What better way to show your love for your feline friend this Halloween than by carving their likeness into a pumpkin? Here’s a step-by-step guide to carving a kitty jack-o-lantern that is sure to be the envy of all your cat-loving friends.
Step 1: Choose Your Pumpkin
The first step in carving your kitty jack-o’-lantern is to choose the perfect pumpkin. When selecting your pumpkin, look for one that is evenly shaped and without blemishes. This will make it easier to carve and will result in a neater final product.
Ideally, you want a pumpkin that is large enough to carve a good-sized kitty into, but not so large that it’s unwieldy. Smaller pumpkins are also fine, but they will require more delicate carving.
Download this stencil for free from PumpkinLady.com. You can also donate to their kitten rescue!
Step 2: Cut Open the Top of the Pumpkin
Once you’ve found the perfect pumpkin, you’ll first want to lay out some newspapers to contain the mess you will make when scooping out the seeds inside. Next, use a sharp knife to cut off the top. Be careful when cutting into the pumpkin, as the skin can be quite thick. Use a sharp knife to cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin, making sure that the hole is big enough to fit your hand through. You might want to trace the outline of the hole with a pen or marker before you start cutting.
You can download no less than 67 kitty jack-o-lantern stencils, for free, from ArtsyPrettyPlants.com
Step 3: Scoop Out the Innards
Now it’s time to scoop out all of the gooey insides of the pumpkin, otherwise your kitty jack-o’-lantern won’t look very good. A large spoon or an ice cream scoop works well for this task. Once you’ve removed all of the seeds and stringy bits, give the inside of the pumpkin a good rinse with water. This will help to remove any residual gunk and make carving easier.
There are lots of cat pumpkin stencils on Etsy! This one is $1.99 and comes from Kid’s Party Works
Step 4: Draw Your Design
Now it’s time to start thinking about your design. Draw your kitty face on the pumpkin. Use a pen or marker to draw a outline of your kitty face onto the front of the pumpkin. If you’re not confident in your freehand drawing skills, you can always print out a template and tape it onto the pumpkin first.
Use a black marker or pencil to draw your design onto the pumpkin. If you make a mistake or change your mind, simply wipe away the offending line and start again.
These stencils are from Joey Chung on Etsy. The one of right will be kind of tricky to carve!
Step 4b: Use A Stencil
If you’re not feeling particularly artistic, there are plenty of pre-made cat stencils available online or at your local craft store. Just find one that you like. Once you have your stencil chosen, simply print it out and tape it onto your pumpkin. Trace the lines of the stencil using your marker or pen. Then, using your sharp knife, carefully cut along the lines of the stencil. When you’re finished cutting, remove the stencil and voila! You’ve got yourself a kitty jack-o-lantern!
Step 5: Start Carving!
Once you’re happy with your design, it’s time to start carving! Using a sharp knife, carefully cut along the lines that you drew in Step 4. Remember to take your time and be careful not to cut yourself. If you want to get really creative, you can even carve multiple cats into your pumpkin.
Another great cat stencil from the Pumpkin Lady
6. Finishing Up
Finish up your carving and enjoy your handiwork! Once you’re finished carving, put a candle or a flashlight inside your pumpkin and enjoy your handiwork! Your kitty jack-o’-lantern is sure to be the hit of the neighborhood or of any Halloween party—just make sure you keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t catch on fire.
A simple cat jack-o-lantern with ears and feet. From LadyFaceBlog
There’s nothing better than getting into the Halloween spirit by carving a jack-o’-lantern—especially if that jack-o’-lantern has a cute kitty face! It’s a fun and festive way to show off your love of cats, and it’s sure to be a hit with all of your cat-loving friends! Follow these simple steps and you’ll have your very own kitty jack-o’-lantern in no time flat. Happy Halloween!
A front porch with a couple of black cat themed carved pumpkins, a couple of spray painted black cardboard black cat silhouettes, maybe a tea light to make the cutouts make shadows on the wall.. that’s an inexpensive but fabulous decoration..