Is there anything more mid-century modern than atomic cats and Sputniks? Create your retro Halloween with these fun and easy pumpkin carving stencils.
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Mod Cat Pumpkin Carving Stencil
I had to have a mod cat pumpkin, of course. I used the general shapes from my mod kitty painting tutorial to create this pumpkin stencil.
If you haven’t used a pumpkin stencil before, it’s simple. Just tape the pattern to the pumpkin, creasing it along the edges to help shape it flat against the rounded pumpkin.
Then poke holes along the pattern with a poking tool from a carving tool set, remove the pattern and follow your dotted lines to carve out the pieces. On my patterns, the gray sections are the areas you’re carving out.
For the mod cat pumpkin, I recommend carving the eyes first so you have a solid surface (before the head is carved out and less stable). Then carve the piece above the head, then along each side on the bottom.
That’s it, so easy!
Sputnik Pumpkin Carving Stencil
Every atomic ranch needs Sputniks. This pumpkin gives your Halloween front porch major mid-century modern style with a Sputnik, starbursts and polka dots.
You can rotate the stencil to be tall or wide. I chose wide for this pumpkin. And you could even cut out the different shapes and rearrange them to customize the look.
Space Age Polka Dot Jack-O’-Lantern
This one’s not a stencil but a super easy pumpkin to create. Grab an electric drill and carefully drill various sizes of holes randomly spaced around your pumpkin.
I used a half-inch drill bit and a quarter-inch drill bit to create this look. And it was fun! This is the quickest way to carve a pumpkin, and with the cutest results.
The little polka dots look like space age stars, the perfect partner to your Sputnik pumpkin. And you could combine the two looks by adding more polka dots to the Sputnik pattern. Mix and match!
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Retro Pumpkin Carving Stencils
OMG, I AM DYING right now. THANK YOU SO MUCH for having a mod cat stencil. Now I have to go find a pumpkin and try this out. I love it! What a great idea!
Thanks, Christine! I think I’ll have to make this an annual thing…now I’m thinking of what stencils I need to create for next year. 😀
You are so talented! Love this!! So fun..totally puts one in the fall/Halloween mood!!
Aww, thanks Judy. Yes I’m totally ready for all Halloween all month long! Woohoo! 😀
These are sooo cool!!! I seriously need to find some pumpkins now! And a drill!😉 Okay, not a drill. I do not trust myself with a drill.
I love that you made us stencils to use! You’re the coolest. Thank you!
Haha it is easy to get carried away with the drill because it’s too much fun drilling pumpkins! But there are so many cool, intricate patterns I’ve seen people do with the drill. The mod cat and Sputniks are good for classic carving, though, and I think they’ll be cute at your place!