Count down to the spookiest day of the year with this DIY chalkboard

16 Oct 2024

Let the countdown to Halloween begin with this ghost countdown canvas. Place on your wall and each day in the lead up to Halloween write the number of days in chalk until Halloween arrives. The kids will love to get involved in this too! 

You will need: 

• A box art canvas 42cm wide and 52cm in length  
• A piece of MDF which is 30cm by 30cm and 1cm thick  
• Ghost shape template  
• Paintbrush  
• Fine paintbrush  
• Pencil  
• Glue  
• Resene testpots in your favourite spooky shades. We used Resene Daisy Bush, Resene Alabaster and Resene Black  
• Resene FX Blackboard Paint 
• Chalk  
• Jigsaw  
  

Top tip: If you have old thick cardboard at home, you could paint on that instead. 

Step 1: Using the ghost template, draw the shape onto the piece of MDF using your pencil.   

Step 2: Using a jigsaw cut the ghost shape out.  

Step 3: Paint the canvas in the colour of your choice. We used Resene Black. 

Step 4: Paint the frame of the boxed canvas in another colour of your choice. We used Resene Daisy Bush.  

Step 5: Paint the wooden letters in your chosen colours. We used Resene Daisy Bush.  

Step 6: Paint the MDF ghost shape in a Resene white of your choice. We used Resene Alabaster. You will need at least two coats.  

Step 7: Draw ghost eyes in pencil.  

Step 8: Paint on the ghost eyes using a fine paintbrush. We used Resene Blackor you could use Resene FX Blackboard Paint. 

Step 9: Draw a square onto the ghost in pencil. This will be where your chalkboard will be.  

Step 10: Paint the square in Resene FX Blackboard Paint. 

Step 11: Glue the ghost onto the canvas.  

Step 12: Glue the wooden painted letters onto the canvas.  

Step 13: Hang your canvas on the wall and let the countdown begin.  

Background in Resene Villa White, vase in Resene Dancing Girl, ghost decoration in Resene White and chalk dish in Resene Biloba Flower. 

project Vanessa Nouwens  

images Bryce Carleton  

Published: 16 Oct 2024