One of my favorite things to do in Hobby Lobby is look at something and ask myself, “How could I use that on a door hanger?”

Because y’all, some of the BEST door hanger supplies aren’t hanging in the wood craft aisle. They might be with the miniature Christmas trees. Ornaments. Scrapbook supplies. Ribbon. Beads. Even those little seasonal craft pieces you’ve probably walked past a hundred times.

Once you start shopping with door hangers in mind, you’ll see Hobby Lobby in a totally different light! And adding a few of these little extras is one of my favorite ways to take a painted door hanger and give it that little something extra.

Psssst…If you’re still building up your collection of supplies, I also put together a list of my favorite resources for making door hangers.

What Can You Use to Embellish a Door Hanger?

There are SO many options, especially during the Christmas season. Some of my favorite door hanger embellishments include wood beads, small plastic ornaments, mini wreaths, snowflakes, bells, miniature bows, flat-back Christmas lights, poinsettias, greenery, candy pieces, scrapbook paper, and wired ribbon.

But you don’t need all of those for one project. The goal is to find one or two little details that make sense with your design.

For example, a snowman door hanger could have little holly berries attached to his hat. A gingerbread house could have dimensional gumdrops or candy canes. A Christmas present door hanger could have a tiny bow attached to the painted package.

Those little details add dimension without taking over the whole design.

My Biggest Tip: Look for a Flat Back

Whenever I’m shopping for something I might glue onto a wooden door hanger, one of the first things I look at is the back to see if I can attach it to the door hanger. Something with a flat surface is usually going to be much easier to glue securely to wood.

That doesn’t mean an embellishment has to be perfectly flat when you buy it. Sometimes an ornament has a string, loop, clip, or little piece on the back that can be removed.

Before buying it, turn it over and think about what will be left once those pieces are gone. If there’s a nice flat area underneath, you may have found a winner!

Choose Door Hanger Embellishments That Will Hold Up

This is especially important if your door hanger is going to be used season after season. I usually stay away from foam embellishments. They can look adorable in the store, but foam can tear, flake, and break down over time. It can also be harder to attach securely.

I’d rather look for materials like wood, plastic, or sturdy dimensional paper pieces.

Whatever you choose, think beyond how cute it looks today. Ask yourself, “Will this still look good when I pull this door hanger out again next Christmas?”

That little question can save you from buying a whole lot of cute things that aren’t actually practical.

Don’t Skip the Miniature Christmas Section

The miniature Christmas tree section is one of those places that can REALLY get your creativity going. Those tiny decorations may be intended for tabletop trees, but that doesn’t mean they have to stay there!

• Mini snowflakes can become accents on a winter door hanger.
• Tiny wreaths can go on a painted Christmas house.
• Little ornaments can become dimensional details on a gingerbread design.
• Small bells or snowflakes can even be attached around the center of a bow.

The trick is to stop thinking about what the package says the item is supposed to be used for. Instead ask yourself, “Does the size work with my door hanger? Can I attach it securely? Does it add something to the design?”

If the answer is yes, it may be exactly what you need.

This is also why I love teaching people how to customize their projects instead of feeling like everything has to look exactly like the original. My post on how to use and customize door hanger templates has more ideas for making a design your own.

Wood Beads Are an Easy Way to Dress Up a Door Hanger

If you want to add a little more personality without changing the painted design itself, try adding wood beads to the hanger.

At Christmas, I love looking for beads in colors like red, white, black, and natural wood.

Think about the colors already in your design.

A buffalo plaid Christmas door hanger could look adorable with black and white beads or red and black beads. A whimsical Christmas design might be cute with alternating red and white.

And don’t assume the package labeled specifically for crafts is always the best deal. Check the ornament and tree-trimming sections too. Sometimes you can find larger packages or different sizes there.

No matter what you use for the hanger itself, make sure everything is attached securely. I walk you through my usual method in How to Hang a Door Hanger.

Scrapbook Paper Can Add Pattern Without More Painting

Scrapbook paper is another supply that door hanger painters sometimes overlook.

You can use patterned paper with Mod Podge to add a completely different texture or design to part of a wooden door hanger.

This can be especially fun when you want a detailed pattern without having to hand-paint every little piece. Plaid, polka dots, stripes, and Christmas prints can all add personality.

My advice is to use patterned paper as an accent rather than feeling like you need to cover the entire project. A little pattern can go a long way.

How Do You Choose Ribbon for a Christmas Door Hanger?

Christmas ribbon aisles can be a little overwhelming because there are SO many choices. Instead of trying to find the fanciest ribbon in the aisle, start with your door hanger.

Look at the colors and patterns already in your design, then choose ribbon that supports them. I like to mix patterns and textures, but they still need to feel like they belong together.

If your door hanger already has a lot happening, a simpler ribbon may be exactly what it needs. If the painted design is simple, your bow can be the place where you bring in more pattern and personality.

And when you find a ribbon you absolutely love, it may be worth grabbing an extra roll. Some seasonal styles return year after year, but there’s no guarantee your favorite will still be there when you need it.

If bows make you nervous, don’t let them! I have an entire tutorial showing you how to make a simple bow for a door hanger. You can also check out my burlap and buffalo plaid door hanger bow for another style.

Don’t Add Something Just Because It’s Cute

There are LOTS of cute things at Hobby Lobby. But every cute thing does not belong on your door hanger. Before adding another embellishment, step back and look at the whole project.

Does the embellishment help tell the story of the design? Does it draw attention to the right place? Or is it starting to make everything feel busy?

Sometimes one little three-dimensional detail is all a door hanger needs. You still want your painting to be the star.

Start Looking at the Craft Store Differently

This is probably my favorite part of hunting for door hanger embellishments.

It stretches your creativity, and you start noticing possibilities everywhere.

Something that looks like a tiny Christmas tree ornament suddenly becomes the perfect accent for a snowman. A strand of beads becomes a hanger. A miniature wreath becomes the finishing touch on a Christmas house.

And that creative thinking carries over into your painting too.

You don’t have to know exactly what you’re looking for before you walk into the store. Give yourself permission to browse, experiment, and see what catches your eye.

Some ideas will work. Some won’t.

That’s part of creating. Trust the process and have fun with it!