Halloween Pumpkin: It’s the perfect Halloween activity for showing off your creativity and getting a little messy (plus, you can whip up some delicious pepita recipes). Probably tired of the triangle nose and toothy grin by now. Luckily, there are many creative options to inspire your creativity. There is bound to be a jack-o-lantern on this list that speaks to you, whether it’s one that looks like it’s eating another pumpkin or a design inspired by your favorite movies like Harry Potter and Star Wars. If carving seems too complicated for your knife skills, try one of these painted pumpkin ideas instead. Happy Halloween!
Including pet Halloween costumes and Echo Dot stands, Baby Yoda has been a popular inspiration for a number of items, so why not dress your pumpkin up in his likeness? Or you could purchase this foam one on Etsy if you’re not up for DIYing.
2A Thorn in Its Side
COUNTRY LIVING
When you’ve got themed dishes to match, a spiky jack-o’-lantern can make a great centerpiece or party platter accent.
Instead of carving this intricate evil tree trunk design, all you have to do is place a printout of it over a giant oval carved into your pumpkin. Light it up with a battery-powered candle inside, and you’ll be set.
4Tiny and Colorful
FAMILY CHIC
Mini pumpkins dyed with food coloring are adorable when arranged on a cake plate.
Carve a spooky scene by making a topsy-turvy haunted house surrounded by an eerie tree, flying bats, and a mini graveyard.
6Tinker Bell
INSTRUCTABLES
Not interested in displaying a super spooky pumpkin this year? Make the cutest, magical one by carving Tinker Bell and her pixie dust.
7Pumpkin Vase
Take a cue from The Crafted Life to create a chic pumpkin centerpiece. You don’t have to stick to classic Halloween kitsch to carve a pumpkin that still feels festive! Choose an unconventional color for a fun surprise.
8Witch Hat
SLEEPYHOLLOWPUMPKINS/ETSY
Why not mash two classic Halloween symbols–a pumpkin and witch hat–with this fairly simple design? FYI, you can buy a printable PDF to help you out if you don’t want to freehand it.
9Hungry Pumpkin
T L / EYEEMGETTY IMAGES
This two-in-one pumpkin is scary, creative, and funny all at once—the Halloween trifecta. The tricky part (you know, beyond having A+ carving skills) is cutting the mouth just the right size to fit a smaller gourd. You can help hold it in place with toothpicks.
10Stencil Carving
YOU HOUSE LOVE
Young House Love created this elaborate pumpkin by printing out an intricate damask pattern and then tracing it. Stencils will help you make those touch precision cuts. Talk about impressive.
11Trick or Treat Pumpkin
PETE ARKGETTY IMAGES
Use your words! But this crafty pumpkin requires some scary good skills, so don’t say we didn’t warn you. Again, a stencil will definitely come in handy.
12The Death Star
FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS/F. TRONCHIN
That’s no moon! In a galaxy far, far away, there are some seriously cool pumpkins. This one is perfect for advanced pumpkin carvers and Star Wars fans.
13Polka Dots
WHIPPERBERRY
Channel Tim Burton while giving a pop-art edge to your typical orange gourd. You could also just paint on the polka dots if you don’t want to get your hands too dirty.
You’re never too old to be a Disney fan, and we’re downright obsessed with this Frozen take on Halloween.
19Cheery Tiers
WHIMSEYBOX
The secret to this triple-decker gourd: toothpicks and colored beads.
20Pumpkins on Pumpkins
FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS/TIM JONES
Instead of one large jack-o’-lantern, craft a giant skull from a bunch of mini ones. It’s a tedious task but worth the time and effort!
21‘Harry Potter’
Harry Potter fans need to consider making a pumpkin of their favorite character. Add a corresponding scarf made of paint (or a real one!) to take it to the next level.
22‘Game of Thrones’
FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS/RICHIE S
Artists will take a liking to this Game of Thrones pumpkin carving design featuring Tyrion Lannister and one of his famous quotes.
23Racoon
VECTORDESIGNSCANADA/ETSY
As creatures of the night go, cats and bats tend to dominate the conversation. Why not go the unexpected route with a Halloween pumpkin carving dedicated to raccoons? This one puts on a mean face that’ll spook any passerby.
24‘Hocus Pocus’
Just don’t light a black flame candle inside this one, and you’re good.
Showcase your love of tacos, and specifically Taco Bell, with this pumpkin carving design.
35Jar of Fireflies
JENNIFER CAUSEY
Summer may be over, but you can still catch lightning bugs. Etch out a Mason jar and attach LED lights inside and out. Even better, use the blinking variety, and they’ll look like the real thing.
Scraping off just the surface saves a ton of time when carving a pumpkin. It also allows you to get more creative with your designs without risking ruining the whole thing.