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Home / Step-by-Step Tutorials / Boo Bakery Magic! 👻🍰 Create a Spooky-Sweet Halloween Cutting Board

Boo Bakery Magic! 👻🍰 Create a Spooky-Sweet Halloween Cutting Board

Featuring Renee Rumph

Boo Bakery Magic! 👻🍰 Create a Spooky-Sweet Halloween Cutting Board

Bring a little Halloween charm to your home with this playful Boo Bakery decorative cutting board! This project combines a bold black-and-white checker pattern with soft lavender brushstrokes, a spooky-sweet rub-on transfer, and loose gold details.

It’s a fun project that doesn’t require the background to be perfectly precise. In fact, the imperfect details are what give this piece its hand-painted character.

Renee from Southeast Michigan walks us through the project, filling in for Amanda during Essential Stencil Live. Grab your favorite Halloween supplies and let’s get started!

Jump to Project

Materials

Prepare the Cutting Board

Start with an 11.5" x 14.5" round wood cutting board. Give the edges a light sand if needed to smooth the surface before painting.

Applying white paint to a round wood cutting board

Using a sponge, apply a coat of white paint over the board. Lightly spritzing the paint with a little water can help it spread evenly across the surface and edges.

Let the first coat dry completely, then apply a second coat for better coverage.

Once the paint is dry, lightly sand the board with 220-grit sandpaper. This creates a smoother surface and helps remove any raised wood grain. Wipe away all sanding residue with a clean towel before moving on.

Lightly sanding the painted cutting board

Helpful Tips

  • Let each coat dry completely before sanding or adding the next layer.
  • A light sanding between steps helps create a smoother finished surface.
  • Always remove sanding dust before applying paint or transfers.

Add the Checker Pattern

Now it’s time to create the bold background. Position the Large Checker Pattern Stencil horizontally across the top section of the board.

The goal is to frame the transfer rather than cover the entire board. Leave the center section open for the Boo Bakery design.

Stenciling the checker pattern onto the cutting board

Load a stencil brush with black paint and offload the excess paint well before touching the stencil. A dry-to-damp brush helps prevent paint from bleeding underneath the stencil.

Apply a light coat of black paint over the checker pattern. Don’t worry about making every square perfectly dark. A little variation adds to the handmade look.

Carefully lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry.

Next, reposition the stencil along the bottom section of the board. Line up the pattern carefully with the section you already painted.

Repositioning the checker stencil on the cutting board

Fill the stencil with black paint while continuing to leave the center open. Lift the stencil carefully and let the paint dry completely.

Helpful Tips

  • Offload your stencil brush before painting. Too much paint can seep beneath the stencil.
  • Use a light hand for a softer, more handmade checker pattern.
  • Take your time when repositioning the stencil so the pattern lines up cleanly.

Add Lavender Brushstrokes

The black-and-white checkerboard already makes a statement, but a little color takes it to the next level.

Using Lavender Divine, a muted purple shade that coordinates beautifully with the frosting colors in the transfer, add a small amount of water to thin the paint slightly.

Adding lavender brushstrokes to the checkerboard background

Load a flat brush and randomly add soft streaks throughout the checker pattern. Keep the brushstrokes loose and imperfect.

Don’t overthink this step. The variation in the brushstrokes gives the background its playful, hand-painted feel.

Allow the paint to dry completely.

Once dry, lightly sand the entire surface again. This softens and blends the layers together for a more aged, finished look. Wipe away the sanding residue with a clean towel.

Sanding the finished painted background

Helpful Tips

  • Keep the lavender brushstrokes random. You want subtle movement rather than a uniform pattern.
  • Light sanding helps the purple blend naturally into the checkerboard background.
  • Be sure the surface is clean and dust-free before applying the transfer.

Apply the Boo Bakery Transfer

Now for the centerpiece! Position the Boo Bakery Transfer Set in the center of the board.

Applying the Boo Bakery transfer to the center of the cutting board

Take a moment to make sure the design is positioned exactly where you want it. Once you’re happy with the placement, press the transfer down with your hands.

Use the Essential Rub-On Transfer Tool to burnish the entire design thoroughly.

Take your time with this step and go over the whole transfer. Carefully peel away the carrier sheet and check that the entire design has transferred cleanly.

Helpful Tips

  • Check your placement before burnishing because the transfer is easiest to position before it is firmly adhered.
  • Burnish every part of the design thoroughly.
  • Peel the carrier sheet away slowly so you can check that the design is releasing properly.

Add the Gold Details

For the finishing touch, grab a gold paint marker or gold Sharpie and loosely outline portions of the checker pattern.

Adding loose gold details to the checker pattern

This is another place where perfection isn’t the goal. Let some gold lines cross black squares and others cross white. Keep some lines straight and let others wander.

The loose, imperfect lines are what give this project its whimsical personality.

Helpful Tips

  • Skip the ruler for this step if you want a relaxed, hand-drawn look.
  • Use varying line lengths to keep the gold details playful.
  • Allow the marker to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before handling the finished piece.

Final Reveal

And that’s it! The Boo Bakery decorative cutting board is finished.

Finished Boo Bakery Halloween decorative cutting board

The combination of the black-and-white checker pattern, soft lavender accents, gold details, and the adorable Boo Bakery transfer creates a Halloween project with plenty of personality.

And because the background is intentionally imperfect, this is a great project for embracing a relaxed, creative style.

Note: This painted and decorated board is intended for decorative use rather than food preparation.

Create Your Own Boo Bakery Project

Ready to make your own spooky-sweet creation? Start with the Boo Bakery Transfer Set and pair it with the Large Checker Pattern Stencil for a similar look.

Then add your own colors, brushstrokes, and hand-drawn details to make the project yours.

Shop the Essential Stencil Halloween collection and start creating!

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Watch the Full Tutorial

Watch Renee create this spooky-sweet Boo Bakery cutting board step by step, and follow along as she adds the checkerboard pattern, lavender accents, and gold details!

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