I went to Dollar Tree for fall decor and came home with a felt pumpkin placemat that never made it to the table. I used it as a stencil for a DIY pumpkin sign, then pulled it out again to give an old chippy window an antiqued mirror finish with a pumpkin design. Flip the window over, and it’s a chalkboard! Around here, even the placemats end up in the workshop.
Updated November 2026: I’ve refreshed this fall favorite to make it easier to see how I used one Dollar Tree pumpkin placemat to make two DIY projects for my home.
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DIY Pumpkin Sign Using a Dollar Tree Placemat
Watch how I made the pumpkin sign!
DIY Two-Sided Vintage Window Mirror and Chalkboard
This chippy old window was a freebie when I purchased an old door from a junk dealer. I paid a little more than I wanted to for the door, so the window sealed the deal. SCORE! The ideas were dancing in my head for Fall decor. I love vintage mirrors, and this old window would be perfect for one, plus it has great potential as a two-in-one project.
Supplies for the Vintage Window Mirror and Chalkboard
- Vintage window with intact glass
- Rustoleum Chalkboard Spray Paint
- Dollar Tree felt pumpkin placemat or a similar felt cutout
- Spray bottle with equal parts water and white vinegar
- Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint
- Painter’s tape
- Chalk Sticks
- Chalk Eraser
- Soft Cotton Cloth
Step 1: Paint the Chalkboard Side
I cleaned the glass and let it dry, then taped off the frame to protect all that chippy goodness. I sprayed three light coats of Rust-Oleum Chalkboard Spray Paint onto the glass on the back of the window, following the drying times on the can. That’s the side I’ll write on once the chalkboard is ready.
Step 2: Prime the Chalkboard
Once the chalkboard paint has cured according to the directions on the can, lay a piece of chalk on its side and rub it over the entire surface. Then wipe it with a soft cloth or chalkboard eraser. I like using an eraser because it leaves that soft gray finish. This quick step helps prevent ghosting, those faint outlines that can stick around after you erase your first message.
Step 3: Position the Felt Pumpkin on the Glass
I flipped the window over, cleaned the glass, and let it dry. Then I laid the same Dollar Tree felt pumpkin placemat I used for the wood sign flat on the glass. This time, it would keep the mirror paint off the glass wherever the felt covered it.
Next, I lightly misted the exposed glass with equal parts water and white vinegar. A light spray is plenty. You want little droplets scattered across the glass so the mirror finish will have that aged, speckled look.
Step 4: Spray on the Antiqued Mirror Finish
With the felt pumpkin still in place, I sprayed one light, even coat of Krylon Looking Glass Spray Paint over the glass and right across the placemat. The water droplets kept the paint from sticking in little spots, giving the mirror that aged look.
Once the paint dried, I lifted off the felt pumpkin and gently blotted the remaining droplets. A soft cotton cloth is what I’d use next time. Wiping can scratch the finish and leave streaks. Ask me how I know! Then I flipped the window over to see the pumpkin design in the mirror.
Two Ways to Display Your Vintage Window for Fall
Here’s the pumpkin mirror side all finished! I love how the little speckles give it an aged look that goes right along with the chippy frame. Who knew a felt placemat could pull that off?
I leaned the pumpkin mirror against the wall on my entry table and tucked a little cream pumpkin and some dried flowers beside it. The speckled glass and chippy frame do most of the decorating for me!
Flip the window over, and it’s a chalkboard! I wrote “Hello Fall” in chalk and set it on the mantel with a crock of dried stems. When the season changes, I can erase it and write something new.
Save this to your fall DIY board for the next time you spot a chippy old window and think, “I bet I could do something with that!” 🍂
So, which would you make first, the rustic pumpkin sign or the two-sided window? I’d love to hear which one you’d put on your porch. And if you spot one of those felt pumpkin placemats at Dollar Tree, you know where my mind goes. Straight to the workshop!
Until the next project… xo, Do
