Discover our pumpkin carving top tips and the best enchanting designs to choose from.

<p>Turn heads this Halloween with our step-by-step guide to carving some amazing Jack-o’-lanterns. For beginners, there's the Galaxy Glow which uses cookie cutters to create star and moon shapes all over your pumpkin, the Ghoulish Grin for those a little bit more confident with carving and the Beastly Bite for advanced pumpkin carvers.</p>
<a href="https://groceries.asda.com/dept/halloween/halloween-pumpkins-carving/1215684161159-1215685111355?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank"><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/241002-halloween-carving-kit_GL?scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></a>
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<h2>Get your pumpkin ready for carving</h2>
<p>Start by washing your pumpkin and select the best side to carve. Place a large mug on top and draw around it with a marker pen. Then using the carving saw tool from a <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/dept/halloween/halloween-pumpkins-carving/1215684161159-1215685111355?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Pumpkin Carving Kit</a>, cut around the circle and remove the lid. Use the scoop to remove the seeds, then scrape out as much flesh as possible until the pumpkin wall is an even thickness. The more flesh you remove, the easier it will be to carve your design through the outer wall. Now you're ready to pick out a design!</p>

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<h2>Beginner: Galaxy Glow</h2>
<center><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-number-1__square_GL?hei=400&wid=600&scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></center>
<p><strong>What you'll need</strong><br>• A pumpkin – we've got small, medium or large to choose from. <br>• Pumpkin Carving Kit, which includes a plastic scoop, carving saw and drill tool. <br>• Moon and star-shaped cookie cutters.</p>
<p><strong>Method</strong><br>1. First, prepare your pumpkin (see prep steps above). To make shapes in the pumpkin, push a cookie cutter – we used star and moon shapes through the pumpkin, push out the cut-out flesh then carefully remove the cutter. To protect from sharp edges, cover your hand with a tea towel when pushing out the cutter from the inside.<br>2. If you want, make small circular holes using the drill tool from the kit, or an electric drill*. Take care as bits of pumpkin will fly everywhere!<br>3. Scoop out any remaining flesh, place a <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/tealights-votives/george-home-led-tealights/1000005207126?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">tea light</a> inside and pop the lid on.</p>

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<h2>Intermediate: Ghoulish Grin</h2>
<center><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-carving-final-__square_GL?hei=400&wid=600&scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></center>
<p><strong>What you'll need</strong><br>• A pumpkin – we've got small, medium or large to choose from.<br>• <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/crafts-activity-books/george-home-deluxe-pumpkin-carving-kit/1000383233672?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Deluxe Pumpkin Carving Kit</a>.<br>• A pen.</p>
<p><strong>Method</strong><br>1. Prepare your pumpkin (see prep steps above) and put on a chopping board. Draw the design for the face on paper and cut out or you can scroll to the end of this article to print out one of our templates. Pin the shapes in place on the pumpkin and draw around them.<br>2. Using the carving saw from your <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/crafts-activity-books/george-home-deluxe-pumpkin-carving-kit/1000383233672?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Pumpkin Carving Kit</a>, carve around the outline of one eye. Cut around it a second time, cutting through the flesh, and then remove the eye piece – this may be easier to do in smaller sections. Repeat for the other eye, the nose and mouth.<br>3. Neaten the inside of the pumpkin by scooping a bit more flesh out. Add a candle and the lid to finish.</p>

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<h2>Advanced: Beastly Bite</h2>
<center><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-three__square_GL?hei=400&wid=600&scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></center>
<p><strong>What you'll need</strong><br>• A pumpkin – we've got small, medium or large to choose from.<br>• Cocktail sticks.<br>• A gourd, sweet potato, courgette or similar for the little animal.<br>• Pumpkin Carving Kit, which includes a plastic scoop, carving saw and drill tool.<br>• An electric drill and small wood drill bit, or a hammer and large nail (optional).<br>• A pen.</p>
<p><strong>Method</strong><br>1. Prepare your pumpkin and put on a chopping board. Draw the design for the face on paper and cut out or you can scroll to the end of this article to print out one of our templates. Pin the shapes in place and draw around them.<br>2. Starting with the eyes, use the carving saw from your Pumpkin Carving Kit to cut around the outline. Remove the skin but not the flesh. Carve to a depth of about 5mm.<br>3. Do the same for the mouth, carefully cutting around each individual tooth. Remove the skin and flesh between the teeth so you can see into the mouth. Now shape each tooth. If a tooth falls out, pin it back in place with a cocktail stick.<br>4. Using the drill tool from the kit, make the holes for the eyebrows and pupils.<br>5. Carve a hole to one side of the mouth to fit the gourd or vegetable you’re using for the little animal. Carve a mouth in the gourd and add stick-on eyes. Insert the animal inside the mouth.<br>6. Tidy up the inside of the pumpkin and any tatty edges, then add a candle inside and the place the lid on top.</p>
<p>*Take care when using an electric drill, making sure children are a safe distance out of arm's reach of the drill while it's in use.</p>

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<h2>Try something different</h2>
<p>If you want to try something a bit different this year for your doorstep decoration, why not <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/magic-your-pumpkin-into-a-mummy-this-halloween" target="_blank">magic your pumpkin into a mummy</a> this Halloween? Alternatively, if you're not one for all the mess take a look at our <a href="https://www.asda.com/good-living/article/no-carve-pumpkin-ideas-halloween" target="_blank">stylish no-carve pumpkin design ideas</a>.</p>
<center><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/mummy-pumpkin__hero_GL?scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></center>
<p><strong>What you'll need</strong><br>• A pumpkin – we've got small, medium or large to choose from. <br>• Pumpkin Carving Kit, which includes a plastic scoop and drill tool.<br>• Large knife.<br>• White spray paint.<br>• A pen.</p>
<p><strong>Method</strong><br>1. Hold the pumpkin firmly on its side and, using a very sharp, large knife or serrated bread knife, carefully cut a 2.5cm slice off the bottom. Then from the bottom scoop out the pulp until the pumpkin is hollow.<br>2. Set the pumpkin on its side on the tea towel and carefully cut into horizontal slices, each about 2.5cm thick. Depending on the size of your pumpkin, you will need between five and seven slices of equal thickness to create the strips of ‘bandage’ that make up the mummy’s face.<br>3. Stack the slices on top of each other, then take the pumpkin outside and set it down on sheets of newspaper. Cover the pumpkin with three or four light layers of matte-white water-based spray paint. Follow the instructions on the can carefully for an even covering.<br>4. Once all the sections are dry, stack up again. Rotate the slices separately in opposite directions to create an uneven look. Once you’re happy with it, mark the back of the slices in numerical order to help you reassemble later. <br>6. Put two liquorice allsorts between the second and third slices for eyes, and draw a semicircle above and below each one. Draw the outline of teeth on the second slice up.<br>7. Then take the pumpkin apart and cut out the teeth and eye sockets with a carving saw. Using the numbers on the back, reassemble the slices and pop in the ‘eyes’. Put a <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/product/pillars-tapers/george-home-led-small-pillar-candle/1000003249715?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">George Home LED Pillar Candle</a> inside the pumpkin for a ghoulish glow.</p>

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<h2>Use Our Templates:</h2>
<p>Simply click the template you want to use and then press the ctrl and P keys to select your print options. Once printed, cut out the design and pin it into place on your pumpkin as a guide.</p>
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<a href="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-template-1?scl=1" target="_blank"><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-template-1?scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></a>
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<a href="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-template-2?scl=1" target="_blank"><img src="https://ui3.assets-asda.com/dm/pumpkin-template-2?scl=1" alt="undefined" style="height: auto;width: auto"/></a>
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<center><h2>Shop The Essentials:</h2></center>
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<p>Feeling inspired to carve your pumpkin? Make sure you stock up on everything you need at <a href="https://groceries.asda.com/?utm_source=referral&utm_medium=article_how-to-carve-a-pumpkin&utm_campaign=Good-Living" target="_blank">Asda.com</a> or pop into <a href="https://storelocator.asda.com/" target="_blank">your local store</a>.</p>

The Best Pumpkin Carving Designs for Halloween

By Asda Good Living,3rd October 2024

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