Halloween Door – Keep Out

Using a bit of scrap cardboard and acrylic paint you can make a creepy Halloween door warning all who approach to keep out!

 

Why We Love This Project

I’ve seen a lot of fun decorated doors for Halloween. I almost decorated my garage door to look like a sharp-toothed monster last year! The best part about this Halloween door was how easy it was to make. Very few supplies required meant it was inexpensive too.

Last year I hosted a pumpkin painting party for friends at my craft studio and turned my studio door into this fun Halloween Door!

How to Create Your Halloween Door

1. Cut cardboard box open so that it lies flat. Use a box cutter to cut the cardboard into “planks of wood”.
2. Use a large paintbrush with black paint to write KEEP on one of the planks and OUT on another. Use a lot of paint, then stand the plank upright and tap it on the work surface a few times so that the excess paint drips.
3. Use a round sponge applicator and silver paint to add “nails/bolts” to the end of each plank. Dip the applicator in the paint then press onto the plank and turn and twist to create a circle.
4. Let everything dry completely.
5. Meanwhile, while the paint is drying, attach the black mesh or spider web to the outside of your door using tape (try to find a color that matches your door or use clear shipping tape).
6. When the planks are dry, attach them over the mesh, allowing it to show through.
7. Add some fun stick-on bats to the finished project!

*CAUTION – I left my door decoration up for quite a while (about two months) because I wasn’t visiting my studio daily then. When I removed the tape, it pulled the top layer of paint off the door. I assume because of the sun beating down on the tape. I recommend putting this on a storm door if you have one, or putting it up a week before Halloween then removing it right away, especially if your door gets a lot of sun like mine did!

Everyone got a big kick out of my Halloween Door! My studio was right on Main Street so there were a lot of turned heads as people went by. Lots of fun! I’ve saved the boards and will be putting this on my storm door on my house in a few weeks. Have fun and Happy Halloween!

Feel free to check out over 40 more ideas for Halloween decorations!

More Halloween decorating ideas

• Halloween Painted Jar Luminaries
• Salt Dough Haunted Houses
• Barbie Zombies
• Creepy Hand Luminaries
• Clay Halloween Village
• You’ve Been Booed

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Print Project

5 from 8 votes

Halloween Door – Keep Out

Decorate your house with a spooky Halloween Door that says “Keep Out”, warning all who approach that they don’t know what lies beyond! Fun!

Age Group: Crafts

Project Type: Halloween

Author: Amanda Formaro

Supplies

• Large cardboard box
• Black and silver acrylic craft paint
• Black creepy mesh or white spider web if you have a light colored door, use black, and vice versa
• Round sponge applicator
• Duct tape or double-sided tape *please read caution in notes!

Craft tools

• Box cutter
• Large paintbrush

Instructions

• Cut cardboard box open so that it lies flat. Cut box into “planks of wood”.
• Use a large paintbrush to write KEEP on one of the planks and OUT on another. Use a lot of paint, then stand the plank upright and tap it on the work surface a few times so that the excess paint drips.
• Use a round sponge applicator and silver paint to add “nails/bolts” to the end of each plank. Dip the applicator in the paint then press onto the plank and turn and twist to create a circle.
• Let everything dry completely.
• Meanwhile, while the paint is drying, attach the black mesh or spider web to the outside of your door using tape (try to find a color that matches your door or use clear shipping tape).
• When the planks are dry, attach them over the mesh, allowing it to show through.

Expert Tips & FAQs

CAUTION – I left my door decoration up for quite a while (about two months) because I wasn’t visiting my studio daily then. When I removed the tape, it pulled the top layer of paint off the door. I assume because of the sun beating down on the tape. I recommend putting this on a storm door if you have one, or putting it up a week before Halloween then removing right away, especially if your door gets a lot of sun like mine did!

I was inspired to create this door after seeing it on Woman’s Day. This post originally appeared here on Sep 20, 2018.