78 Cool Pumpkin Carving Ideas to Try This Halloween

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

Here's a painting and carving combination where you cut out windows and doors for candle light to shine through. It's that easy!

Get the tutorial at A Beautiful Mess »

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

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.

Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda »

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.

SHOP WATER TUBES

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.

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.

Get the tutorial at Woman's Day »

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.

Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built »

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).

SHOP REINDEER MOSS

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.