Paint a Halloween Folding Chair for Fall Decorating

Spruce up your front yard, porch or entryway with a trash to treasure Halloween project that will look nothing like the plastic decorations you buy in the store. I use wooden folding chairs purchased very inexpensively from auctions or yard sales to create a welcoming fall seat for ghosts, goblins or a neighbor that has stopped by for a chat.

These painted chairs are one of my best-sellers for fall craft shows, and I have to admit, I get a thrill every time I see one prominently displayed at someone's front door. They also make great last-minute gifts for family and friends.

These old fashioned chairs are easily transformed into rustic or primitive holiday decor. Spray paint makes applying the base color a quick process. I use a cheap red primer that actually looks like a rusty orange. Perfect for country rustic fall decorating. One can will cover one chair unless the wood is extremely weathered. If that is the case it will suck up the paint, making the need for a second can necessary.

Step 1
Open the chair and wipe it down to remove cobwebs and dust. Spray paint the chair until you have achieved the coverage you desire.

Step 2
Make a witch stencil using clip art that has been enlarged to fit within the dimensions of the chair's seat. I enlarged the design and printed it. Apply spray adhesive to the back of the printed paper and press it to a sheet of poster board. Use a craft knife to cut out the design. Discard the inside of the design. Since the stencil is made of poster board, it will eventually wear out, but I am usually able to use it about a dozen times before I have to make a new one. If the paint on the poster board is allowed to dry between stenciling, it may last even longer. You can also use a purchased stencil.

Step 3
Center the witch stencil on the chair's seat. Dip a stencil brush into black acrylic paint. Dab off the excess paint onto a paper plate. This will prevent the paint from bleeding under the stencil edges. Pounce the brush over the design until it has been completely covered.

Step 4
Center and print "Come and sit a spell" on the back slats of the chair using a black paint pen. Dip the blunt end of a wooded barbecue skewer in black acrylic paint and dot the ends of each letter.

Step 5
Tie several long strands of raffia around one of the back chair slats to finish.