Spooky season is coming up and it’s time to carve pumpkins ready for Halloween. To help with the creative process Volkswagen is offering pumpkin carving stencils that are inspired by some of their classic models. This includes the VW Beetle, the ID.4 electric car and the ID. Buzz electric camper.
Whether you’re looking for a fun Halloween activity for yourself, you and your friends, or some quality family time, these Volkswagen-inspired pumpkin carving stencils won’t disappoint.
Download Templates
Volkswagen’s Carving Tips Before You Start
1. Use painter’s tape to hold the stencil in place and a washable marker to trace the outlines.
2. For both stencils, carve the cut-out sections (those that are black on the PDF) first. Once you’ve carved those pieces, leave them in place; this helps maintain pumpkin strength while you scrape away other sections.
3. Scraped-away but not completely carved-through sections are tricky. Start by using a craft utility knife to lightly trace the stencil outline. Then use a small sanding or linoleum carving tool to remove the topmost layers of the real or fake pumpkins.
What You’ll Need
1. At least 1 Pumpkin (the bigger, the better)
2. Tape
3. Washable marker, pins or awl
4. Sharp knife
5. Pumpkin-scraper tool or metal spoon
6. Craft utility knife
7. Small carving tool, such as a pumpkin-carving tool, a linoleum-carving tool (for a real pumpkin), or a small sanding tool (for a fake pumpkin)
Bring Your Volkswagen Pumpkin to Life
1. Cut a hole in the top or bottom of the pumpkin and clean out the inside, scraping the flesh thoroughly.
2. Using the print size commands or a copier, size the stencil based on the size of the pumpkin. Print and transfer the stencil to the pumpkin. You can do this in one of two ways: Cut out the stencil pieces and tape them to the pumpkin. Trace around the stencil pieces using a washable marker. Tape the entire stencil sheet to the pumpkin. Use a pin or awl to poke through the stencil at the edges, tracing the lines where you will need to cut or carve.
3. Using a sharp knife or a pumpkin-carving tool, cut through, front to back, the two holes in each of the “headlights.” Leave these sections in for now to give you a good anchor point for the rest of the shape.
4. Using a craft utility knife, carefully trace the edges of the circle sections of the logo and the outlines of the horizontal grille section. Do not cut all the way through; simply cut through the surface. These are the sections in which you will scrape off the outer edge of the pumpkin to create depth and shadow. Using a craft utility knife to outline the scraped areas helps keep the area from splintering. Use a carving tool to “scrape” the outer skin of the pumpkin inside the lines you just cut. 5. Remove the previously carved-out carved pieces; place a battery-operated candle inside the pumpkin.