60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (2024)

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (1)

They may start promoting fall activities and putting the Halloween decorations on display as early as August, but with everything else the autumn brings, the true spooky season has a way of sneaking up on you.

So what do you do when you realize Halloween is right around the corner, you don't have a costume and your front porch is devoid of expertly carved pumpkins? Do you have to abandon ship and settle for an array of uncarved pumpkins plucked from the bin at the supermarket? That's an option (no judgment!). But as long as you have about 30 minutes to spare, there are plenty of easy pumpkin carving ideas you can pull off in a flash.

Have a couple of cookie cutters in your drawer? Those make excellent "hole punches" for instant cool designs—especially if you have bats, ghosts, and other Halloween shapes at your disposal. Even a little paint can take you most of the way, no artistic ability needed. For example, paint a pumpkin with a variety of mismatched shapes in different colors, then freehand a few additional cutouts, and you have yourself a Terrazzo pumpkin. And if you'd like to try something a little more advanced, you could even use tools like a power drill, a lino cutter, or a Dremel to make all kinds of perfectly uniform scores.

These unique (and cute!) ideas, which range from sweet and funny (hello, Disney characters!) to evil and downright scary, are simple enough for beginners or kids and quick enough to squeeze into even the busiest schedule.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

1

Terrazzo

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (2)

Paint will take you most of the way here. Then, all you have to do is cut out a few angular shapes of varying sizes to let the glowing light shine through.

SHOP PAINT

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

2

Terrarium

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (3)

For a trendy yet Halloween-friendly centerpiece, carve a big hole into the front of your pumpkin, paint the edges, then fill it with cascading greenery.

SHOP PAINT

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

3

Table Numbers

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (4)

If you're hosting a special event—a fall wedding or a large-scale harvest dinner, for example—carve numbers into small pumpkins. The result is a piece of decor that doubles as a guide to place settings and a centerpiece.

SHOP NUMBER STENCILS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

4

Drilled Seahorse

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (5)

Don't live adjacent to the seashore? You can recreate this cute look in any shape you want. Simply trace the shape, then use a drill to make the dotted outline and paint the whole thing to cover any pen or pencil markings.

SHOP PAINT

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

"Boo" Thought Bubble

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (6)

A Mylar stencil makes it easy to precisely cut one of the most ubiquitous Halloween exclamations. Of course, you can opt for any short phrase or design your heart desires.

SHOP STENCIL

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

6

Planter

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (7)

Make your jack-0'-lantern right at home in your garden by filling it with soil and your favorite plants. It's a great option for front porch steps, too.

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

7

Unicorn

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (8)

Keep the carving (and resulting mess) to a minimum. To create this adorable unicorn, just cut out the eyes; paint the rest.

SHOP FAUX FLOWERS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

8

Lantern

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (9)

For a fall harvest party or an autumn wedding, carve pumpkins into lanterns that serve as the perfect centerpieces for your tables. These also look beautiful lining your walkway, lighting the way for all of those trick-or-treaters.

SHOP CARVING KIT

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

9

Galaxy Pumpkin

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (10)

Determined to create a pumpkin that's out of this world? A little paint, a drill, and holiday lights are all you need to bring the galaxy to life. (Pro tip: Use a sponge for a more realistic night sky effect.)

SHOP HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

10

Shadow Box Pumpkins

To create Halloween decor for your mantle, carve a big circle out of the front of a faux pumpkin, then assemble a spooky scene out of cardstock. Or save time by adding store-bought props instead.

SHOP CARDSTOCK

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

11

Polka Dots

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (12)

To create this fun and colorful pumpkin, use a drill bit to cut clean holes and then add stickers for extra flair.

SHOP STICKERS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

12

Stenciled

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (13)

Swap scary faces for an artful tile stencil typically reserved for DIY projects. The result: a more sophisticated design.

SHOP STENCILS

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

13

Zombies

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (14)

For a more eerie spin on the traditional golden glow of a candle, pop colored glow sticks into your jack-o-lantern.

SHOP GLOW STICKS

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

14

Skeleton Marquee

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (15)

A pre-fabricated marquee sign makes quick work of this seemingly complex design. Simply cut out a space fit for the sign, then pop it in. (Pro tip: Make sure your sign is battery-operated, so you don't need to plug it in.)

SHOP MARQUEE

Get the tutorial.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

15

Black Cats

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (16)

If you're not much of a carver, you'll appreciate this DIY. It only requires a few simple cuts to make the facial features—the rest of the work is in painting and assembly.

SHOP PAINT

Get the tutorial,

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

16

Glow-in-the-Dark Teeth

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (17)

Only have the skills (or the time) to carve a simple face? Make your jack-o'-lantern look much more complex with a set of glow-in-the-dark teeth. They pop right in, like toothpicks.

SHOP TEETH

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

17

Traditional Skeleton

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (18)

Come dusk, this traditional-looking skeleton offers a cool glow, thanks to plenty of negative space.

SHOP CARVING KNIFE

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

18

Ghost Emoji

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (19)

Carve one of the most Halloween-friendly emojis (or any number of other keyboard favorites!) with a simple-to-use stencil.

SHOP STENCIL

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

19

Mickey Mouse Face

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (20)

To recreate the beloved Disney character, simply carve out his face, then add two clementines or two smaller pumpkins for ears. There's no glue required to affix them—just two toothpicks or bamboo skewers cut to size.

SHOP PUMPKIN CARVING KIT

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

20

Scary Scene

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (21)

Carve out a big square, set a spooky scene, then add toothpicks to create an even eerier vibe reminiscent of a prison cell.

SHOP TOY SPIDERS

60 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do (2024)

FAQs

What can I carve instead of a pumpkin? ›

Aside from peppers, Murray says gourds and squash vegetables are other great alternatives to classic pumpkins. Choose ones with smooth fronts to carve your spooky faces into.

What is the easiest tool to carve a pumpkin? ›

A Serrated Vegetable Knife

The best tool for cutting the eyes, mouth, and nose out of your jack-o'-lantern is something that's probably already sitting in your kitchen: “I use a fruit and vegetable knife with a serrated edge,” says McMahon, who notes that his chosen knife is eight inches long.

How to make an Elvis pumpkin? ›

Elvis Pumpkin

Cut and glue the craft fur on top of the pumpkin and paint the stem black. Pins can be used to hold up the sunglasses and Elvis pumpkin can be balanced on a roll of ductape covered in glitter. Also apply the glitter to cardstock, glue to the pumpkin and flare out to look like a collar.

Can you carve grey pumpkins? ›

It might be a hard one to carve because the skin is a bit thick. It's got a mild, sweet, nutty flavor so you can cook with it for sure – one of several grey pumpkins we spotted at the farm stand.

What fruit can you carve? ›

Fruit carving is the art of carving fruit, a very common technique in Europe and Asian countries, and particularly popular in Thailand, China and Japan. There are many fruits that can be used in this process; the most popular one that artists use are watermelons, apples, strawberries, pineapples, and cantaloupes.

Can you carve fake pumpkins? ›

There are two kinds of faux pumpkins I have come across, the generic craft pumpkin and the Funkin. The craft pumpkins look like an idealized pumpkin. They are a little thin for carving but will work.

What is a Cinderella pumpkin? ›

Cinderella pumpkins are a type of winter squash with a mild, sweet flavor and moist texture that makes them great for soups, sauces, purees, and curries. They can be roasted, baked and steamed, and used for ornamental purposes.

What is a fairytale pumpkin? ›

Fairytale pumpkins are a type of winter squash with a sweet, buttery flavor that makes them great for pumpkin pies. They can be roasted, baked, sautéed, and simmered, as well as eaten raw.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Trent Wehner

Last Updated:

Views: 6151

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (56 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Trent Wehner

Birthday: 1993-03-14

Address: 872 Kevin Squares, New Codyville, AK 01785-0416

Phone: +18698800304764

Job: Senior Farming Developer

Hobby: Paintball, Calligraphy, Hunting, Flying disc, Lapidary, Rafting, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Trent Wehner, I am a talented, brainy, zealous, light, funny, gleaming, attractive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.