Halloween is right around the corner, and if you’re like many of us, you might be feeling the pressure to carve some pumpkins to set the mood for a spooktacular evening. But fear not, because you can create fantastic pumpkin designs in no time, even if you’re a last-minute Halloween enthusiast. Check out our easy and quick pumpkin design ideas to make your Halloween extra special.

Illuminate your carved pumpkins with battery-operated LED candles or fairy lights for an eerily boo-tiful display. With our collection of last-minute pumpkin design ideas that we have gathered for you below, you can easily create a spooky atmosphere for Halloween night. Happy Halloween and enjoy your pumpkin decorating!

Tell Us: Which one of these last-minute pumpkin design ideas do you find most inspiring? Let us know in the Comments below!

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin Face.

This simple pumpkin idea can be made using a rubber mallet and cookie cutters to get a similar effect. This cool design features a crescent moon and star to create expressive yet easy eye shapes. A triangular nose adds a classic touch. TIP: Cut the opening in the top at a 45-degree angle to create stability for the lid. If you cut straight down, the lid will fall into the hollowed-out pumpkin. (via Southern Living)

Puking Pumpkins.

These puking pumpkins will be sure to be a favorite amongst your neighbors and your visiting trick-or-treaters. Simply carve out the pumpkins giving them large mouths and put their guts all over your front porch or stairs. (via Pinterest, Cafe Mom, @some_like_it_splott, @emma_loves_retro)

3. Spooky Ghost Face Pumpkin.

Carve a spooky ghost face into your pumpkin to give your trick-or-treaters a ghastly fright. Be sure to add an LED candle inside to cast a frightful glow. TIP: Trace your pattern with a marker before cutting out the design. You can also search for stencils of ghostly patterns and tape the stencil to your pumpkin. Use the tip of a nail and poke small holes to trace the lines of the design. After removing the stencil you can use a knife or pumpkin carving kit to cut between the holes to carve out your design. (via Pinterest)

4. Mummy Pumpkin.

Wrap your pumpkin with strips of white gauze or cheesecloth, leaving small gaps for the eyes to peek through. Your pumpkin will transform into a mummy in no time. If you are using cheesecloth, cut it into strips, approximately 1 inch wide. Use a glue gun to secure the strips to the backside of the pumpkin. (via Netmums)

5. Monster Googly-Eyed Pumpkins.

Carve out some goofy grins to your scary jack-o’-lanterns and attach googly eyes to give them a quirky look. For the first image, hot glue plastic Easter egg halves to the stems. Cut the pupils out of black and white craft paper and hot glue them into place. TIP: Simplify this look by adding googly-eyed stickers onto your pumpkins like @teachtalkinspire and @_sarah_martin did for a last-minute look for your Halloween porch. Add some LED candles around the pumpkins for a spooky glow. (via Better Homes and Gardens)

6. Pumpkin Stencils.

Find printable pumpkin stencils online and use them as a guide for carving intricate designs. There are stencils for all skill levels. Simply resize the pattern in order to fit your pumpkin, print it, and tape the stencil to your pumpkin. Carve. Or, you can cut the pattern and trace it onto your pumpkin and then carve out your design. Get printable stencils from here. (via @hgtv)

7.  Great Balls Of Fire Pumpkins.

Create a spooky mood and illuminate your walkway by wrapping your gourds in white outdoor holiday lights. You will need pumpkins in various sizes, 50-light clear or white string lights (one string per pumpkin and if you are using a series of pumpkins, you will want to use strings that plug into each other). You will also need T-pins (or nails) to help affix the lights to the pumpkins. An outdoor extension cord may also be helpful if you do not have an outlet nearby. Get the full how-to tutorial at the provided link. (via Woman’s Day)

8. Doily Spiderweb Pumpkin

Skip the classic jack-o’lantern carving and transform a doily into a spider web. Begin by printing out the spiderweb template and position it over the doily. Use a craft knife to cut along the template lines. Once done, apply the doily to the pumpkin using decoupage glue, making small notches around the edges to ensure it sits smoothly. For the finishing touch, use a glue dot (a sticky adhesive glue gun alternative) to affix a plastic spider to the web. (via Antonis Achilleos for Woman’s Day)

9. Scary Jack-O’Lantern.

This pumpkin will be sure to scare your trick-or-treaters this year. It features carved eyes, a nose, and a mouth along with fake prop blood that can be found at any Halloween Supercenter or Party City. Add a knife to the side of the pumpkin head for the finishing spooky touch. (via My Cozy Fall Blog)

10. Spider Web Pumpkin.

Create an eerie look with your pumpkins using twisted twine and some black plastic faux spiders. This Halloween pumpkin project is simple to make for the ultimate last-minute idea. Materials: Straight pins or hot glue gun and glue sticks, cotton cooking twine, pumpkins, scissors, and plastic spiders. Get the full tutorial at the provided link. (via Miki Duisterhof for Woman’s Day)

11. Pumpkin Gobbling A Pumpkin. 

Above: Use a melon baller to create the face of this small acorn squash.

Here are several spooktacular ideas for creating a large scary pumpkin eating a small pumpkin Jack O’Lantern — from more complex for seasoned pro pumpkin carvers to more simple (create a large mouth and insert the baby pumpkin inside). To create, select a large pumpkin that’s three times the size of your smaller pumpkin or acorn squash. Trace the area with a washable marker where the small pumpkin will go to make sure it fits (if in doubt, make the mouth a little smaller, you can always trim the teeth to make the opening a little wider). You can use printable templates online to trace out your pumpkin face. To carve, use a knife or pumpkin carver. (via Pinterest, Pinterest, Woman’s Day, Pinterest, Flickr, Baking Bites, C.R.A.F.T., Quotes Gram, Pinterest)

12. Razor Sharp Teeth Pumpkin.

This classic scary pumpkin carving features razor-sharp teeth that will be sure to spook your trick-or-treaters! Get the complete how-to tutorial at the provided link. (via A Pretty Life in the Suburbs)

13. Spooky Scream Face Pumpkin.

This scream face is a classic Halloween look that is simple to carve and will be super spooky when the sun goes down. Be sure to get the full DIY tutorial at the provided link. (via A Pretty Life in the Suburbs)

14. Halloween Hellraiser Pumpkin.

The carved jack-o’-lantern is super spooky with nails popping out of it. All you need is a carving knife, a bunch of rusty nails, a hammer, and an LED candle to DIY this scary pumpkin face. The second pumpkin not only uses nails but toothpicks for the teeth. (via Home For The Harvest, Pinterest)

15. Jack-O’-Lantern With Toothpick Teeth.

If you are looking for a simple pumpkin carving idea with a little something extra, try adding toothpicks for the teeth of a large, gaping mouth. Insert an LED candle into the pumpkin to cast a ghostly glow. (via Home of the Harvest)

Pumpkin Carving Ideas How-To Video