Chalk Couture Transfers for Football Game Day Decor

I made two easy pieces of football decor that are ready for snacks, scores, and fall weekends. I used Chalk Couture transfers on a $3.99 thrifted pallet tray and a magnetic chalkboard, then finished the board with handmade raffia pom pom magnets.

My thrifted pallet tray find

The first project started with one of those thrift store finds that makes me stop and look twice. Somebody had taken the time to pull apart a pallet and build a thick, sturdy tray with handles. It already had a rough, rustic finish, and the price was only $3.99.

There was a little wax on the wood and a price sticker that needed to come off. I left the boards rough instead of sanding because that worn surface was part of what made the tray so good. I wanted the finished design to look like it belonged on the wood.

The tray is large enough to carry bowls of popcorn, drinks, and other game day snacks. It can also stand upright on a shelf or beside the food table when I’m using it as decor.

Adding the Chalk Couture transfer

I chose the Game Day transfer for the center of the tray and used white paste so the words would stand out against the wood. Team colors would be cute here too, especially if you’re making one for a school team, a professional team, or a grandchild’s team.

Since the pallet boards were uneven and had spaces between them, I worked with the surface instead of trying to make every part look exact. I positioned the transfer so the design fit across the boards, using my finger and an item from my desk as a quick measuring guide.

I applied one section of the design first. After lifting that portion and drying the paste, I laid a protective piece over the finished area before positioning the transfer for the next section. That kept me from smearing the first word while I worked on the second one.

The transfer crossed the rough boards and a few parts of the letters landed near the gaps. That gave the words the same rustic character as the tray. A smooth and perfect finish would have looked out of place on this piece.

Once the full Game Day design was finished, I dried it well before moving the tray. The bright white letters showed up beautifully, and the existing marks and distressed areas still came through around them.

Making the touchdown chalkboard

For the second project, I used a distressed magnetic chalkboard with legs that allow it to stand on its own. It also has hangers on the back, so I can display it on a wall later if I want to change things up.

I added the Touchdown transfer to the front. The helmet forms the letter O in the word, which is such a cute detail for football season. I worked mostly in white paste and added orange as an accent because orange and white are our local team colors.

When you’re applying paste to a transfer like this, you only need to cover the open screened areas. I used my squeegee to spread the paste where the design needed it, then lifted the transfer to reveal the finished word and football details.

The board already had a pretty distressed look, so the clean white design gave it contrast while still fitting with the worn finish. I can set it near the snacks, use it as part of a football display, or add scores and other details around the main design.

Easy raffia pom pom magnets

The magnetic surface gave me another idea. I made small orange raffia pom poms and attached adhesive magnets to the backs so I could move them anywhere on the board.

To make one, I wrapped raffia around my fingers several times. More wraps will make a fuller pom pom, so you can keep going until it looks as fluffy as you want. I slid the loops off my fingers, twisted and cinched the bundle in the middle, then cut through the loops.

After cutting, I fluffed and separated the raffia pieces. The shape stays a little loose and playful, which works well for a cheer style pom pom. Ribbon would also work if you prefer a smoother look or need a team color that is easier to find in ribbon.

I peeled the backing from an adhesive magnet and pressed it onto the center of the pom pom. You can add glue if your raffia needs a stronger hold. Once the magnet was attached, the pom pom went right onto the chalkboard.

I like decorating with odd numbers, so three, five, or seven pom poms would all work depending on the size of your board. They can sit along the bottom, frame the lettering, or move around whenever you update the display.

Decorating for game day

These projects can work for football, soccer, school sports, or any team your family cheers for. The paste and raffia colors are easy to change, and the magnetic pom poms can come off whenever you’re ready for a new season.

My favorite part is the thrifted tray. The handles alone made it worth the $3.99 price, and the rough pallet wood means I can use it around food and drinks without worrying over every little mark. The standing chalkboard gives me another surface I can update, while the magnets make it easy to rearrange the decorations for each game.

Chalk Couture supplies I used

• Game Day
• Bright White Paste

You can shop my full Chalk Couture store here.

I am an independent Chalk Couture designer, so I earn a commission on these links. See my disclosure for more.