National Pumpkin Day: 20 Creepy Pumpkin Carvings to Give You Halloween Inspiration

From metro.co.uk

Halloween is less than a week away and the spooky traditions have already begun.

Dressing up in creative costumes and stuffing your face with trick or treat chocolate is all part of the fun but we can all agree that pumpkin carving is clearly the best part of Halloween.

Sure, it’s the taking part that counts, but for some crafters, pumpkin carving is like an Olympic competition – a contest to see who can carve the most imaginative, Instagrammable pumpkin on the street.

National Pumpkin Day (October 26) is the creative precursor to Halloween and it’s the perfect opportunity to test out your slicing skills by prepping a world-class jack-o’-lantern.

Need some inspiration? Here are 20 creepy pumpkin carvings to try this Halloween.

1. There’s no Disney villain more suited to Halloween than Cruella

#waltdisney #cruelladevil #101dalmations #furcoat #dalmatian #dalmatianworld #disneyland #disneyworld #halloween #pumpkincarving #pumpkin #pumpkinspice #instagood #instamood #like #love #first #creepy #october #fridaythe13th #costume #cosplay #evil #disney

A post shared by Marcus Ortega (@marxartdesign) on Oct 4, 2017 at 11:07pm PDT

2. The Cheshire Cat is a nice twist on the classic toothy grin pumpkin.

#cheshirecat #pumpkincarving #pumpkinlantern #pumpkinfun

A post shared by Shireen Rawlins (@sem_artgroup) on Oct 4, 2017 at 3:40pm PDT

3. Clowns always make an appearance on All Hallows’ Eve but this year It’s all about Pennywise

“We all float down here” #it#pennywise #halloween #pumpkins #pumpkinpatch#pumpkincarving#pumpkin #pumpkinspice#october #fall#horror#halloweenwars

A post shared by Paul Dever (@paulydever) on Oct 4, 2017 at 10:43am PDT

4. Not kidding

?⛵️??

A post shared by Elizabeth ?October Always (@octoberalways) on Oct 4, 2017 at 5:18pm PDT

5. Freak the trick or treaters out with a Walking Dead creation

It’s that time of year again when my amazing pumpkin carver husband will be carving some amazing new designs to WOW the hundreds of tick or treaters we get. Can’t wait to see what he does this year . #pumpkincarving #pumpkin #thewalkingdead #halloween #masterpumpkincarver #besthusbandever #bestfriend #walkingdeadamc #walkingdeadseason1 #kgwnews #kgwpumpkinoftheday

A post shared by Kim Audova (@kimaudova) on Oct 4, 2017 at 9:04am PDT

6. They’re here

It’s hee-eere… (October, that is!) Jack O’Lantern art and carving has no limits, check out this Poltergeist pumpkin done for Louisville’s #jackolanternspectacular – – – – #jackolanterns #jackolantern #pumpkin #pumpkincarving #Halloween #pumpkinart #poltergeist #carolann #details #halloweenart #horrormovie #thepoltergeist #pumpkinartist #ymeartwork

A post shared by Yvette Michelle Elam (@ymeartwork) on Oct 3, 2017 at 9:24pm PDT

7. Sticking with the iconic movie theme, you could try your hand at slicing Slimer into your pumpkin

The only thing I enjoy about Halloween is pumpkin carving! Can’t wait to do some new ones over the coming weeks!? . . . . . . . #pumpkin #pumpkincarving #jackolantern #halloween #autumn #ghostbusters #dobby #snowwhite #witch #slimer #poisonapple

A post shared by art by Ró (@roisin_costelloe_art) on Oct 4, 2017 at 11:55pm PDT

8. This clown carving is very American Horror Story: Cult

#rayvillafane #happyhalloween #pumkincarving #clown #pumpkincontest #halloween

A post shared by Randy G. (@designdredge) on Oct 31, 2016 at 4:23pm PDT

9. Why go with one mediocre idea when you can go with three awesome ones?

All of this year’s pumpkins ? ? #pumpkin #dragon #witch #bat #Halloween #gotpumpkin #dragonpumpkin #witchpumpkin #witchpumpkin #spooky #scary

A post shared by Beau (@beau_lalaa) on Oct 31, 2016 at 11:02am PDT

10. Offer your Trick or Treaters some brains when they come knocking

Another look at my brain #pumpkin #sculpture. Surprisingly glows well in the dark. Looks great next to the super cute vampire pumpkin made by @helenasikkphotography #pumpkincarving #pumpkinhead #pumpkinsculpture #pumpkinsculpting #horrorpumpkin #halloween #trickortreat #jackolantern #horror

A post shared by Paul While (@paul_while_sfx) on Nov 1, 2016 at 12:08pm PDT

11. This Chucky jack-o’-lantern is equally cool and creepy

Äntligen fick jag gjort årets pumpa! ?

A post shared by Jessica Mithanja Ekström (@mithanja) on Oct 28, 2014 at 2:37pm PDT

12. Or you could get super creative with other props and make a skeleton jail

Our 1st jack-o’lantern of the year #pumpkins #pumpkincarving #halloween #jackolantern #skeleton #jail

A post shared by Karmen Sasser (@eyecandybykarm) on Oct 3, 2017 at 11:55am PDT

13. Pumpkins can actually be really threatening on their own

Let’s put a smile on that face #halloween #halloween2017 #pumpkin #carving #pumpkincarving #scary #frightnight

A post shared by Benoxic Pumpkins (@benoxic_pumpkins) on Oct 3, 2017 at 8:53am PDT

14. Whoever carved this Game of Thrones Night King inspired pumpkin deserves a medal

Someone carved the Night King into a Halloween pumpkin. I do not have a fucking ounce of pumpkin carving skills to pay the bills so this stuff always blows my mind. Only regret is that he should be glowing blue, not red. #halloween2017#pumpkin#pumpkincarving#nightking#got#gameofthrones#pumpkincarvingart#pumpkincarvingatitsfinest

A post shared by KEEKSTAR (@keeksmcbeeks) on Oct 3, 2017 at 7:38am PDT

15. A spooky skull is sure to give the kids nightmares

A post shared by Grace (@queen_stark_wayne) on Oct 28, 2016 at 8:31pm PDT

16. You shall not pass. A warning for tricksters on Halloween

Repost from @theoneringnet this is beautiful ???YOU SHALL NOT PASS WITHOUT APPRECIATING THIS WORK OF PUMPKIN ? ART ???#Lotr #lordoftherings #balrog #gandalf #youshallnotpass #jackolantern #pumpkin #pumpkincarving

A post shared by Antonia ?Oakenshield (@mistletoeandthorin2017) on Oct 3, 2017 at 4:33am PDT

17. Haunt anyone who visits your home this Hallows’ Eve with a Grim Stitch Factory inspired Scarecrow Mask pumpkin

First pumpkin carving of October!! Scarecrow head inspired by Grim Stitch Factory masks. Yes, it’s all pumpkin! Tune in tonight at 10pm on Food Network to watch me and my team battle on Halloween Wars Hayride of Horror!! #foodnetwork #halloweenwarshayrideofhorror #halloweenwars #thisishalloween #pumpkin #pumpkincarving #pumpkinsculpting #foodart #pumpkinmadness #foodnetworkstars #grimstitchfactory

A post shared by Monique Hawk (@thehawkgirl) on Oct 2, 2017 at 10:01pm PDT

18. Now this is inventive. Hideous, but inventive.

I love October! #pumpkincarving

A post shared by Ivy Dickinson (@hockeychic518) on Oct 2, 2017 at 6:10am PDT

19. The House of Mouse or House of Horrors?

Nearly #halloween, time for #pumpkin ideas! I have carved many “Evil Mickey’s” over the years. If you’d like a tutorial, PM me and I’ll send you the link. #pumpkins #pumpkinideas #mickeymouse #disney #disneyhalloween #carving #halloweenpumpkin #pumpkincarving

A post shared by JB (@miss_speedyrider) on Oct 25, 2016 at 9:50am PDT

20. Or just keep things retro with a wicked witch

Happy halloween! #? #witchy #witch #witchcraft #witchpumpkin #pumpkincarving #halloween #halloweenshinanigans #halloweencrafts #halloweendecor #halloweentradition #happyhalloween

A post shared by Amber (@geek_chic_queen) on Oct 30, 2016 at 8:10pm PDT