by Amber Benge

Created on: October 22, 2008

Carving a pumpkin has been a long-standing Halloween tradition for thousands of families. Many people have stuck to the same traditional jack-o-lantern for years. You know the kind I'm talking about triangle eyes and nose and a laughing, toothy grin. Well, today's pumpkin carvers are branching out with all kinds of ornate designs. People are carving everything from pop culture icons to Christian symbols on their pumpkins. Pumpkin is the new canvas for autumn-inspired artist, but anybody can carve these intricate designs. You just need a little design inspiration! That is where a carving template will come in handy. These nifty little templates can be attached right to your pumpkin, showing you how to carve the design of your choice. Just use a tiny carving tool (available for two dollars at Walmart) and cut along the lines. It's the easiest way to carve a pumpkin with extraordinary results! There is no artistic skill needed when you use a good template.

You can buy these templates anywhere, but with the help of the internet, you can find some awesome pumpkin carving templates for free. Check out these sites to score your free pumpkin carving template today.

1. http://www.pumpkinlady.com/pattern.htm

The Pumpkin Lady sells books full of carving templates on her personal website. But if you scroll to the bottom of the page, you can download her templates from the past few years for free!

2. www.jack-o-lantern.com

This website will give you a pumpkin pattern that suits your creative side. You will find templates for famous faces, emoticons, and even video games.

3. http://www.dotcomwomen.com/crafts/halloween/pumpkin- carving-patterns.shtml

If you are looking for a wicked haunted house or graveyard scene, stop by this web site. Once again, all the templates are free for downloading.

4. http://www.carvingpumpkins.com/patterns.html

With dozens of options ranging from John Kennedy to Ozzy Osbourne, you will find a cool face for any pumpkin here.

5. http://www.celebrating-halloween.com/pumpkincarving/ index.shtml

This website gives you some more original options like the Statue of Liberty or a tropical flamingo. For some unconventional fun, stop by and download some unique pumpkin carving templates.

Once you have chosen your template, carve away! You could even get your neighbors involved in a little pumpkin carving contest. Enjoy these free carving patterns and templates and have a safe and spooky Halloween!

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