Spooky Tombstone Makeover: Hauntingly Cute Halloween Crafts 👻

DIY Spooky Tombstone Wood Blanks with Amanda Dillon

Bring a touch of spooky charm to your Halloween decor with these DIY tombstone wood blanks! Amanda Dillon of Mettle Modern Design walks us through two creative designs using Essential Stencil rub-on transfers and stencils. Follow along step by step to make your own!

Materials Needed

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare two clean-dry wooden tombstone cutouts. Make sure the surface is free from dust or debris so the paint and transfers will adhere smoothly.
   
2. Using a stain sponge, stain one of the tombstones with white stain as the base. Cover the entire surface evenly and let it dry completely.
   
3. On the second tombstone, paint all of the sides with black. Then apply white paint in the center to create a subtle vignette. Spritz with water to blend.
   
4. Once dried, sand the surface for a smoother finish. Light sanding helps the next layers stick better.
   
5. Cut out a ghost design from the Wildflower Ghosts Rub-on Transfer pack. Burnish it firmly using the transfer tool until it fully adheres.
   
6. On the other side of the tombstone, stencil a tree from the October Nights Mini Stencil pack using black paint.
   
7. Lightly brush the edges with black paint for a rustic, distressed look.
   
8. Go back to the first tombstone (with the white base) and paint it black. Use a blow dryer to speed drying.
   
9. Position the Gothic Lace & Spiderwebs stencil and fill in with pink paint. Apply a second coat for a bold finish.
   
10. On the reverse side, sand the surface for a smooth base before the next design.
    
11. Apply white paint in the center with a sponge, blending outward for a vignette effect.
    
12. Stencil the word "BOO" at the base using the Halloween 1" Words stencil and pink paint. Apply a second coat for boldness.
    
13. Add spooky accents by applying bat rub-on transfers at the top of the tombstone.
    

Final Reveal

Watch the Full Tutorial

Ready to make your own? Explore all our Halloween stencils and transfers and start creating spooky decor today!