Why Ads?

A Message from Jack & Lisa

For 28 years, The Pumpkin Lady has been a labor of love. What started as a small collection of hand-drawn stencils in 1998 has grown into a library of nearly 1,000 original patterns shared with millions of families across the globe.

For a long time, we took great pride in being an “ad-free” sanctuary. We wanted your visit to be as cozy as a flickering jack-o’-lantern on a crisp October night. But as our site has grown, so has our family—and our mission.

The Heart of the Mission: Our 28 Rescue Kitties

If you’ve visited our Meet the Littles page, you know that our home is currently shared with 28 rescue cats. These aren’t just pets; they are the “Littles” who inspire everything we do. Our family includes everyone from playful kittens and energetic adults to our beloved seniors who require extra medical attention.

Many of our rescues found us when they had nowhere else to go. Providing high-quality care, specialized food, and a safe, loving haven for 28 unique lives is a massive, 365-day-a-year commitment.

Why the Change?

In the past, we relied solely on the incredible generosity of those who “Bought us a Coffee.” While those donations have been a godsend and continue to fund emergency vet visits, the reality of managing a #1-ranked global website alongside a full-scale rescue mission has evolved.

By partnering with Raptive to serve premium ads, we’ve found a way to:

• Keep 1,000+ Patterns Free: We never want to put a “paywall” between a family and their Halloween traditions. Ads allow us to keep the stencils free for everyone.
• Secure the Future for The Littles: This partnership provides a stable, predictable foundation for the cats’ ongoing needs—ensuring every bowl is full and every medical need is met.
• Focus on our Strengths: This stability allows Lisa to focus entirely on the original creative art that defines your Halloween, while Jack can focus on the technical work and website management that keeps our nearly 1,000 patterns accessible to the world.

A “Cozy” Compromise

We know that ads can sometimes be a distraction. That’s why we chose Raptive—they specialize in high-quality, family-friendly sponsors that respect the “vibe” of our site.

When you see an ad on our site, please know that you aren’t just looking at a banner—you are directly helping us fill a bowl, provide a warm bed, and keep the “Littles” healthy and happy.

Thank you for being part of our story for 28 years. Here’s to many more years of carving, community, and cats.

— Jack, Lisa, and The Littles