Written by Celebrates Ireland

Halloween 2025 - 10 Realistic Pumpkin Carving Face Ideas for

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  • 4 days ago
  • Art and Crafts

Nothing says Halloween 2025 in Ireland like a glowing pumpkin on your doorstep! 🍂 Whether you’re planning a spooky night in, a local party, or a fun family craft afternoon, carving pumpkins is the perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

Here are 10 creative pumpkin carving face ideas — each with a short description and easy cutting guide to help you create your own realistic, glowing masterpiece. 🕯️

1. The Classic Jack-O’-Lantern

A traditional carved pumpkin with triangle eyes and a toothy grin glowing warmly on a doorstep surrounded by autumn leaves. Halloween 2025

Description:
The traditional Jack-O’-Lantern never goes out of style. It’s simple, cheerful, and instantly brings that warm Halloween feeling to your doorstep.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw triangle eyes and a wide smile with a few missing teeth.
  2. Cut the top off the pumpkin and scoop out the seeds.
  3. Use a small serrated knife for control while cutting the face.
  4. Place a candle or LED light inside for that golden glow.

💡 Tip: Lightly scrape the inside wall behind the face to make the glow brighter.

2. The Evil Grin

A large pumpkin carved with sharp teeth and slanted eyes, glowing fiercely in an Irish garden at dusk.Halloween 2025

Description:
Want to scare the neighbours? This design has sharp, jagged teeth and slanted eyes for a mischievous, menacing grin.

How to Cut:

  1. Sketch slanted triangle eyes and a long, curved mouth with uneven teeth.
  2. Use a fine carving tool or a precision knife for the small edges.
  3. Keep the teeth slightly uneven — imperfection makes it creepier!

💡 Tip: Add red or orange glow sticks inside for a fiery effect.

3. The Goofy Smile

A cheerful pumpkin with big round eyes and a goofy smile, lit from inside, sitting on a kitchen counter.

Description:
A family favourite! This one is friendly, funny, and great for kids to help design.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw large round eyes and an exaggerated, curved mouth.
  2. Carve slowly to keep the round edges smooth.
  3. Pop in a flickering LED for that cartoon-like look.

💡 Tip: Add eyebrows for extra character — use pumpkin skin cut-outs attached with toothpicks.

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4. The Screaming Pumpkin

A tall pumpkin carved with a wide open mouth and round eyes, glowing brightly on a foggy outdoor path.

Description:
This one looks like it just saw a ghost! Great for dramatic Halloween displays or garden corners.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw a large oval mouth and two wide, round eyes.
  2. Carve deeply to give the mouth a hollow “screaming” effect.
  3. Smooth out the edges to make the expression pop.

💡 Tip: Use a small pumpkin inside its mouth to look like it’s “eating” another!


5. The Skeleton Face

A skull-inspired pumpkin carving with hollow eyes and a stitched mouth, candlelight shining through thinly cut details.

Description:
Creepy yet stylish — the skeleton face gives a spooky skull look that glows beautifully in the dark.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw large eye sockets, a triangle nose, and a stitched mouth line.
  2. Use a small knife for thin “stitch” details on the mouth.
  3. Scrape inside lightly behind thin cuts for glowing effect.

💡 Tip: This design works best on a medium or tall pumpkin.


6. The Heart-Eyes Pumpkin

A cute pumpkin with heart-shaped eyes and a smiling mouth, glowing softly on a windowsill during Halloween night

Description:
For those who love a cute twist! This pumpkin has heart-shaped eyes and a small smile — adorable and cheerful.

How to Cut:

  1. Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter as a stencil.
  2. Gently hammer it into the pumpkin to start your shape.
  3. Cut out the rest with a small knife and add a curved mouth.

💡 Tip: Perfect for romantic Halloween decor or couples’ nights.


7. The Ghost Face

A carved pumpkin featuring small ghost shapes that glow through the surface, placed in a misty garden setting.

Description:
A haunting yet minimalist look — carved ghost shapes instead of a face for a mysterious glow.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw small ghost outlines randomly across the pumpkin.
  2. Cut them carefully to keep their shapes crisp.
  3. Place a candle inside so the ghosts project shadows on walls.

💡 Tip: Use different depth levels when carving to create 3D glowing ghosts.


8. The Witch Pumpkin

A pumpkin with a witch face carving, complete with a crooked smile and pointed nose, wearing a small black hat.

Description:
This one’s full of personality — a crooked smile, a pointy nose, and eerie eyes for a witchy vibe.

How to Cut:

  1. Draw a side-profile face with a hooked nose.
  2. Use a thin knife to carve detailed facial lines.
  3. Place a small witch hat on top for finishing touch.

💡 Tip: Paint the hat black and add a purple ribbon for extra Halloween flair.


9. The Bat Pumpkin

A pumpkin carved with flying bat silhouettes, glowing from inside on a wooden barrel surrounded by autumn leaves.

Description:
Turn your pumpkin into a scene of flying bats! Subtle, creative, and stunning when lit up.

How to Cut:

  1. Print or draw simple bat silhouettes in different sizes.
  2. Tape them onto your pumpkin and trace around with a marker.
  3. Cut carefully — the bats look best when they’re thin and sharp.

💡 Tip: Add small holes around the bats to create a glowing night-sky effect.

10. The Sleepy Moon Pumpkin

A pumpkin carved with a crescent moon face and closed eyes, softly glowing on a windowsill with fall leaves nearby.

Description:
For a softer, magical Halloween vibe, try carving a sleepy moon face into your pumpkin. It’s unique, elegant, and gives off a peaceful glow — perfect for those who prefer charm over chills. 🌙

How to Cut:

  1. Lightly sketch a crescent moon shape on one side of the pumpkin.
  2. Inside the crescent, draw a closed eye, small nose, and a calm smile — like a sleeping face.
  3. Use a fine carving tool or craft knife to cut out the facial features gently.
  4. Scrape the inner wall behind the crescent thin, so the light glows softly through.

💡 Tip: Place your pumpkin near a window or porch railing to let the gentle moonlight-like glow show off your handiwork.

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