DIY Distressed Trick-or-Treat Sign

Transform a wood board and an old book into this charming Halloween decoration that looks great on your front porch.

November 25, 2019

Ghostly Trick-Or-Treat Sign With Halloween Decor

This easy DIY trick-or-treat sign is sure to give Halloween visitors a fright with its distressed lettering and old book page background.

By: Ashley Hackshaw

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Materials Needed:

rectangle board
Liquitex Matte Medium
loose pages of a book (black and white)
paintbrush
thumbtacks

clear Gesso
trick-or-treat template (Please visit lil blue boo for the ready-to-use template)
Citra Solv
tissues

Decoupage Board

Start with an old board. Layer the pages from an old book on the board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue. Continue to add the pages to make an interesting background, creating a collage.

Layer the pages from an old book on an old board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue.

Layer the pages from an old book on the board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue. Continue to add the pages to make an interesting background, creating a collage.

Rectangular Wooden Board for DIY Halloween Sign

Start with an old board. Layer the pages from an old book on the board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue.

Gluing Old Book Pages With Liquitex

Layer the pages from an old book on an old board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue.

Wood Board Collaged With Old Book Pages

Layer the pages from an old book on the board and brush each one with a thin layer of Liquitex Matte Medium, which will act as glue. Continue to add the pages to make an interesting background, creating a collage.

Prepare Stencils

Paint a layer of clear Gesso to make the background more absorbent, which will help with the transfer. Then print photocopies for transfer. The image must be printed on a copy machine or laser printer because the transfer only works with dry toner (i.e., not inkjet ink).

Print photocopies for transfer. The image must be printed on a copy machine or laser printer because the transfer only works with dry toner (i.e., not inkjet ink).

Preparing Stencils With Gesso for Halloween Sign

Paint a layer of clear Gesso to make the background more absorbent, which will help with the transfer. Then print photocopies for transfer.

Preparing Stencils for DIY Trick-Or-Treat Halloween Sign

Print photocopies for transfer. The image must be printed on a copy machine or laser printer because the transfer only works with dry toner (i.e., not inkjet ink).

Complete Citra Solv Transfer

Use a few thumbtacks to hold the photocopies in place on the board. Then apply Citra Solv to the back. Make sure to only work on a few letters at a time so the Citra Solv won't evaporate too quickly. Once you have put the Citra Solv on all the letters, slowly pull back the stencil.

Apply Citra Solv to the back. Make sure to only work on a few letters at a time so the Citra Solv won't evaporate too quickly.

Apply Citra Solv to the back of your photocopy print. Make sure to only work on a few letters at a time so the Citra Solv won't evaporate too quickly. You can use scissor handles to smooth out any creases.

Once you have put the Citra Solv on all the letters, slowly pull back the stencil.

An ordinary wood board was layered with old book pages and transformed into this spooky Halloween decoration.

Pinned Photocopy Stencils for Halloween Sign

Use a few thumbtacks to hold the photocopies in place on the board. Then apply Citra Solv to the back.

Completing Citra Solv Photo Transfer

Apply Citra Solv to the back. Make sure to only work on a few letters at a time so the Citra Solv won't evaporate too quickly.

Transferring Photocopies With Cira Solv for Halloween Sign

Apply Citra Solv to the back of your photocopy print. Make sure to only work on a few letters at a time so the Citra Solv won't evaporate too quickly. You can use scissor handles to smooth out any creases.