I am finally getting around to putting my exterior Halloween decorations up. I am actually not one of those bloggers who works a season in advance. I normally post my projects in "real time." (The truth is that I'm not that organized!) So projects you see on my blog today, were most likely something I actually worked on this week. That was the case with this project.
Anyhow.. This year I decided to stay with the silhouette theme and designed a big beadboard sign for the front walk.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bOK1Y826cUs/UloiM2SuqXI/AAAAAAAAGv4/CY2KmsLnCWY/s640/front+of+house.jpg)
This is made from another remnant of the beadboard ceiling in the powder room (just like the Pottery Barn style beadboard flag I used for the Fourth of July).
I used 4 colors of craft paint (yellow, orange, red and black.) I poured the paint directly onto the beadboard and blended the colors as I went.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCtJYsHB0IQ/UloiOuxdpvI/AAAAAAAAGwc/fg6HcPkoWbw/s400/painting+beadboard+sign.jpg)
I let the background dry before I added the lettering and tree silhouette.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tqzQrB0t5wY/UloiORMI1nI/AAAAAAAAGwY/fNhfXwREflU/s400/painting+sunset.jpg)
For the lettering, I used the method I used on the garage door. (I really should invest in a cutting machine, since doing this with vinyl stickers would have been a lot quicker!)
First printed out the text I wanted:
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gHpoiZBRcpc/Ulome57_PtI/AAAAAAAAGxU/055MO2qtsbo/s400/paper+for+tracing.jpg)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lEWIo3l3gnQ/UloiPLL7xCI/AAAAAAAAGw0/CRzmzmY9Gl0/s320/tracing+lettering+.jpg)
I went back and colored them in with a black Sharpie.
Next I added a tree with black paint. I did it freehand, and while holding my squirmy 5 month old on my lap. It isn't exactly how I wanted it, but it was good enough. If you don't think you could freehand it, you could always print a silhouette off and repeat the technique used for the lettering.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ae4IUYTXRAo/UloiM4b8UNI/AAAAAAAAGv8/joRUcxRbPxU/s400/halloween+sign.jpg)
To hang it I repeated the technique I used on the beadboard flag of drilling two small holes and inserting and tying off a piece of twine.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rcj0OOEUHcM/UloiNWH0vSI/AAAAAAAAGwE/3xeFUVe7wfA/s400/hanging+string+on+sign.jpg)
Lastly I sprayed the entire thing with 2 coats of high gloss clear finish. Because this is going to hang outside, and the paint is water soluble, I wanted to make sure it didn't wash away.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uK7o6MuvnlY/UloiPEH_o2I/AAAAAAAAGww/D1nANDcHj9o/s640/sealing+exterior+sign.jpg)
I hung it on the house, next to the front walk, and added some fall mums to an apple basket on a step stool, along with a watering can and another (store bought) sign.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G3tgUjM2d0I/UloiM6AhXkI/AAAAAAAAGwI/xBGYCVWgB4c/s400/exterior+vignette.jpg)
I may be waiting until the last minute to get my halloween stuff up, but at least the trick-or-treaters will know we're open for business!
Super cute sign! I love how you used bead board...very creative! Thanks so much for stopping by chapter37 and for your kind comment!
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