paint to paint the puzzle pieces. Challenge kids to complete the puzzle for candy prizes.
Pickup Truck Pumpkin Design
You've been to the pumpkin patch and you're ready to display that haul. Create a home for all those mini pumpkins and replicate your favorite possession: that 1959 Ford F15o!
To make: Turn an oblong pumpkin on its side, then trace the template. Use a potter's needle tool to indent the outline. Chisel out the truck's window and outline using a small potter's ribbon tool, then paint truck desired color using acrylic paint. Stain three mini wooden craft sticks with wood stain; cut off rounded ends (reserving two) and cut one in half. Use hot-glue to attach the sticks on truck bed (trimming as needed) to create the railing and rounded ends to create bumpers. Hot-glue buttons for wheels. Attach a toy trailer and fill with mini pumpkins.
Sunflower Pumpkin Carving
Bring the fields of flowering sunflowers to your front porch with a stack or two of colorful sunflower pumpkins
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of two to three pumpkins, and scoop out pulp and seeds. Trace the templates onto pumpkins. Use a knife to cut out the petals and leaves. Starting in the center of the sunflower, use hot-glue to attach different colors of twine in a spiral pattern. For the stalk, attach green twine in a tight zigzag pattern with hot-glue. Remove the stem from the bottom pumpkin(s); stack as shown. (No wilting sunflowers here! Use wooden skewers to secure your stack.)
TIP: When scooping, carve from the bottom so the pretty stems stay intact. It also makes lighting candles easier; simply light and place your pumpkin on top.
Cross-Stitch Pumpkin
Add homespun charm to your decor with our tepee and campfire cross-stitched pumpkins.
To make: Download and print our cross-stitch patterns. (Adjust pattern size as needed.) Tape onto artificial, carvable pumpkins. (Trust us: You'll want to display these year after year.) Punch through the pattern's cross-stitch points with an awl. Use a jab saw to cut an opening in the bottom of both pumpkins large enough for your hand to work inside. Cross-stitch using a tapestry needle and yarn. For tepee support poles and campfire logs, adhere twigs with hot-glue.
Glowing Lantern Pumpkin
Light up a trick-or-treater's way with this bright spin on a jack-o'-lantern.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of a large pumpkin, and scoop out pulp and seeds. Download our lantern template. (Adjust template size as needed to fit your pumpkin.) Trace the template onto pumpkin in pencil. Use a knife to cut out the "glass" portion of the lantern, then paint image desired colors. Insert armature wire into the sides of the pumpkin as shown to create a decorative handle. Place candle inside and light.
Pumpkin Barrel
This pumpkin barrel is perfect for showing off your apple picking haul or filling with candy so that trick-or-treaters can help themselves.
To make: Cut off the top quarter of an extra-large pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Hot-glue three strips of ribbon around outside of pumpkin. Stuff pumpkin three-fourths full with Poly-Fil. Insert burlap fabric into the opening and fold over outside of pumpkin; hold in place with upholstery tacks. Fill with apples or desired items.
Big Dipper Pumpkin Carving
A twinkling twist on typical carved decor.
To make: Cut a hole in the back of a large pumpkin and scoop out pulp and seeds. Coat the surface with chalkboard spray-paint and let dry; season as instructed. Use white stick chalk to mark the Big Dipper, then drill through the points with a medium drill bit. Insert a battery-powered string of lights in the constellation points. Use white chalk to connect points, and draw additional stars on pumpkin.
Pumpkin Basket
What's better than a big festive pumpkin for Halloween, you ask? A pumpkin with even more pumpkins inside of it, naturally!
To make: Cut off the top quarter of a flat pumpkin (this is a Musquee de Provence variety); scoop out pulp and seeds. Attach lengths of grapevine just below the opening with T-pins. Attach a grapevine handle just inside the opening with T-pins. Nestle mini pumpkins in the basket.
Pumpkin Sign
Welcome guests with a pumpkin sign. Customize as desired by writing your family name, the year your house was built, or festive spooking sayings.
To make: Cut a large hole in back of an oblong pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Remove flesh so it's light enough to hang. Etch outline of desired phrase on long side of pumpkin. Color center of letters with a black oil-based paint pen. Paint two 2" by 1" boards black; once dry, use white paint for desired phrases. Hang from bottom of pumpkin with chain. Cut hole in oblong top of pumpkin. Cut 1" dowel the width of the top inside of pumpkin (parallel with words). Tie rope around dowel, and feed rope through hole; hang.
Twisting Vines Pumpkin
Twisting vines glow when etched into, but not through, a hallowed-out pumpkin.
To make: Cut a hole in bottom of a pumpkin; scoop out pulp and seeds. Gently sketch your design on the pumpkin and use a lemon zester, clay loop, or linoleum cutter to etch out design. Insert a candle in the hole, light, and display.
Thirsty Vampire Pumpkin
Don't worry, this blood sucking creature won't do too much harm on fright night.
To make: Carve eyes, brows, and a mouth into a hollowed-out white pumpkin. Make pupils with permanent marker. Paint large wood teardrops white with red tips to make fangs; push into place. Top with a widow's peak cut from a slightly larger orange pumpkin. Pin a black craft foam collar around the pumpkin.
Easy Twinkling Dots Pumpkin
It may look elaborate, but this polka-dot pattern is really very easy.
To make: Lightly draw your pattern on a pumpkin, leaving enough space between dots so holes won't overlap. Punch it out with a power drill and various size bits. A detailed design shines brighter by placing LED string lights inside.
Sweet Scarecrow Pumpkin
This candy-filled scarecrow is way too sweet to scare away any trick-or-treaters.
To make: Carve a pumpkin face design, and then make its features pop with candy corn in assorted shapes and sizes. Use corn husks to create hair and tie a bow.
Silly Witch Pumpkin
Sweet and friendly with lush eyelashes that'll make anyone jealous this witch pumpkin is ready to great trick-or treaters with a smile!
To make: Stack three white pumpkins. Carve a friendly face in the top most pumpkin. Paint on eyelashes with black acrylic paint and use pushpins to create pupils. Wrap a piece of black felt around the "neck" and tie in place with ribbon. Top it all off with a witch hat.
Lollipop Pumpkin
Let the kids help themselves to candy this year with this ingenious lollipop pumpkin.
To make: Hollow out a pumpkin from the bottom. Carve half-circle mouth with a tooth, 2 half-circle eyes with pupils and triangle nose. For eyes, push in inner piece (don't remove). Then, etch away skin on pupils and tooth with linoleum cutter. Use awl to poke holes about 1 1/2" apart across top and sides of pumpkin. Push lollipops into holes to create hair.
Family of Owls Pumpkins
Lamp Jack-o'-Lantern Idea
Put a cheeky spin on the word jack-o'-lantern with three glowing silhouettes of old-school lamps.
Fox Pumpkin
Invite this happy friend into your house or onto your front porch. He'll greet party guests and trick-or-treaters with a welcoming smile.
To make: Stand the variegated squash straight up. Break five skewers in half and stick them into the back of the squash where the tail should sit, leaving 2" exposed. Press the bell-shaped orange gourd into the skewers at the back of the squash to secure as the tail. (Tip: If the skewers sink into the squash too much as you attach the gourd, simply pinch each with two fingers to hold in place while the gourd slides onto the individual skewer.)
Break four skewers in half and press them into the top of the squash body, leaving 2" exposed. Position a small pumpkin so the stem is centered where the nose should sit and push down on the skewers to secure. With the tip of the craft knife, etch out a thin smile by scraping away just the top layer of rind.
To create eye sockets, etch slightly deeper holes. Remove the caps of two large acorns. Flip each cap curved-side out and press into the sockets. Remove the caps of slightly smaller acorns. Apply a dot of hot glue to each acorn and affix to the eye socket caps as pupils. Using the craft knife, cut the small pumpkin into quarters (slice in half horizontally, then in half vertically), scraping away any excess flesh with the spoon. Rinse and clean a handful of seeds. Pat dry and set aside. Cut pointy ears from two of the pumpkin quarters and press into the pumpkin head with a skewer (break, as needed), allowing the fleshy side to face forward. Turn the remaining pumpkin quarters face down and use the hot glue to affix three pumpkin seeds to each to resemble claws. Secure to the body with skewers (break, as needed).
Mason Jar Pumpkin Carving Idea
This ode to the iconic Ball Mason jar features "fireflies" courtesy of string lights.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of the gourd and scoop out pulp and seeds. Tape transfer paper onto the surface, followed by our downloadable jar sketch. Trace design using a pencil; remove papers. Using an X-Acto knife, follow the transferred image to chisel the outline of the jar onto the pumpkin, then use a linoleum cutter to gently shave the surrounding area as shown. For fireflies, cut several holes with a small clay hole cutter, then illuminate with battery-powered lights.
Happy Haunters Pumpkins
No need to look any further than the produce section to create this band of merry Halloween revelers.
Get the tutorial at Woman's Day.
Autumn Leaf Carving
Turn your pumpkin into a work of art by using a small knife to gently create leaves. After all, the foliage is one of the prettiest parts of fall.
Get the tutorial at Scandinavian Love Song.
Smiling Face Pumpkins
Great guests with a gaggle of smiling faces. These etched pumpkins don't requires scooping, so they'll result in little to no cleanup.
Get the tutorial at Woman's Day.
Pumpkins on Fire Carving Idea
Set your hearth ablaze with these pumpkin-carved flames.
To make: Begin by experimenting with the placement of pumpkins in your fireplace. Once you're satisfied with the arrangement, trim any stems that interfere with stacking stability, then determine how many flames each gourd should get. (Use this photo as a guide.)
Note where each pumpkin goes and dismantle the arrangement. Carve a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin, scoop out the pulp, and return the cut pieces. Print out flame templates and resize on a copier, scaling the images to fit your pumpkins.
Cut out stencils as directed on the templates and affix to pumpkins with masking tape. Trace on the designs with a felt-tip pen. Remove stencils, then carefully carve along the drawn lines with an X-Acto knife. Affix a battery-operated votive candle in the base of each pumpkin with adhesive putty. Finish by restoring your arrangement.
Masked Pumpkin
Don't worry, this masked pumpkin won't steal your candy. His leaf mask is only there to help keep the mystery alive!
To make: Paint eight real or artificial leaves with black spray paint; let dry. Layer leaves into a mask shape; hot-glue together. Cut eyeholes in mask. Trace eyeholes onto large orange pumpkin; carve. Glue black-painted acorns to straight pins, then push into eyeholes for pupils. Secure leaf mask to pumpkin with hot glue.
Mummy Pumpkin
Stack layers of a cut up pumpkin to create a mummy wrapped-like appearance. Beady bean eyes will send trick-or-treaters running in fear.
To make: Cut off the top one quarter of the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds. Cut pumpkin horizontally all the way around, starting 1" to 2" below the opening. Repeat 4 to 6 times until you've carved the whole pumpkin into 1" to 2" circles all the way around (don't worry about making your cuts particularly straight). Separate the pieces. Keeping the top and bottom pieces the same, restack the others in a different order.
Rotate the pieces until you get a shape you like, enlarging the carvings for eyes or mouth. Starting from the bottom, lift each level of pumpkin, insert 3 to 4 toothpicks onto the level below, then press down to secure in place. Repeat until entire pumpkin is held together. Place beans into eye holes, securing with half-toothpicks if necessary.
Cat Drilled Pumpkin
Draw inspiration from your feline friend when dreaming up your carving idea. Rather than using a knife, simply drill the shapes into your pumpkin.
Get the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.
Zombie Pumpkin
Oversized eyes make this ghoulish zombie pumpkin truly eerie.
To make: Using a craft knife, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin and hollow out the inside. Scrape away any extra flesh with a spoon. Rinse a handful of the seeds (about 16 or so), pat dry and set aside.
Lightly draw two large ovals for eyes (position them slightly tilted towards each other for a sweeter, less scary look) and a wide, slightly lopsided mouth. Carve out with a craft knife; save scraps. Use the melon baller to carve out two round eyeballs from the fleshy side of reserved pumpkin scraps. Spear each eyeball with a toothpick and attach to the tops of the eye cutouts. Gently press a peppercorn into the center of each to create pupils. Press the cleaned seeds directly into the mouth, positioning them in different directions.
Terrazzo Carved Pumpkins
Rather than crafting ghoulish Halloween gourds, turn your pumpkin patch picks into works of art. If you're paintbrush-savvy, you can easily freehand the colorful geometric designs. Otherwise, use stencil paper to outline your own shapes. Finish it off with matching cutouts to let candlelight peek through.
Get the tutorial at Jojotastic.
Porcupine Pumpkin
Watch your hands around this prickly fella. He's fashioned from a squash and loads of sharp toothpicks.
To make: Using a craft knife, cut two rounded feet from a small gourd. Position an oval squash (this is the porcupine body) with the stem centered as a nose. Choose where the feet should sit and press toothpicks into the gourd, then press the feet into the toothpicks. This will anchor the porcupine body and stop it from rolling around.
To create quills, frame the face by inserting toothpicks into the rind, leaving enough space for eyes. (Tip: Pushing them in at a slight angle makes it easier). Continue until the body is fullu covered. Affix two small acorn caps to the face with hot glue for eyes. Affix a larger acorn cap with hot glue to create a snout nose.
Scarecrow Pumpkin
We promise this sweet fella, made out of a butternut squash, won't scare away any Halloween party guests.
To make: Use a melon baller to scoop out two eyes from a butternut squash; reserve. Etch out eye sockets and mouth with a linoleum cutter. Use toothpicks to secure eyes in sockets. Push in dried black bean pupils; secure with toothpicks.
Cut a piece of red masking tape and attach for nose. For hat, make a cone from a paper bag, then fold in its top and fringe its bottom, curling upward. Cut patches from burlap and attach with small masking tape strips. Tie cord ribbon around middle for a belt and tuck in straw.
Leaf Pumpkins With Candles
We're loving the gray pumpkin look alone, but the leaf-shaped carving makes these decorations totally front porch-worthy.
Get the tutorial at Our House Now a Home.
Pumpkin Family
The greatest pumpkin-decorating inspiration of all? Your own family! Use different shapes and sizes to create a gourd replica of everyone in your household, with succulents doubling as pumpkin "hair." And don't worry about free-handing the faces—the tutorial comes with an easy template.
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Skeleton Marquee Pumpkin
This blogger recommends carving a faux pumpkin to create her stunning skeletons so you can enjoy them for many Halloweens to come.
Get the tutorial at Love the Day.
Pumpkin Purse
Your kids can use this cute and easy DIY as their treat bag.
Get the tutorial at In My Own Style.
Pumpkin Diorama
This spooky scene looks intricate, but it's actually pretty simple to pull off, thanks to spooky figurines.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
Spooky Drilled Pumpkins
Varying sizes of drill bits makes this boo-tiful gourd a breeze to create.
Get the tutorial at Handmade Charlotte.
Plaid Pumpkin Carved Planter
Or, fill your carved (and painted) pumpkin with flowers for an arrangement that screams "fall."
Get the tutorial at A Thoughtful Place.
Carved Pumpkin Diorama
This craft pairs materials from your own yard with an 11?"W x 14"H black Funkin.
To make: Print our carving templates; cut, as indicated, to create stencils for the tree-framed opening and moon at the back. With a felt-tip pen, trace the designs onto your Funkin, then carve. Spray-paint the Funkin's interior black; let dry one hour. Place a green Styrofoam disk inside the faux pumpkin as a base. Using our photo as a guide, stick twigs into the base to form trees, then cover the base with moss. Finally, hot-glue a wolf figurine to a rock, and set it and other rocks atop the moss.
Succulent Pumpkin Carving Idea
This centerpiece pumpkin will look perfect on your Halloween buffet or even the Thanksgivng table.
To make: Carve a hole in a pumpkin, scoop out the insides, and fill with potting soil and succulents.
Painted Pumpkin City Jack-o'-Lantern
A passel of pumpkins provides the backdrop for a quaint village scene.
To make: First, carve a hole in the bottom of each pumpkin, scoop out the pulp, and return the cut pieces. Print out these house templates. Resize on a copier, scaling the images to fit your pumpkins. Cut out stencils as directed on the templates and affix to pumpkins with masking tape. Trace on the designs with a felt-tip pen. Remove stencils, then carefully carve along the drawn lines of the houses' windows with an X-Acto knife. Fill in the designs using a fine-tip brush and black flat acrylic paint; let dry. Affix a battery-operated votive candle in the base of each pumpkin with adhesive putty.
Pumpkin With Drilled Shapes
We're over the moon for these dotted odes to country icons.
To make: Cut a hole in the bottom of a large pumpkin and scoop out pulp and seeds. Mark off a pattern with an erasable wax pencil, then use a medium drill bit to punch out a dotted outline of your image. (Get our stencils.) Leave approximately the same amount of space between each hole.
Skeleton Hand Jack-o'-Lantern Idea
These carvings look as if they're reaching from beyond the grave.
To make: Select a pair of pumpkins to form each arm-hand combo. Determine which gourd will serve as the arm (usually the taller one) and trim its stem so the other pumpkin can rest securely on top. Carve a hole in the bottoms of both, scoop out the pulp, and return the cut pieces. Print out our skeletal templates and resize on a copier, scaling the images to fit your pumpkins. Cut out stencils as directed on the templates and affix the arm stencil to the bottom pumpkin with masking tape. Trace on the design with a felt-tip pen. Repeat the process on the other pumpkin, using the hand template. Remove stencils, then carefully carve along the drawn lines with an X-Acto knife. Affix a battery-operated votive candle in the base of each pumpkin with adhesive putty.
Pumpkin Vampire Candles
Look no further for non-tacky Halloween party decor to dress up your fright night. These DIY vampire candles, complete with fangs and "blood," make for a spook-tacular holiday craft that put even Dracula to shame.
Get the tutorial at Freutcake.
Crescent Moon Pumpkin Design
Paul Lowe, a New York City stylist, found inspiration in a classic toy for his celestial creation: "I wanted to mimic the look of a Lite-Brite, so I punched holes to create a simple crescent moon—shaped image, then added a string of tiny bulbs to make it glow," he said.
Stylish Digits Pumpkin Carving
Give your gourd a functional edge by carving your street address in it. The pizza delivery person won't miss your house again! (At least not in the month of October.) Blogger Diane made this beauty with a foam pumpkin, but you could easily substitute the real thing.
Get the tutorial at In My Own Style.
Oak Tree Swirl Pumpkin
Employing linoleum-cutting tools to scrape the surface, rather than cutting all the way through with a knife, is not only easier to do, but when the pumpkin is illuminated, a subtle glow adds to the elegant artistry. Here, the flesh was scooped out from an opening cut in the bottom, then the motif was inscribed with a linoleum cutter. Be sure to thoroughly scrape and hollow the pumpkin flesh (1/4- to 1/2-inch deep) if you want to illuminate with a candle.
Carved Pumpkin Ice Bucket
This Halloween, use a gourd to chill your favorite vino. Lay a pumpkin on its side, cut out a large oval with a serrated knife, and use a paring knife to smooth the interior after scooping out its innards.
Get the tutorial at Everyday Dishes.
Thorny Vines Pumpkin Idea
For added elegance, pick your pumpkin's theme from a china pattern. The thorny vines on this antique transferware platter suggested the delicate design on this 'Blue Hubbard' pumpkin.
Halloween Pumpkin Mask Idea
It's Halloween—why not dress up your pumpkins, too?
Get the tutorial at Good Housekeeping.
We love classic jack-o'-lanterns, but there are so many other ways to decorate a pumpkin for fall. Just take these creative pumpkin carving ideas, for example. Follow these easy DIYs to bring your own designs to life.