Halloween City Hub

Knife to gourd

Pumpkin Carving

From cheerful triangles to museum-grade haunted scenes — pick your weapon.

The Classic Jack
Tutorial 01Beginner45 min

The Classic Jack

  1. 01Pick a medium pumpkin with a sturdy stem and flat base.
  2. 02Cut the lid at a 45° angle around the stem so it can't fall in.
  3. 03Scoop out seeds and pulp — thin the carving wall to about 1 inch.
  4. 04Sketch triangle eyes, triangle nose, and toothy grin in marker.
  5. 05Use a serrated carving saw — slow, gentle strokes — and pop pieces out from inside.
  6. 06Drop in a flameless candle. Replace lid. Behold.
Midnight Cat & Moon
Tutorial 02Intermediate1.5 hrs

Midnight Cat & Moon

  1. 01Print a cat silhouette template, tape to the pumpkin face, smooth flat.
  2. 02Trace the outline by poking holes through the paper with a pin.
  3. 03Remove the template and connect the dots with a fine marker.
  4. 04Carve the moon crescent first — it's the largest cut.
  5. 05Use a small detail saw for the cat outline, ears, and tail curl.
  6. 06Light from inside with a warm LED for the strongest silhouette.
Haunted Manor Scene
Tutorial 03Expert3+ hrs

Haunted Manor Scene

  1. 01Choose a tall, smooth pumpkin — surface real estate is everything.
  2. 02Sketch the scene: house silhouette, windows, gravestones, twisted branches.
  3. 03Use a power carving tool or linoleum cutter to skin areas you want to glow.
  4. 04Carve windows fully through. Leave skinned-only sections for soft amber light.
  5. 05Add fine details — bats, smoke, broken fences — with a craft knife.
  6. 06Brush with petroleum jelly to seal moisture and keep details crisp for days.