With Our Custom Pumpkin Stencils, ‘Red’ Is the New Orange!

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Boo! Celebrating a Spooktacular Time of Year on the Hill

This season brings two additions to our library of carving designs: an homage to the Brain Collection and a toothy McGraw clockface

By Joe Wilensky

Each October, Cornellians helps alumni get into the Halloween spirit with original pumpkin-carving designs inspired by Big Red icons and traditions. From a snarling Touchdown entwined with a “C” to a bat-adorned “Big Red,” these stencils bring the spirit of the Hill to your seasonal décor.

This year, we again offer two designs—one more time-consuming than the other.

two carved pumpkins with other gourds displayed on outdoor steps
The carved gourds also look great in the daytime.

The simpler entry (though some of its finer details are a tad painstaking) is a whimsical brain-in-a-jar design that honors Uris Hall’s famed Wilder Brain Collection.

This year, we again offer two designs—one more time-consuming than the other.

The other, which is more intricate, evokes the delightfully grinning jack-o'-lantern overlay that appears on the four McGraw Tower clockfaces each spooky season, complete with delicately detailed Roman numerals.

To help ensure your results are gourd-tastic, our talented associate editor and carver-in-chief, Alexandra Bond ’12, again stars in a time-lapse video highlighting how she brings the designs to life.

Watch these pumpkins transform into Cornell-themed jack-o’-lanterns!

Additional insights on using the stencil to mark the pattern on the pumpkin can be found in our original instructional video—and last year's designs (the Touchdown paw slash and bat-addled "Big Red") are covered in our 2023 tutorial.

And be sure to peruse Alex's step-by-step guidelines below!

To download these designs and others from past years, visit Alumni Affairs’ pumpkin-carving stencils page—plus, check out their roundup of Halloween-themed fun!

Pumpkin Carving Tips

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• Choose a pumpkin that’s about the same overall shape as your stencil.

• Print out the stencil (at more than 100% if you have a large pumpkin).

• Carve a hole in the top of the pumpkin.

• Be sure to include a notch in the cut around the top, so you can easily tell which way it fits back in.

a stencil for carving a brain-in-a-jar design on a pumpkin is held up against a pumpkin
Placing the brain stencil.

• Scoop out the innards and scrape away some of the inside wall on the side on which you’ll be carving; this makes it much easier to cut through the wall later on.

• Optional: save the seeds to roast for a tasty snack!

• Tape the stencil onto the pumpkin.

a pumpkin in the process of being carved with one of the Cornell-themed designs
Carving the clockface's numerals.

• Transfer the pattern onto the pumpkin using a pointed tool to poke holes along the lines.

• Remove the paper (but keep it for reference as you carve).

• Using a small serrated cutting tool, start by carving from the center out.

a dog licks the top of a pumpkin that has been removed for carving
A furry friend can help with cleanup!

• Focus on the smaller detailed areas before moving onto the larger sections.

• Continue on with bigger cuts, cleaning up the edges as you go.

• For a cleaner look, neaten up edges by cutting at a slight inward angle.

• If anything goes wrong—don’t panic! You can use toothpicks to support any pumpkin pieces that have fallen off or that don’t sit exactly where you want them to.

• Illuminate your masterpiece by candle or electric light (rechargeable or battery powered), and enjoy!

(Photos and video by Joe Wilensky / Cornell University.)

Published October 16, 2024

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