So…you’ve just sat down to create your next DIY door hanger. You’ve got your brushes, your colors, and your template ready to go. But for whatever reason, you can’t seem to get it right! Nothing is going as planned, and you’re ready to give up!

But hang with me for a second before you throw in the towel!

Painting and crafting are both fun, relaxing hobbies. But if you’re making a few (common) missteps, it can throw the whole project off. 

However, these missteps are easy to fix! And in this post, I’m breaking down the top three mistakes most beginners make and how you can fix them to create something you’re proud of!  

DIY door hanger mistake #1: You’re not painting back to front

Back when I still hosted paint parties, I noticed that many people would first grab a round-tip brush and outline their designs in black paint. Now, I get it — it feels like you’re setting up a coloring book. Wouldn’t that be the logical first step?

But the problem is that when you start with thick black lines, the rest of your colors won’t show up as well. It’s really hard to paint over black and still get vibrant colors.

Instead, you want to start with your background colors first. What’s the furthest back part of your design? It’s going to be your base coat! 

For example, if you’re painting a pumpkin with buffalo plaid. You want to paint the background white first, then add the plaid, and finish with the pumpkin. Build your design from back to front!

Additional base coat tips

If you need an additional layer, wait for the first one to dry, and then add the next layer. Otherwise, you’ll push that initial layer out of the way and end up with a clumpy mess.

And you also want to be mindful of your color choices. I used to go wild with bold, bright colors — purple, lime green, pink, yellow — on one design!

But I learned the hard way that when they’re all competing for attention, it feels like a bunch of people shouting in a room. Instead, choose colors that complement each other. If you love bold, bright hues, pair them with softer tones so they can stand out without feeling chaotic.

DIY door hanger mistake #2: You don’t take time to set everything up

Before you even sit down to paint, you need to get your setup in order! You’ll have a much easier time working through your door hanger if everything is right there next to you.

You’ll need a cup of clean water, your brushes, some paper towels, and maybe even some baby wipes to help you clean up any messes (they work wonders!). Also, keep a hairdryer nearby if you want to speed up the drying time in between layers!

And snacks — always bring snacks! If you’re going to wait for the paint to dry, you may as well have something to nibble on while you wait!

DIY Door Hanger Mistake #3: You’re stressing yourself out

Painting is meant to be fun and relaxing. So, pause and take a break if you find yourself getting super stressed out over your door hanger.

One of the biggest reasons beginners get stressed is when they hit what I like to call the “ugly middle.” This is when you finally start working through the details, but things don’t look quite right yet.

The key here? Don’t give up! Keep working through it, because everything will come together beautifully once you add the finishing touches — like outlines, hand lettering, or highlights!

This isn’t a race and it doesn’t have to be perfect! Give yourself permission to make mistakes — you can always paint over them or fix them later.

BONUS DIY door hanger tip

If you find yourself having a hard time getting into the painting groove, this is my favorite thing to do to help me get motivated!

Turn on some music or put on a TV show/podcast you don’t have to watch too closely. It makes the experience so much more relaxing and enjoyable, and really gets the creativity flowing!

Get More DIY Door Hanger Fun Inside the Painter’s Clubhouse

If you’re new to creating your own DIY door hangers and want to keep learning, be sure to check out the Painter’s Clubhouse!

Doors are currently open for new members, so make sure you sign up ASAP!

What do you get as a member of the Clubhouse?

• Crafty friends: This membership group gives you the chance to get together with other crafters and create beautiful door hangers each month.  
• Grow your painting skills: You’ll get direct instruction from me with live videos in our Facebook group each week as we work on something new.  
• Loads of creative projects: We have guest artists join us each month to teach you something new!

ALL skill levels are welcome — no more frustration when it comes to crafting! We’ve made this as easy to follow along as possible so you can craft worry-free (and have a good time while doing it!).

If you’re interested in seeing what all the Painter’s Clubhouse fuss is about, follow me here to learn more about joining!