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Coastal‑Fall Stenciled Frame with Haunted Homestead Transfers
Amanda Dillon of Mettle Modern Design shows an easy way to turn a wood cradle panel into a moody, coastal‑fall frame. Bay Blue and Botanical green stains blend into a soft backdrop, a Gothic Lace stencil creates a spooky border, and Haunted Homestead rub‑on transfers add the final eerie details.
Project — Stenciled Frame with Transfers
Materials
- Wood cradle panel (frame-style panel)
- Minwax water‑based stains — Bay Blue and Botanical (green)
- Stencil Brush Set | Pure Natural Bristle Brushes
- Gothic Lace & Spiderwebs Pattern Stencil (use the larger pattern)
- Haunted Homestead Rub‑on Transfer Set
- Essential Rub‑On Transfer Tool
- Stencil sponges and a stain sponge
- Black acrylic paint and black water‑based stain
- Spray bottle with water (for blending)
- Heat gun (optional) and burnishing tool
- Fine sand sponge or sandpaper
- Paper towels, gloves, and a small brush for tight spots
Step-by-step Instructions
- Base coat with Bay Blue. Using a stain sponge, apply Bay Blue over the inside/back of the cradle panel so the frame lip remains for later stenciling. Cover all nooks and crevices. (Image above)
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Blend in Botanical green. While the blue is still damp, add Botanical green with a second sponge. Spritz a little water to help the colors blend. Work back and forth until you get a subtle fade between blue and green.
- Decide stencil placement. Use the larger pattern from the Gothic Lace & Spiderwebs stencil set to frame the outer lip. You want the pattern to continue off the edges — no visible stencil stops.
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Stencil with black paint. Offload paint on a backer, then use a stencil brush to fill in the lace pattern around the frame edges. Work in sections and keep your brush dry‑offloaded for crisp detail.
- Deepen with black stain. Lightly dab black water‑based stain with a sponge over and around the stencil to add depth. Soften harsh lines by blending with a clean sponge or a spritz of water. (Image below)
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Shade inner edges. With a stencil brush or small paintbrush, softly blend black stain into the inner corners and edges of the panel for a moody vignette. Use a heat gun to speed dry if needed.
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Cut and apply transfers. Select the scarecrow, pumpkins, and smaller bats from the Haunted Homestead rub‑on set. Cut the elements you want and position them. Burnish firmly with the Essential Rub‑On Transfer Tool until the transfer adheres.
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Sand & blend seams. Lightly sand any adhesive haze and gently sand edges so transfers sit seamlessly on the stained surface. If a transfer area looks too bright, re‑spritz and blend black stain around edges to marry it to the panel.
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Final details. Add any extra small bats or pumpkins from the transfer pack. Touch up shading and edges. Give the whole panel a final once‑over and clean up stray adhesive with a fine sand sponge.
Helpful Tips
- Tape is your friend. If you want perfectly aligned stenciling, secure the stencil with low‑tack tape before you start.
- Offload your brush. When stenciling, dab excess paint on a paper towel first to avoid bleed under the stencil.
- Work wet for smooth blends. Spritz water on stains as you blend to get silky fades between Bay Blue and Botanical.
- Burnish thoroughly. Press transfers firmly and go over them several times with the burnishing tool to ensure full adhesion.
- If a transfer lifts: push it back down and burnish again. Light sanding removes adhesive haze without damaging the image.
- Want a less glossy finish? Seal with a satin polyacrylic. It’s optional — Amanda left this piece unsealed and it reads beautifully.
- Color pairing note: Bay Blue (turquoise) pops next to warm oranges/reds — great if you want the piece to sit in a fall display.
Finishing & Where to Buy
Ready to recreate Amanda’s frame? Grab the exact supplies she used: Haunted Homestead Rub‑On Transfer Set, Gothic Lace & Spiderwebs Stencil, and the Stencil Brush Set.
Shop the Halloween collection → Essential Stencil Halloween 2025 Collection
Amanda is live with Essential Stencil on Monday nights. Want more inspiration from her? Follow Amanda Dillon at Mettle Modern Design.
