Halloween Decorating Ideas With Stencils

You can carve pumpkins or create Halloween art and decor with these cool stencils.

By: Ruth Meharg

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Choose Your Designs

The first step in creating your tablecloth is choosing the templates you want to use. You can select from a variety in our Pumpkin Pattern Gallery to create you own unique tablecloth. For these stencil projects you will need: pumpkin stencils/a tablecloth/scissors/a pencil/paint markers (or acrylic or fabric paint and a brush).

Print and Cut

Print out your chosen patterns from our pumpkin carving gallery and cut out the shapes to create a stencil. This part can be tricky for kids, so remember to let an adult handle the blades!

Trace

Once your design is cut out, place it on your tablecloth and use a pencil to trace your design.

Paint!

Next, fill in your design with the colors of your choice. We recommend using paint markers for this step, however you can also use acrylic or fabric paint with a brush. (If you decide to use a brush, one with stiff bristles will make painting much easier!)

Repeat

Repeat for each stencil and color until the entire tablecloth is full. You can lay your designs out in a regular, repeating pattern or make your tablecloth more eclectic. We used four stencils and five colors in a repeating grid pattern for ours, but the possibilities are endless!

All Done

Your tablecloth is finished and ready for the perfect fall or Halloween party!

Alternative Options

If you want to create a stronger Halloween feel, try starting with a black or orange tablecloth instead of white. Bright colors will make your designs pop on any color background, while colors that are close to the color of the tablecloth will give you a more subdued look.

Create a Piece of Art

If you aren't sure you want to tackle a whole tablecloth, or if you're having so much fun you just want to keep going, try turning a pumpkin design into a piece of art. The process is the same, just trace your stencil on paper instead of a tablecloth!

Draw With Colored Pencils

Creating an art piece is a fun activity even if you don't want to get the paint out. This design was filled in with colored pencil instead of paint!

Or Try Crayons

These art pieces work great as a complement to your tablecloth, or as fun, stand-alone projects. Have fun with them!

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Photo By: Image courtesy of Ruth Meharg

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