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Learning how to craft is all one big science experiment! The tools and techniques that work for one person, may not work for the other. We all have our own way of doing things but the most important thing to remember is to  have fun!

With that being said, however, there are some ways you can fast-track your mastery of crafts like door hangers. Part of the fun is the learning. But sometimes, the overwhelm of not knowing what to do next, or where to start, can get in the way of having a good time. 

I’ve trialed and errored a LOT of door hanger tools and techniques in my day. So here, I want to give you a few pointers to help you out. I’m going to show you the secrets of every good door hanger starter kit, plus some resource recommendations, so you can skip right to the good stuff!

Before you get started with your door hanger starter kit…

I know you probably want to jump ahead to all the resources and supplies mentioned in this post. But before you run off and get started, I want to give you some tips that will make things even easier!

1. Take your time, give yourself grace, and enjoy the process: Painting isn’t something that should be stressful! It’s there to enrich our lives, not make them harder. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself.
2. If you’re frustrated, walk away: Sometimes you need a break (and a good snack!), even when it’s something you enjoy doing. Take a minute (or even wait overnight), and come back to it with fresh eyes.
3. Start with the largest area first: With door hangers, you want to work back to front. Start with the background, the largest area, and then tackle the next biggest, and so on and so forth, until you get to the hand lettering and details at the end. 

Door hanger starter kit: Paints

Think you need super high-quality paint to get super high-quality door hangers? Well, that’s only partially true. While having good paint is a must, that doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. 

In fact, I’ve been using DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint for years. The colors are vibrant, long-lasting, and go on smoothly. I’ve tried out several different kinds of paints and I can tell you that this one is BY FAR the best. 

Plus, it’s affordable and easy to find in almost any craft store!

GRAB MY PAINT RECOMMENDATION HERE: 

DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint

Door hanger starter kit: Paint pens

While we’re on the topic of paint…let’s dig into paint pens! I recommend using Artistro Dual Tip Markers or Posca paint pens. 

Using paint pens to detail your door hangers will make a huge difference (and they’re so much easier to use than doing it by brush). Plus, you really only need two colors to get started — a black and white pen in a few varying sizes. This will help you create all the small details you need to make your door hangers pop! 

GRAB MY PAINT PEN RECOMMENDATIONS HERE: 

Artistro Paint Pens

Door hanger starter kit: Brushes

When buying paintbrushes, there’s only one thing to remember — keep it simple! 

There are all kinds of paintbrushes in all kinds of different shapes and sizes. This is why I recommend staying in the craft aisle when shopping! There, you’ll find a much simpler, easy-to-use, selection of brushes. 

And as far as shape goes, you only need a few different ones:

: 

• Large, flat-tip brushes are good for base coating
• Filbert tips are good for painting things like polka dots and petals
• A round brush can help you create those fine details

One last thing: You want to go for the ones with nylon bristles (usually yellow or white, but can be any color!) and a plastic handle. Brushes with these materials last over time and are less prone to wear and tear over time. 

GRAB MY PAINTBRUSH RECOMMENDATION HERE: 

Southern Adoornments Signature Brush Set

Door hanger starter kit: Templates

The possibilities are endless — there are so many cute designs out there! But when starting out, I recommend going for a simple door hanger template design. A good rule of thumb is to keep it to about 6 colors max with minimal detail. 

Baseballs, sunflowers, and mason jars are popular for beginners because they’re so easy to paint, but we also have some free templates that can help you get started! They even come with a tutorial and supply list so you know exactly how to make it!

GRAB MY TEMPLATE RECOMMENDATION HERE: 

Free Template Library

Door hanger starter kit: Wood blanks

To make door hangers, you’re obviously going to need a wood blank to paint on! If you’re a beginner, I would recommend getting a little bit of practice in before cutting out your own.

Hobby Lobby has really stepped up their door hanger game recently, and they even have seasonal blanks you can purchase and paint on! However, if you want to keep it simple, go for the round blanks — you can paint and practice with nearly any design that way!

We also have blanks available for purchase in the shop, with designs already etched on them. The etched designs make it SUPER easy to follow along with all of the free door hanger tutorials I have over on YouTube!

GRAB MY WOOD BLANK RECOMMENDATION HERE: 

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Baseball Wood Blank

Make door hangers even easier with a Big Box of Blanks subscription!

Want to make the door hanger-making process even easier? The Big Box of Blanks subscription has you covered!

Each quarter, you’ll get three wood blanks shipped right to your front door, along with the door hanger templates (delivered to your inbox), cut out and ready to paint! If you don’t want to cut out your own blanks, but want to have beautiful, seasonal designs to work on (minus the hassle of figuring out what to paint), this is for you! 

Follow me here to learn more about the Big Box of Blanks subscription!

P.S. We’re opening up the doors one last time to join in on all the fun of our quarter 3 designs! Sign up by July 12th and you’ll get these adorable designs from Q3’s box! 

* If you wait, you can still sign up for the box, but you won’t be able to get started until we ship out Q4’s box in September.