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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.)

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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.

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

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

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

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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.)

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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.

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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.

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

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

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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.

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

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