Spooky projects, proven designs

Carve Halloween decorations worth bringing back every year.

Start with a real community project for the porch, yard, or party table. Copy the design into Easel, change the details, and make a decoration that fits your material and machine. Creating an Easel account is free. No credit card required.

See the real projects
Finished orange Halloween lantern glowing through a carved monster face among autumn leaves Halloween Lampby Jeff Parish Three finished gray Halloween tombstones with carved names and designs displayed on a lawn Halloween Tombstonesby Ty Moser Finished orange pumpkin-shaped sign reading trick or treat displayed with real pumpkins on grass Monogram Pumpkinby Rusty
66 Halloween projects in the Easel gallery
8,059 copies across Halloween gallery projects
66 comments across Halloween gallery projects
$0 to start designing in Easel

Make the season your own

Start with something that has already been carved

Halloween decorations are a good fit for CNC because a simple silhouette can become a sign, a lantern panel, or a whole yard display. Starting from a finished project also gives you real guidance on bits, materials, assembly, and paint so you use your creativity to build on the work of other makers.

Choose the build that fits your available stock and time. Then copy it into Easel to change the size, swap the words, simplify small details, or combine parts from the design with your own artwork.

Real projects from the Easel gallery

Three Halloween projects you can make and customize

Each project has a design file, pictures and it's ready for you to add your own customizations. Open one that inspires you to carve it as is or adjust the design for your own porch or yard.

Before you cut

Plan for a clean carve and a safer display

Match the design to the material

The featured builds use MDF, foam board, and sheet goods in different ways. Set the real stock thickness in Easel, choose cut settings for that material, and make a small test cut before starting the full piece.

Leave stronger tabs on cutouts

Thin pumpkin stems, letters, and decorative edges can move near the end of a profile cut. Add enough tabs to hold the part securely, and make them thicker than the minimum when the project has narrow details.

Use LEDs in enclosed lanterns

The lamp design looks best when it glows, but an LED light avoids the heat and open flame of a candle around painted panels and plastic inserts. Keep wiring and the light source clear of cut edges.

Finish for the weather

Seal faces and exposed edges before outdoor use, especially on MDF or plywood. For foam tombstones, follow the project’s paint notes because solvent-based spray paint can attack the material.

CNC project ideas

Make your own Halloween project

Create a free Easel account, no credit card required. Copy a community design, change the details, and make a decoration for your porch, yard, or table.