It’s that time of year again! The liturgical calendar is chock full of Memorials and Feast Days for some of the world’s favorite Saints. And this year, there will be new Saints added on October 10, 2024, to the already 10,000 dearly departed we’re sure made it to heaven. Then, sometime in 2025, yet more will join the ranks of those with “St.” before their names. One of those is Carlo Acutis. What better way to enshrine him in the season than to honor him with a pumpkin representation of himself? 

We made a few changes to the original design pictured above, simplifying the sunglasses and computer and switching from blue jeans to khakis on the pants. But the original Carlo pumpkin was just so cute, we had to leave his picture. 

Prepare your supplies

Cut sticky-back tan felt for Carlo’s khakis an inch wide and 11-12 inches long. Cut sticky-back red felt sheet into 6 strips lengthwise. This will be the main part of his shirt. The blue felt will be the polo collar over the red. Cut 5, 1/4 inch strips of the blue felt lengthwise, and curve one side of each of the ends.

Cut a large oval out of the brown or black, about ¼ of the felt sheet. This will be the hair. Cut perpendicular slits in the middle. This will slip over the stem of the pumpkin and really help in holding it in place. To mimic Carlo’s curly hair, this will actually get scrunched in waves when it’s put on the pumpkin.

Fold a small scrap of black paper in half and cut a skinny rectangle followed by a half-oval. Unfold it and bend the arms back for sunglasses.

For the computer, cut a rounded rectangle out of paper or foam. For paper, fold the rectangle in half.Add shipping label stickers cut to size, and draw on a monstrance for the screen, and letters in squares for the keyboard. 

To clean up his hairdo, cut a small strip of the same brown felt that can wrap halfway around his pumpkin head. At each end of the strip, add a short rectangle for sideburns. 

Finally

You can place everything to decorate your pumpkins in sandwhich-sized zip top baggies. Don’t forget to throw in some sticker or googly eyes! You can even add a corresponding Saint card, or a label that can go on the bottom. This will make it easy to hand out to the kids, even if it’s just in your own home. You can even print yourself a QR code to this post so moms can scan it for picture directions to help their kids.

Step-by-step Assembly

When you’re ready for the kids to make their pumpkins, here’s how Blessed Carlo Pumpkin goes togehter:

Take the backing off the tan felt and put it around the base of the pumpkin.

Do the same with the red felt, laying it over the tan felt to leave space for a face.

Glue or stick on the small blue felt strip, this time putting the slit in the front to create the collar

Add the paper sunglasses to the collar by gently slipping it under the red felt

Slip the perpendicular slits of the brown or black felt oval over the pumpkin stem.

Make waves or scrunches with the felt to create curls. Alternatively, glue on a pile of brown or black yarn.

Continue scrunching the hair until it is all secured to the top of the pumpkin.

Wrap the sideburn piece around the back of the pumpkin and secure to the sides.

Put on the sticky or googly eyes and draw on a mouth with a black Sharpie wherever the kids want it to go.

Enjoy your Blessed Carlo Acutis Pumpkin and check out the additional resources we have for your kids!

Who Was Carlo Acutis?

Called “The Millenial Saint,” Blessed Carlo Acutis was an Italian teenager growing up in the 90’s and early 2000’s.  For the most part, Carlo could have been described like any other kid of his time. He loved soccer, video games, computers, movies, concerts, friends, and family. But he loved God more. His intense piety and commitment to prayer overflowed into virtuous acts and an unrelenting courage to catechize anyone he could.

His rich prayer life fueled his day-to-day interactions with others, especially the poor. According to his mother, Carlo used to run her Tupperware dishes full of freshly-made food out to the homeless in the streets of Milan. He gave them his pocket change, and he insisted on having just one pair of shoes so that he’d have more money to offer. 

Carlo not only fed the poor, he stood up for those who needed it. He defended kids who were being bullied, especially anyone who had a disability. He saw the image of God in every person, but he particularly noticed those who most needed help. His teachers often recognized his ease in looking out for classmates who didn’t find their place among their peers, always gently drawing out the shy or picked on, or tutoring those who struggled with their studies. 

He had a passion for computer programming, and taught himself C++. Marrying his passion for Christ and computers, Carlo began building websites, first for his own parish, and then others who asked for his help. He then started a website for his own research into Eucharistic miracles, Marian apparitions; Heaven, Hell and Purgatory; and angels and demons. His website, The Eucharistic Miracles of the World, is still up and continues to be edited and added to. 

When he was 15, he contracted an aggressive form of Leukemia, and lived only 12 short days after the diagnosis. He lifted the pain of his illness up for the Pope and the Church. After his death, numerous reports of healings were communicated to his parents after praying for his intercession. Two of those miracles were investigated and approved by the Church. You can read more about him here

More Blessed Carlo Acutis Activities

Prayer

Our Carlo Acutis Novena for families in a free printable PDF

Carlo Acutis Official Novena

Books:

Coloring Book

Blessed Carlo Acutis: The Amazing Discovery of a Teenager in Heaven

Carlos Acutis’ graphic novel

Religious Items:

Prayer card

Keychain

Medal

Carlo Acutis’s favorite quotes on downloadable stickers!

Carlos Acutis Vinyl Stickers

Crafts:

Carlo Acutis Coloring Page

Carlo Acutis Computer Craft for kids

Information Resources:

Carlo Acutis Website

Carlo Acutis research guide for older kids

Active and original Carlo Acutis Euchatist Miracle site 

Vatican Canonization Announcement 

Videos:

Interview with Carlo Acutis’s Mother

Carlo Acutis unofficial Lego BrickHeadz build – Coming Soon!

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