There are so many unique ways tocustomize a pumpkindepending on your skill set and interests.

Grab your carving knife and get ready to have the most festive Halloween yet.

Classic Smiling Jack-o-Lantern

It wouldn’t be Halloween time without a classic jack-o-lantern.

diy hanging pumpkin planter

Club Crafted

The patterns you’ve got the option to choose from are endless!

This project is a great way to really make use of an entire pumpkin and not waste materials.

Of course, you could choose another famous figure or celeb to emulate, too.

Carving halloween pumpkin into jack-o-lantern, close up view

kobeza / Getty Images

Skeleton Pumpkin

Peter Krumhardt

This skeleton-looking pumpkin also doubles as a flower vase!

Pineapple Pumpkin

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Looking to switch things up a bit?

Carve a pineapple rather than a pumpkin for an unexpected twist on Halloween decor.

A group of pumpkins carved with a drill.

Crafty Nest

Its prickly skin does look sort of scary!

Pumpkin Eating a Pumpkin

Hanna Sillitoe

Eekthis pumpkin is acting like eating another one!

We love an idea like this one that is equal parts creative and functional.

owl pumpkin

@kysi_design/ Instagram

Outfit them with small plastic creatures to make them appear even more convincing.

it’s possible for you to also put seasonal blooms inside, such as colorful mums.

Use a marker to draw the outline of a house and then carve out individual windows for effect.

pumpkin face

@tamsin_makes/ Instagram

Then, paint or color in the remainder of the house for the result seen here.

Dog Face Pumpkin

Our Potluck Family

Dog lovers, this one is for you!

You could also carve out a favorite celebrity who your trick-or-treaters will instantly recognizethink: Taylor Swift!

jack skellington pumpkin with flowers

Peter Krumhardt

Disney lovers will go wild for this Mickey Mouse pumpkin that will add instant cheer to any stoop.

Shorter phrases with larger letters are of course easiest for beginners.

Even spelling out your name is a neat idea.

Pineapple Jack-o-Lantern

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Flower Vase Pumpkin

Here’s another example of a pumpkin vase that also features beautiful drilled detailing.

Moon Shaped Pumpkin

@zzzoya/ Instagram

How sweet is this small moon pumpkin?

Batty Pumpkin

Feeling batty?

eating pumpkin

Hanna Sillitoe

So is this pumpkin!

The design allows for a floating effect that looks super sophisticated.

Miss Piggy Pumpkin

@larablancarte/ Instagram

Who can resist Miss Piggy?

Pumpkins carved into house numbers

Susan McWhinney

With the help of permanent marker, you’re able to really bring anything to life.

You could also use this technique to showcase another hobbycarve a tennis racquet or hockey stick, for example.

Green Witch Pumpkin

Here’s another way to turn your pumpkin into a witch.

Fairy garden inspired carved pumpkin

Adam Albright

Pumpkin House

Finding Home Farms

Here’s an additional pumpkin house that couldn’t be cuter.

Shop your backyard as you decorate.

Use moss, pinecones, acorns, and more to bring this darling abode to life.

DIY hanging pumpkin planter

Club Crafted

Scary Face Pumpkin

This pumpkin may just make trick-or-treaters scream.

you’re able to make him look as intricate or simple as you’d like.

Some, like Michigan, are a bit easier to carve than others!

Haunted house pumpkin

Andy Lyons

Yawning Pumpkin

@susanolinsky/ Instagram

Tired of Halloween already?

So is this pumpkin.

Scary Cat Pumpkin

@hm_haelodesign/ Instagram

Don’t be a scaredy cat!

dog stencil carved pumpkin

Our Potluck Family

This sinister looking feline is ready to make your trick-or-treaters do a double take.

You could also choose a favorite song lyric to carve that only fellow fans will understand.

Carved Owl Pumpkin

Csaba Tokolyi / Getty Images

This own pumpkin couldn’t be cuter.

mickey mouse pumpkin

Happy Family Blog

Go on and spread the love!

carved in an artful font.

What more could you want?

pumpkin with phrase

Lilies and Loafers

Roasting s’mores in the backyard has never been more festive.

The warts then add eye-catching texture that will enhance the final product.

This duo couldn’t be cuter.

pumpkin vase

Crafty Nest

Mini Bat Pumpkin

@thelittlethings.shedoes/ Instagram

The more bats, the merrier!

Carve a few minis into your pumpkin to make it seem as they’re flying around all together.

Realistic Floral Pumpkin

River K Pumpkin Patch

These florals look pretty realistic, don’t you think?

moon pumpkin

@zzzoya/ Instagram

Create your own mini garden by carving flower shapes into your pumpkin.

it’s possible for you to go as complex as you’d like with the various designs and petals.

It will charm even the youngest of trick-or-treaters.

serving dish pumpkin

@feistyflavorscatering/ Instagram

Sunflower Pumpkin

@gilbertiesorganics/ Instagram

Missing your gorgeous summer garden?

It’s almost as good as the real thing!

These are easy to attach with just a bit of glue.

bat pumpkin

Lilies and Loafers

It would make for a great piece of decor to display at a themed party.

Braces Wearing Pumpkin

@hahabirddesign/ Instagram

Does someone in your home wear braces?

Or maybe you’re a dentist and are all about maintaining proper tooth care?

miss piggy pumpkin

@larablancarte/ Instagram

Either way, this braces-wearing pumpkin is sure to make others smile.

This BFF duo will add plenty of personality to your stoop.

Shop your costume bin in search of other accessories that will make your carved pumpkins really shine.

witch on broomstick pumpkin

@redhand/ Instagram

you’re free to still roast and enjoy them later on!

The designs here feature the euro, pound, and dollar as eyes with a traditional jack-o-lantern mouth.

Four-Eyed Pumpkin

Why stop at just two eyeballs when carving your pumpkin?

violin pumpkin

@faythsmusicstudio/ Instagram

For an extra sinister look, carve a number of different eyes looking in a variety of directions.

Goofy Pumpkin

Who can resist a pumpkin with a goofy face?

The large eyes will allow plenty of light to flicker through when you place a candle inside.

witch pumpkin

Hanna Sillitoe

Toothy Pumpkin

J. MacNeill-Traylor / Getty Images

This pumpkin sure knows how to smile with its teeth!

You could even go back and paint the teeth in the color of your choosing.

Guests will enjoy being able to help themselves to some of their favorite autumnal treats.

pumpkin house

Finding Home Farms

Many people will also carve a pumpkin to have it reflect their interests or hobbies.

Some people will use an ice cream scoop rather than a spoon for efficiency.

When Should You Carve Your Pumpkin?

carved name pumpkin

Exploring Domesticity

Generally, carved pumpkins will only last for three days to a week beforebeginning to rot.

What Should You Do With the Pumpkin Guts?

To scoop the seeds and insides out of a pumpkin, you will need a large metal spoon.

pumpkin with scary face

Lilies and Loafers

dinosaur pumpkin

@sk3tch_someways/ Instagram

michigan pumpkin

@natemartindiscgolf/ Instagram

yawning pumpkin

@susanolinsky/ Instagram

pumpkin fairy house

@fairytaleevolution/ Instagram

cat pumpkin

@hm_haelodesign/ Instagram

spider pumpkin

Martin Deja / Getty Images

owl pumpkin

Csaba Tökölyi / Getty Images

pumpkin with phrase

EyeWolf / Getty Images

ghost trick or treat pumpkin

Pete Ark / Getty Images

heart shaped pumpkin

Tetra Images / Getty Images

pumpkin with fangs

Anna Efetova / Getty Images

carved pumpkin with boo phrase

OsakaWayne Studios / Getty Images

jail cell pumpkin

Mrs Clooney / Getty Images

A Halloween cat jack-o-lantern.

The Spruce / David Beaulieu

Tombstone carved pumpkin

Sudan Ouyang / Unsplash

Fire pit carved pumpkin

Ulrike R Donohue / Unsplash

Watering can pouring water into pumpkin planter with red and yellow flowers

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

White pumpkins carved and decorated with sunflower seeds

Alexandra Grablewski

Pumpkins carved and dipped in gold paint

Ursula Carmona ofHome Made by Carmona

pumpkin with small bat carvings

@thelittlethings.shedoes/ Instagram

succulent pumpkin centerpieces

Lisa Hallett Taylor

diy pumpkin lanterns

Modern Glam

pumpkin with leaf cutouts

@kayneillans/ Instagram

Carved Pumpkin

Bouquets En Papier

DIY carved pumpkin

Made In A Day

floral carved pumpkin

The Magik Pumpkin

Carved flower pumpkin

River K Pumpkin Patch

turtle pumpkin carving

@isparklewithoutglitter/ Instagram

ghost carving on pumpkin

@dyang88/ Instagram

stars and moon on pumpkin

@bethmayne/ Instagram

last name carved in pumpkin

@_maryxjohnson/ Instagram

sunflower carved in pumpkin

@gilbertiesorganics/ Instagram

pumpkin with cat whiskers

@magicfrommn/ Instagram

elmo pumpkin

@angela.waldmann/ Instagram

crystal ball pumpkin

@sparkleandspell/ Instagram

pumpkin with braces

@hahabirddesign/ Instagram

pumpkin with ghost attached

@aomoy/ Instagram

fairy houses with leaves and twigs

@laurencarrollphotography/ Instagram

pumpkin with witch’s hat on top

Svitlana Romadina / Getty Images

pumpkin with smaller one inside

Itziar Aio / Getty Images

pumpkin spitting out seeds

Antonio M. Rosario / Getty Images

pumpkin used to house soup

Malcolm P Chapman / Getty Images

paw print carved into pumpkin

SolStock / Getty Images

carved pumpkins with money symbols

GSO Images / Getty Images

pumpkin with multiple eyes

Martin Deja / Getty Images

goofy halloween pumpkin

Svitlana Romadina / Getty Images

pumpkin with visible teeth

J. MacNeill-Traylor / Getty Images

pumpkin with decorative leaves on top

Brian Hagiwara / Getty Images

pumpkin with bat hanging upside down

Csaba Tökölyi / Getty Images

pumpkin carved with boo and filled with candy corn

Gaelle Beller Studio / Getty Images

pumpkin with crow

Melissa Ross / Getty Images