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55 Non-Basic Pumpkin Carving Ideas You Need This Halloween

These tricked-out jack-o'-lanterns are totally worth the effort.

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pumpkin carving
Getty Images

One look at these jack-o'-lanterns and you'll be convinced: This is the year to let your creativity shine and carve up something cool. Even if it doesn't turn out as polished as the ones in these photos, it's all in good fun. Plus, the less perfect they are, the spookier they look. More into eating pumpkins than carving them? Try all of our favorite pumpkin recipes ranging from roasted pumpkin seeds and pumpkin bread to rich and creamy pumpkin vodka sauce and penne.

1

Polka Dots

sarah jessica parker polka dot pumpkin
Instagram/sarahjessicaparker

Polka dots never go out of style, and will look so cute with a candle inside.

2

Tongue Out

01 november 2019, thuringia, volkenroda a pumpkin with a funny face carved into it adorns a house entrance according to the weather forecasts, the coming days will also be cloudy and rainy photo frank maydpazb photo by frank maypicture alliance via getty images
picture alliance

Use the carved-out mouth piece as an extra prop to create a perfect tongue.

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3

Turkey

two dogs with turkey pumpkin
Elizabeth W. Kearley//Getty Images

With this look, you can keep your pumpkins out until Thanksgiving with no shame.

4

Monochrome

true thompson painting pumpkin
Instagram/khloekardashian

Take some inspo from celeb kid True Thompson and go for a more abstract vibe.

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5

Haunted House

carved pumpkin with haunted house
Brandon Goldman//Getty Images

Whether referring to a specific movie's haunted house, or an original building dreamt on your own, a haunted house pumpkin will look great on your doorstep.

6

Pumpkin With A Brain

a halloween pumpkin with a brain
Photography by Keith Getter (all rights reserved)//Getty Images

You can make a simple face carving look complex by nesting a smaller pumpkin inside to look like an exposed brain. Cool and gross!

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7

NSFW Messages

aubrey plaza pumpkins
Instagram/plazadeaubrey

Frick anyone who doesn't love Halloween like you!

8

Googly Eyes

pumpkins with eyes for halloween
Flavia Morlachetti//Getty Images

Googly eyes take two seconds to apply, require no messy construction, and look so cute.

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9

Mike Wazowski Pumpkin

halloween pumpkin
Luis Diaz Devesa//Getty Images

Put a green gourd to use resembling everyone's favorite Pixar monster.

10

Homebody Pumpkin

jennifer garner quarantine pumpkin
Instagram/jennifer.garner

A pumpkin that's home alone is scary alright! And totally adorable.

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11

Painted Ghost

today season 67
NBC//Getty Images

Carve your pumpkin upside down and paint it white for a new take on the ghost design.

12

Fall Leaves

fall pumpkin
Brandon Goldman//Getty Images

Nothing scary here! Make a gorge decoration by carving fall leaves.

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13

Minion

pumpkins painted in the likeness of the minions pictured at thomas haenraets, a pumpkin producer, in hurth, germany, 17 october 2017 whether for cooking, for carving or for painting, the pumpkin business is booming photo rolf vennenbernddpa photo by rolf vennenberndpicture alliance via getty images
picture alliance//Getty Images

Don't feel like carving? You can paint a cute character instead!

14

Vote

across the us voters flock to the polls on election day
Stephen Maturen//Getty Images

Remind passersby to exercise their civic duty!

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15

Scarecrow

halloween house decorations
Mitch Diamond//Getty Images

This life-sized pumpkin scarecrow puts your old clothes to good use. Tip: Fill it with fallen leaves for yard clean-up with a purpose.

16

Owl

today season 67
NBC//Getty Images

With pumpkin seeds as eye decorations, there's no need to ask who has the cutest pumpkin of them all.

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17

Trick or Treat

trick or treat
Pete Ark//Getty Images

Trick or treating is the second best part of Halloween...carving pumpkins is number one, duh.

18

Mini Cottage

halloween set up on a wooden dining table
Stefania Pelfini, La Waziya Photography//Getty Images

Nothing creepy in sight—just an adorable little pumpkin house that can be used as home decor.

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19

Masked Up Pumpkin

halloween during the covid19 pandemic
NurPhoto//Getty Images

Listen, you've got to nod to it.

20

Bulletin Letters

reese witherspoon pumpkin
Instagram/reesewitherspoon

Have one of those bulletin boards lying around your house? Use the extra letters in your pumpkin for easy decorating like Reese.

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