SAVE MONEY. DECORATE.
I posted my October Etsy picks earlier this month, and one of my picks was a set of block letters spelling out “wicked.” I think they’re really cool but thought I could save myself the money and make my own Halloween letter blocks. By doing it myself, I was able to not only save money but also pick out the backgrounds I wanted and make the backside usable too. I’m very pleased with the outcome and perhaps will inspire you to get creative!
Supplies:
- wood blocks (however many letters are in the word you want to spell)
- paint
- scrapbook paper
- Mod Podge
- foam brush
- acrylic paint or vinyl lettering
Game Plan:
1. Cut wood into blocks of various sizes- one per letter.
We used scrap wood and kept all the widths the same, but you don’t have to and if you have wide letters in your word, like an M, then you may want to make some wider blocks for those letters.
2. Paint wood black or a color of your choosing.
3. Cut scrapbook paper to the size of your blocks, making the paper a little bit smaller than the blocks so the blocks create a sort of framed look.
Figure out the order your want your papers before you do any cutting.
My autumn papers
My Halloween papers
4. Using a foam brush, apply a thin layer of Modpodge to the back of a piece of scrapbook paper and then adhere it to the matching block. Smooth out bubbles while pressing down firmly. Repeat this step for all the blocks and both sides of the blocks. Let dry.
My Halloween blocks
The backside of the Halloween blocks are my autumn blocks
5. Using acrylic paint or dimensional paint, paint letters onto the blocks. Let dry.
I just used paint because I had it on hand. For the autumn letters I used acrylic paint and a paintbrush. For the spooky letters I used a dimensional paint that squirted out of a tube. The tube was much easier, but I think the paint is a bit too skinny. If you have a Cricut Personal Electronic Cutting Machine, then you could just use vinyl lettering and that would make this process super easy.
6. Apply a thin layer of Mod Podge to both sides of the blocks to act as a sealant. Let dry.
7. Arrange and decorate!
These blocks could be done for Christmas or other holidays too. You could also make some just to match your normal house decor. The possibilities are endless!
Here are some other posts on fall decorating:
