• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About

Boulder Locavore logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ร—
    Home ยป Recipes ยป Holiday ยป Halloween ยป 11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas

    LAST UPDATED: August 25, 2022 โ€ข FIRST PUBLISHED: October 6, 2015 By Toni Dash 26 Comments

    11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas photo collage

    Pumpkin carving ideas are so much better than when we were kids. These 11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas will make your house the best Halloween stop this year!

    11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas photo collage
    WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?
    Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox (and more recipes every week)!
    Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
    Loading

    11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas photo collage

    Now that October has arrived, I’m finding myself sort of obsessed with Halloween.

    I can’t wait to make a Tootsie Pop Trick or Treat wreath for the door.

    We use it for treats on Halloween night as well, having little ghouls pull a pop, which they love not realizing the wreath is more than mere décor.

    I’m thinking up Halloween food and drink recipes and am excited to pull our storage bins down to spookify our house and porch.

    These 11 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas will certainly take your Halloween game up a notch!

    We love going to a traditional pumpkin farm in October to get pumpkins for carving as well as to cook from scratch.

    About four years ago I discovered a sweet farm that has a pumpkin patch and is completely noncommercial.

    Pumpkins of every variety are grouped waiting for anxious Halloween decorators to swoop them up and apply their best pumpking carving ideas.

    The different shapes inspire ideas but nothing like this list of cool pumpkin carving ideas!

    Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas

    Despite my holiday fervor, I do get into a bit of a pumpkin carving rut. I’m of the old school triangle-eyes-round-mouth jack-o-lantern styling, partially because of my limited artistic skill in the great orange orb arena.

    Over the last few years I’ve seen an incredible odyssey of pumpkin carving prowess online, far exceeding my own.

    There are a few approaches however that have caught my eye which turn basic pumpkin carving ideas into an eye-catching spectacle.

    I wanted to share some fantastic examples to perhaps prompt you out of your pumpkin carving box this Halloween!

    Links to DIY tutorials included for most.

    Pumpkin Carving Ideas: Pumpkins with Teeth

    Other than two large front teeth, I’ve never carved a toothy Jack-o-Lantern. I can’t take my eyes off these. From jovial whimsical teeth to razor-sharp the-things-nightmares-are-made-of teeth, these pumpkin carving ideas knock it out of the park.

    Pumpkins with Vampire Teeth

    Vampire Teeth Pumpkins
    Source: MarthaStewart.com

    Pumpkins with Toothpick Teeth

    Toothpick Teeth Pumpkin
    Source: DIYNetwork.com

    Pumpkins with Marshmallow Teeth

    Marshmallow Teeth Pumpkin
    Source: CraftyMoods.com

    And pumpkins hoping for BETTER teeth, Pumpkins with Braces

    Carved Pumpkin with Braces
    Source: Behance.net

    Funny Pumpkin Carving Ideas: Vomiting Pumpkins

    Vomiting pumpkins have been all the rage over the past few years. How is it a squash spewing seeds can evoke the gag reflex? I find them as repulsive as I do funny.

    Pumpkins Vomiting Seeds (I saw one image with the pumpkin vomiting seeds onto the top of a pumpkin pie served at a party….)

    Vomiting Drunk Pumpkin Witch
    Photo Source: EllenTV.com

    Pumpkins Vomiting Guacamole to decorate your Halloween table (and one next to it looking aghast)

    Pumpkin Vomiting Guacamole
    Source: ShugarySweets.com

    Scary Pumpkin Carving Ideas: Cannibal Pumpkins

    There are gory pumpkins too (hard to imagine a pumpkin being that, but they are).

    This Pumpkin Devouring a Bloody Leg, which has been viral on the internet, originates as an entry to a pumpkin carving contest for This Old House in 2010.

    There is no tutorial but I think it would be pretty easy to create. Not sure who you’ll get to volunteer their leg however.

    Pumpkin Devouring Bloody Leg
    Source: ThisOldHouse.com

    I’m fascinated by Cannibal Pumpkins; you know, pumpkins eating other pumpkins?

    Cannibal Pumpkin
    Source: Instagram

    Another Pumpkin-Eats-Pumpkin idea I love is this large pumpkin savoring a mini carved pumpkin on its grotesquely large tongue.

    HOW TO CARVE

    Unable to find original carving details, I believe the tongue is a piece of another pumpkin with the outer skin removed with a bit of carving to round the edges.

    The rounded side facing down.

    I love the idea of using colorful ghords as eyes and horns.

    Dragon Ghord Pumpkin with Big Tongue
    Source: Pinterest

    Cool Pumpkin Carving Ideas

    I spent an hour online trying to track down the DIY instructions of this White Skull Pumpkin inside a Carved Pumpkin with no luck.

    HOW TO CARVE

    I actually do not think the instructions are posted online.

    My guess is that the outer pumpkin was carved, cut in half down the front (and back) of the carved face, with another white carved pumpkin inserted inside.

    The outer pumpkin is positioned to allow the white pumpkin to peek out.

    White Skull inside Carved Pumpkin

    Lastly this simply carved Smoking Jack-o-Lantern with dry ice fog coming out of its mouth is perfect for an eerie porch decoration!

    Smoking Jack-o-Lantern

    Using Dry Ice for Pumpkin Carving Ideas

    TIPS on Using DRY ICE:

    Many grocery stores carry dry ice in a special cooler unaccessible to the public (King Soopers is one) call ahead and if they don’t have it inquire about other stores locally who might (yours won’t be their first call).

    WHAT TO BRING When Buying Dry Ice:

    • Dry ice begins to evaporate as soon as it leaves the cooler. It will be wrapped in paper and plastic but can BURN you.
    • Bring a hard sided cooler, an old towel and gloves. Do not handle the dry ice without gloves.
    • Wrap the package in the towel and place it in the cooler. This will slow the evaporation.
    • It’s best to buy the dry ice as close to when it will be used as possible. If left in a cooler overnight it will evaporate fully.

    Getting the Dry Ice to Smoke:

    Dry ice ‘smokes’ when put into liquid. Note: because it can burn people, though it’s a cool punch option, be sure to not allow it to get into any servings. For a pumpkin carving ideas:

    • With the dry ice wrapped in the towel, use a hammer to break it apart.
    • Place a small container of water into the pumpkin with a small piece of dry ice.

    If these pumpin carving ideas weren’t enough, while I was searching for fun pumpkin carving ideas I ran into a series of ‘pumpkins giving birth’ online.

    Though the graphic nature of squash birthing squash is too much for my holiday sensibilities, it does give a nudge that my old school carvings probably could be boosted with a bit more creativity!

    Best Tools for Pumpkin Carving

    Not only are pumpkin carving ideas better, but the tools are too.

    We all remember that knarly long unsharp kitchen knife experience of the knife getting caught midway and wondering if we’d take off our own arm while carving (hey, there’s another pumpkin carving idea instead of the leg in the jack-o-lantern’s mouth).

    These tools will let your pumpkin carving ideas come to life much more easily and with precision.

    Keyhole Saw: forget the cute pumpkin carving tool sets sold in grocery stores. This bad boy will have you carving like a champ. That toothy grin? They will actually look like teeth. Not for kids!

    Scraper: who has spent hours trying to scrape the good out of the pumpkin with a regular large spoon? Raising my hand….Forget it. This serrated scraper makes quick work of the job. If you have a power drill this pumpkin gutter also does the trick. The added benefit? It cleans out winter squash you plan to cook too!

    A Power Drill: Perfect for drilling holes.

    Dremel Pumpkin Carving Kit: this dremel comes with loads of ideas from stenciling a pumpkin to removing the top layer of skin (like the the pumpkin with the big tongue). So much easier than doing it manually.

    Chisels: they allow sculpting different features onto the pumpkin or creating an effect by thining the pumpkin without peircing through it.

    LED lights with remote: instead of relighting votive candles all night to keep your spooky creating alive, use LED lights instead . No fire hazard, no wind issues and they last a long time.

    PRO Carving Tip

    If you must use a candle, cut a circle out of the bottom of the pumpkin to place the candle underneath it instead of removing the top.

    The candle can sit on the flat ground and you can lift the pumpkin off instead of reaching into the pumpkin, risking burning yourself (hard to light the candle too) or stablizing the candle on the uneven pumpkin surface.

    More You’ll Love

    • Roasted Pumpkin Seeds + VIDEO: The Best Method Ever!
    • How to Make Pumpkin Puree: an Easy Fall Recipe + VIDEO

    If you enjoyed this Pumpkin Carving Ideas guide please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK , TWITTER , INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, travel and what I’m up to!

    « Spiced Apple Cider Whisky Sour
    Double Dipped S’Mores Apples on a Stick »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Aimee @ ShugarySweets says

      October 13, 2015 at 1:10 pm

      Oh my gosh some of these are so great!!! Thanks for including me Toni ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        October 13, 2015 at 4:32 pm

        You are so welcome! I love your vomiting tablescape with the shocked pumpkin looking on!

        Reply
    2. Shannon Gurnee says

      October 11, 2015 at 9:34 pm

      These are some really great ideas for pumpkin carving! Thanks so much for sharing these ideas!

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        October 12, 2015 at 6:59 am

        Sure! I’m realizing our household needs to start thinking about what we are going to do this year!

        Reply
    3. maria s. says

      October 07, 2015 at 9:22 pm

      Omg, these are all amazing! I am so bad at pumpkin carving. I try my best every year but they still don’t look nearly as good as those!

      Reply
    4. Rachelle says

      October 07, 2015 at 12:38 pm

      What cool ideas! I am a big pumpkin carver and I’m always looking for new ideas!

      Reply
    5. Christie says

      October 07, 2015 at 10:59 am

      These are such clever ideas! I always have the hardest time carving our pumpkin.

      Reply
    6. Debbie Denny says

      October 07, 2015 at 10:43 am

      I am not exactly a pro at carving pumpkins. I may have to attempt a couple of these tho. So cute

      Reply
    7. Kristi says

      October 07, 2015 at 10:00 am

      Love those ideas… I think my favorite is the one with the Braces on the teeth. I like the seeds but dislike the carving:)

      Reply
    8. Crystal says

      October 06, 2015 at 10:45 pm

      Ha! The pumpkin with braces is killing me! I need to make that for my niece that just had hers put on.

      Reply
    9. Ora Lee Gurr says

      October 06, 2015 at 9:29 pm

      I like the pumpkin with the braces. There’s just something fun about carving a pumpkin, even with circles and triangles.

      Reply
    10. Chasing Joy says

      October 06, 2015 at 9:22 pm

      My favorite is the pumpkin with braces. Never seen that before. The vomiting pumpkins are kind of gross.

      Reply
      • Toni Dash says

        October 06, 2015 at 9:41 pm

        Me either and this one just makes me smile because it looks so happy!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Picture of Toni

    Welcome! Iโ€™m Toni Dash. Iโ€™m a Certified Nutrition Coach and the professional writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavoreยฎ. Iโ€™m so glad you are here!

    More about me โ†’

    Featured on....

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Grilling Recipes

    • Ultimate Burger Grill Guide title photo with burgers on a charcoal grill Ultimate Burger Grill Guide: How to Grill the Perfect Burger
    • steak on grill with flames How to Grill Steak Perfectly: Everything You Need to Grill Like a Pro
    • grilled porterhouse steak title Perfect Porterhouse Steak on the Grill
    • Grilled Kabob Recipes on grate (titled image) Grilled Kabob Recipes: 20 Must Make Recipes for Summer
    • bruschetta chicken title image Bruschetta Chicken recipe โ€“ Baked, Grilled or Stove Top
    • Chicken Shish Kabobs title Easy Grilled Chicken Shish Kabobs

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Ultimate Burger Grill Guide title photo with burgers on a charcoal grill Ultimate Burger Grill Guide: How to Grill the Perfect Burger
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Sparkling Cranberry Vodka Punch Recipe
    • homemade ketchup title image The Best Homemade Ketchup โ€“ Made with Fresh Tomatoes!
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright ยฉ 2010-2025 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.