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So you’ve discovered a love for making door hangers…but you’re also realizing it’s not the cheapest hobby around. You want to make something beautiful, and have a good time doing it, but you don’t want to spend too much money on it either.
What’s a crafter to do?!
I get it, friend! When you’re a craftaholic, the cost adds up pretty fast!
The good news is that there are plenty of ways around spending too much money on making door hangers. I know it’s tempting to buy “all the things” (paints, brushes, etc.) but the trick is to just meet yourself where you’re at! You don’t need everything to make a great door hanger.
So take these crafting on a budget tips, put them in your back pocket, and use them the next time you need to make a pit stop at the craft store!
Tip #1: Practice on cardboard
If you’re on a budget, you probably don’t want to practice on wood blanks. You want to be intentional about the resources you have on hand so you’re not wasting anything on a practice run.
No worries there! Because when you want to focus on fine-tuning your painting skills, you can start on a cardboard box!
Chances are, you’ve got a million lying around your house right now, so this option is pretty much free! Just print out your door hanger templates, trace the template onto the cardboard, and then paint away.
Another good alternative is foam poster boards, or wood scraps, if you have them lying around.
Tip #2: Dollar Tree wood cutouts
Did you know that Dollar Tree sells wood blanks? They’re not quite like the ones you’ll see here at Southern Adoornments Decor, or even Hobby Lobby, but they work!
They’re usually mini, and have an etched design on the front. Which means, you can practice painting on the front (and get used to using new brushes, paint, or just painting on wood) without worrying about scrapping expensive wood blanks.
The back can also be turned into a door hanger. Just flip it around and trace your template as you would with any other door hanger!
Tip #3: Buy wood blanks in bulk
So maybe you know that you want bigger-sized wood blanks, and you want them a little bit higher quality too. That’s where buying in bulk comes in handy!
Hobby Lobby has wood blanks in bulk, and when they’re on sale, you can save a good chunk of change on them! I also have round blanks in my shop, which you can get a percentage off if you buy 5 or more!
And while buying in bulk means you’ll probably be limited to round door hangers, don’t worry! This is actually one of the most versatile shapes. For one, you can paint a new design on both the front and the back.
Two, it’s easy to fit any design inside a circle! Most door hanger templates don’t need to be round — just paint the design in the middle and paint a pretty border around it to fill in the white space!
Tip #4: Cut your own wood blanks
If you’re feeling brave, you could also cut out your own blanks at home! Even though it will take you more time to do it, it will save you a lot of money!
If this is something you’re interested in doing, you’re going to need the right tools to do it! I have a whole list of what you need here. I also have a free beginner’s workbook on making door hangers that talks a little bit more about cutting your own wood blanks if you want some extra help!
You can also cut your wood blanks in bulk, which saves you even more money. All you need is one big sheet of plywood (4”x8”), which costs about $20, and you can cut as many as 12 standard-size door hangers.
That makes them about $1.66 PER wood blank. Where else can you find them that cheap?!
Tip #5: When it comes to paint, stick to the basics
You don’t actually need fancy paint to make door hangers! All you need is some standard craft acrylic paint, and you’re all set.
Brands like AppleBarrel or Folk are some great, low-cost options, and you can even find them at places like Walmart during your next grocery store run.
My personal favorite is the DecoArt Americana paints, which you can get at Hobby Lobby, Michael’s, or online! This isn’t the cheapest paint around, but it’s high quality for the price, and come bundled with some great basic colors.
Which brings me to my next point…
Tip #6: When it comes to color, remember the rainbow
There are so many different types of paint, and so many different colors! And if you’re anything like me, you love looking at all the options when shopping for paint.
But you don’t have to get them all. When you’re trying to keep things simple, remember the rainbow, or ROYGBIV: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
These are really the only colors you need, and with a little basic knowledge of the color wheel, you can mix colors to create even more variety!
I’d also recommend grabbing a blank and white acrylic paint as well — they’re great basics to have in your craft stash.
Tip #7: Get a variety pack of paintbrushes
Same with paints, you don’t need to buy every paintbrush you see. In fact, getting a variety pack of paintbrushes gives you plenty of options to work with, and helps you save some money by bundling them together.
Plus, these variety packs often come with additional sponges or chip brushes — even better!
I recommend sticking with nylon bristles brushes, which hold up pretty well over time. And whether it’s a wooden handle or a plastic one, it doesn’t matter. They all work the same, though the wooden ones tend to be cheaper!
Need a recommendation? I have some over in my shop!
Tip #8: Only buy black and white paint pens
Are you noticing a theme here? The main idea is to keep things simple! And when you’re buying paint pens, keep in mind that you don’t usually need more than just a black or white color for the hand lettering, outlines, and fine details.
I personally love the Artistro paint pens because they’re water-based (which work better with door hangers than oil-based paint pens) and have a great variety of sizes, too. Just grab two to three different sizes and you’re all set!
Tip #9: Use our free door hanger template library
If you don’t know about our free door hanger template library yet, you’re missing out! This library gives you three new projects every quarter, and each one comes with a FREE door hanger template and a FREE tutorial to show you how to make them!
Change your designs with the seasons and save money while you make them. Truly a win-win!
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