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Halloween crafts

How to Make Star Wars-Themed Jack-O’-Lanterns

Use an official Star Wars stencil for a straightforward carved pumpkin, or try painted Thrawn details and shallow-carved BB-8 patterns.

By ThatPainter Team 4 min read
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To make a Star Wars-themed jack-o’-lantern, print a character or vehicle stencil from StarWars.com’s stencil collection, transfer its outline onto a hollow pumpkin, carve the design, and add a battery-powered light. For a more painterly project, the site also outlines a Thrawn design using acrylic paint; its BB-8 gallery shows shallow-carving and colored-material ideas.

Choose a design and approach

The official stencil collection includes porgs, Chewbacca, Thrawn, Kylo Ren, a Stormtrooper, Darth Vader, a TIE fighter, an X-wing, Darth Maul, and BB-8. Its basic method is to print, trace, and carve. The options below differ in how much cutting and painting they involve; these are qualitative descriptions of the published steps, not tested difficulty ratings or completion times.

Approach Best suited to Materials described What to consider
Printed character or vehicle stencil A recognizable design carved through the pumpkin Pumpkin, printed stencil, pumpkin-carving tools; transfer materials depend on the method Small interior details need careful carving.
Single-symbol stencil A graphic design such as the Andor rebellion symbol Pumpkin, stencil, scissors, tape, pushpin, carving tools, and an LED or other battery-powered light The official Andor tutorial describes a simple symbol project, but does not give a time or skill rating.
Painted character A decorative Thrawn interpretation Pumpkin, carving kit or hobby knife, optional clear gesso, acrylic paints, and battery-powered votive lights This adds stencil scaling, carving, optional surface preparation, several paint colors, and more steps.
Layered or shallow-carved detail BB-8-style surface patterns and illuminated thin areas Small pumpkin cutter or saw, or a clay-shaping tool; colored tissue paper behind cutouts is optional The BB-8 gallery shows examples rather than a controlled tutorial; thin pumpkin walls require careful handling.

How to transfer and carve a stencil

The official Andor tutorial uses a pushpin to transfer the outline as closely spaced dots. Keep the pumpkin stable on a suitable work surface, and choose a stencil size that fits its curved face.

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  1. Prepare the pumpkin. Hollow it with pumpkin-carving tools and scrape out enough of the inner wall to make room for the design and light.
  2. Print and size the stencil. Print the design and scale it to the pumpkin. The Andor tutorial advises scaling down the print for a smaller pumpkin.
  3. Attach the paper. Use scissors to trim the stencil as needed, then tape it in place so it follows the pumpkin’s curve.
  4. Transfer the outline. Prick through the stencil along the design with a pushpin. The Andor tutorial recommends spacing the dots no more than one centimeter apart.
  5. Remove the stencil and carve. Follow the transferred outline with pumpkin-carving tools, taking care around small shapes and interior details.
  6. Add a light. The Andor instructions name battery-powered LED lights as an option. A battery-powered light avoids placing an open flame inside the pumpkin.

The official stencil instructions and the Andor tutorial both say the activities should be done with adult supervision.

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  • Safe and Durable: Tools have thick plastic handles for a secure grip and easy maneuvering.
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Make a painted Thrawn pumpkin

For a design that combines carving with painted details, StarWars.com’s Thrawn tutorial suggests choosing a taller-than-wide pumpkin as a possible match for the character’s features. It names light blue, navy, red, and pink acrylic paints, plus clear gesso as an optional surface preparation.

  1. Hollow the pumpkin and thin its inner wall.
  2. Scale and tape the stencil to the pumpkin, then trace and carve the design.
  3. If desired, apply clear gesso and allow it to dry before painting.
  4. Paint the details using reference pages, then illuminate the pumpkin with red battery-powered votive lights, as the tutorial specifies.

This project calls for pumpkin-carving tools; the tutorial also names a sharp hobby knife and a scraping tool. Match the tool to the work, and leave knife use to an adult. The article’s activities should be done with adult supervision.

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Use shallow carving for BB-8 details

For ideas beyond full cut-through shapes, a StarWars.com fan gallery describes two BB-8 approaches. One maker used a small pumpkin cutter and saw to make circular openings, then placed orange tissue paper inside so the openings showed color. Another used a clay-shaping tool to remove surface layers without cutting through the exterior, leaving a thin wall for light to glow through. These are examples from the gallery, not step-by-step tested instructions; work gradually when thinning the pumpkin so you do not cut through unintentionally.

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What supplies do you need?

A basic stencil project needs a pumpkin, a printed stencil, a way to attach and transfer the design, carving tools, and a light. StarWars.com specifically names pumpkin-carving tools in its project instructions, and a pumpkin-carving kit is a practical way to gather tools for the task; no particular brand is required. Battery-powered LED tea lights or votives suit the lighting options described in the tutorials.

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  • Large Handled Tools: Designed for safe and precise carving with large, comfortable handles. Easy to handle while working with Pumpkins
  • Removable Handle Scoop: Scoop with removable handle is perfect for cleaning out smaller pumpkins. Make your scoop shorter to reach in narrow pumpkins.
  • New Patterns Annually: Offers a range of new Pumpkin carving patterns each year to inspire your creativity and make the best Halloween Jack-o-lantern
  • Safe for All Ages: Ensures a safe carving experience, making it suitable for the entire family.

Only the painted Thrawn version needs the extra paint supplies: light blue, navy, red, and pink acrylic paint, with clear gesso optional. Prices, current inventory, and brand performance are not established here, so choose supplies based on the design and the instructions for the specific product you buy.

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