Hi there! It’s time once again for our Power Tool Team to bust out the power tools and build something! You may remember last month’s Fall theme inspired me to build this little rustic crate:
Well this month’s theme is “Frightful” and perfectly fitting for October. We really like to go all out at my house for Halloween, and the kids in my neighborhood get a huge kick out of it. I knew when I saw this sign at BHG.com a few months ago that I must have one for our display as well!
I went to the Home Depot in search of what I would need to build my sign, and came across this mailbox post for $28:
I knew it would be perfect! It is narrower at the top than the original sign which I needed it to be for the space I wanted to put it.
Here is how my version turned out:
Oooooooooh spooky…
This project started with the mailbox post, which I added a base to with old wood scraps I had hanging around, followed by a sweet new paint job with Rustoleum’s black spray paint in satin:
I’m sure there are several ways I could have made this stand on its own, and I really wish I had picked up some angled metal braces to connect the post to the base. I did not want to make another trip to the store, so I was trying to use what I had and it worked fine (and was free!). The angled piece I cut with my miter saw to fit flush against the post and the base, then screwed it in place with wood screws. I also added two wood screws to each side of the post, into the base.
To make the sign, I attached two pieces of wood from my curbside-find pile (that pile has gotten a lot of mileage!) together with an old piece of fencing.
Then I made a template with a piece of paper, traced it onto the top and bottom, and cut it with my awesome cordless RYOBI jig saw:
I white washed it the same way I usually do (see how here). To add the lettering, I busted out the big guns, my silhouette. I truly have a love-hate relationship with that thing. In the time it took me to create my words exactly how I wanted them and get them cut out, I swear I could have transferred the letters like I did here, and painted them in!
After fiddling with it for at least an hour, I finally got my letters cut from the contact paper (works great and cheaper than vinyl), and lined up. I filled in the empty spaces with scrap pieces:
Then I spray-painted it with Rustoleum’s satin black:
I did two coats, then peeled off the vinyl after about 15 minutes.
I gave it a few coats of clear matte acrylic sealer and hung it from the top with galvanized screw-in eye hooks and an S hook…
Not too hard, right?
What do you think of my welcoming committee?
Spooky!
Just before you get to this point is a graveyard…
Here are a couple of my skeleton pals hanging out in the graveyard…
And just past my spooky greeters, you’ll find this gal:
And just a glimpse of how it comes to life at night:
And across from her is this little fella:
And this near my front door:
See how I made that large BEWARE sign including how I enlarged my letters here.
Check out last year’s Outdoor Halloween Tour here:
Spooky Outdoor Halloween Tour 2014
I’ve still got a few more things to add to this year’s display, but I am really excited about the addition of this sign!
I spent around $38, not too shabby.
Here’s what my Tool Girl Crew came up with for this month:
If you liked this project, you might also like the Halloween wreath I made from this cabinet door:
XO,
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victoria says
WOWWWWW, A-MA-ZING hahahaha, is fabulous indeed. Such a good work ( in the entire display). Congrats¡¡¡
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Victoria!! 🙂
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
This is awesome! Wow! When you say you go all out… you REALLY go all out! I’ll bet your a popular house for trick or treating:) Love the sign….I too have a love hate relationship with my Silhouette..it’s so handy though!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Wendi! We add a ton more on the actual night of Halloween including fog, scary lighting in the house, creepy music, and several more spooky pieces! We get a ton of trick or treaters! 🙂
Heather Tracy says
Love the eerie elegance of your Dead & Breakfast sign…Thanks for showing us how you did it. Your entire Halloween display is fantastic!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Heather! I am loving this new addition! XO
Lindsay Eidahl says
Wow! Nice job! You go all out for Halloween! I love it!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Lindsay! We really get into Halloween! 🙂
DeDe@DesignedDecor says
OMG, I say someone LOVES Halloween! I love the sign and it is a perfect addition to your decorating for Halloween!
Christy K. James says
Ha ha yep! We love some Halloween around here! So glad you like our new sign! XO
Carolyn Price says
Boo-tiful sign, Christy. Love it! Great addition to your display.
What is a “silhouette” please?
Thanks!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Carolyn! A silhouette is a cutting machine that you can use to cut letters into vinyl and adhere to a surface like a stencil. I got one for Christmas and just don’t use it often enough to have the hang of it yet! 🙂
Cricket says
What an outstanding job!!! I have seen this sign also and thought how neat it would be to create. Your house is truly amazing and it takes me back to when I was a kid. I would have loved trick or treating in your neighborhood. I love all your decorations!
Christy K. James says
Thank you so much, Cricket! We feel like big kids at Halloween. That’s probably why we go all out! 🙂
Jenna says
Unbelievable Christie!! Love the sign, the perfect touch for all your ghouls! Very creepy cool!
Christy K. James says
Aww thanks, Jenna! XOXO
Tina Matteson says
Wow, you did some serious Halloween decorating! I love your sign. It’s a great idea.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Tina! I’m really pleased with how it turned out! XO
Marie from The Interior Frugalista says
That’s good Christy…perfect addition to your AMAZING Halloween House!!! This month’s theme was right up your alley.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Marie! This theme really was perfect for me!:)
chris aka monkey says
lol what a spooky yard, that sign is awesome, you might have spent $30 on it but you must save a ton on candy because no kids would have the guts to knock on your door ha ha love it xx
Christy K. James says
Ha ha thank you! We have some ten year-olds that won’t come near us, and then some three year olds that march right up to our door. It’s so funny to watch, but overall the kids and parents get a big kick out of it! 🙂
Paula@SweetPea says
Your Halloween decorations are incredible! I know the neighbors love it when October rolls around so that they can enjoy your yard. The welcoming sign that you created for your display is perfect!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Paula! We add a lot more for actual Halloween night, it lets us be big kids again. Our neighbors get a big kick out of it! 🙂
Ange says
Love the way the sign turned out. All the decorations are awesome. Bet it is really creepy at night? And all the kids love coming to your house.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Ange! The kids and adults get a big kick out of it and we have a ball doing it! 🙂
Cher @ Designs by Studio C says
That is THE COOLEST Halloween sign ever!! I love the decorations in your yard – so awesome!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Cher! We really love some Halloween around here! XOXO
Mary Burnett says
Love Halloween & Love the new sign. Your yard is SPOOKTACULAR !!!
Christy K. James says
Thanks so much, Mary!! XO
Maryann @ Domestically Speaking says
Your house is decked out! Love your sign and brilliant to use a mailbox post!
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Maryann! I was so excited to come across that mailbox post at Home Depot! It worked out great! XO
Mary says
You are so festive! My kids would love all that. Love the Dead and Breakfast. haha
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Mary! My kids get a big kick out of it. Two years ago when my younger son was only three, he wanted to take this small skeleton decoration we had, everywhere with him. I’m sure people thought it was strange! 🙂
Kim says
Oh my gosh this is fabulous!
Christy K. James says
Thank you, Kim! XO
Michelle James says
This is AWESOME! I am in love with your entire Halloween display.
Christy K. James says
Thanks, Michelle! Now you know why I was in love with your bottles! 🙂