50 Unique Pumpkin Carving Ideas That Even Beginners Can Do

Have grand dreams of creating the perfect Halloween playlist, hosting a scary movie marathon, and making carved pumpkins that rival the Mona Lisa? Sounds lovely—until the spookiest day of the year inevitably creeps up on you.

So what do you do when you realize Halloween is right around the corner, you don't have a costume yet, let alone holiday decorations. Do you have to abandon ship and settle for an array of uncarved pumpkins on your front porch? Absolutely not.

As long as you have about a half an hour to spare, there are plenty of easy pumpkin carving ideas you can pull off faster than you can say All Hallow's Eve. These unique ideas, which range from sweet and funny faces (just look at Mickey!) to evil ones and downright scary designs, are simple enough for beginners or kids, thanks to a few stencil options, and are quick enough to squeeze into even the busiest schedule.