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In my early days of door hanger making, I didn’t always get it right. With no prior experience, most of what I know now came from good old-fashioned trial and error. Let’s just say, I made a lot of mistakes back then!

But you know what? Some of those mistakes taught me more than anything else. So, let’s take a little trip down memory lane as I share my two biggest door hanger mistakes — and how you can avoid them yourself!

Mistakes I Learned From My First Door Hanger

Nearly 11 years ago, when Pinterest parties were just becoming a thing, I had this brilliant idea to make snowman door hangers with my friends.

Let me tell you — I had NO clue what I was doing. Back then, there were no door hanger templates or tutorials. Everything we did, we had to figure out on our own.

I even messaged some crafters who were already making door hangers, hoping they’d share a few tips with me. But nope, everyone was super secretive and didn’t want to share their best practices. 

Did I let that stop me? Nope! I marched into Lowe’s armed with Pinterest inspiration, ready to figure it out myself. 

And that’s where mistake #1 comes in…

Door Hanger Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Wood

I’ll never forget that first Lowe’s trip. Somehow, I ended up buying three-eighth-inch thick layered plywood — a decision I regretted the second I tried cutting it!

It was heavy, bulky, and about as cooperative as a toddler in a toy store. Cutting it out with my dad’s jigsaw? It was a workout.

That experience was rough, but it taught me an important lesson: use the right wood.

After that, I went back to Lowe’s and discovered Revolution plywood, which was much lighter and easier to work with. I used it for a long time, especially when I was still hand-cutting everything with a jigsaw.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was so much better than that layered plywood nightmare. Later, I discovered an even better option.

My Recommendation

These days, I use a quarter-inch thick MDF or plywood underlayment. MDF is smooth, lightweight, and cuts like butter. If you want a higher-end option, birch plywood is a great choice, but it can get pricey.

Door Hanger Mistake #2: Using Cheap Paint

Back in the day, my crafting budget was tight. I grabbed the cheapest paint I could find — which, at the time, meant stocking up on Apple Barrel paints from Walmart.

To be fair, they worked okay for small projects or when you’re just starting out. But when it came to door hangers, they just didn’t cut it.

The coverage was inconsistent, the colors didn’t pop like I wanted, and the worst part? They turned into liquid goo if they sat in the car too long. It was so frustrating to work with!

My Recommendation

Now, I use Deco Art Americana paints. The coverage is smooth, the colors are vibrant and consistent, and they’ve never turned to liquid in the car! Investing in better paints has made a huge difference in the quality of my projects. It’s by far the best paint I’ve ever used.

Want to try them for yourself? I even wrote a whole blog post about how to find your colors and pick out the perfect paints. Check it out here!

We’ve All Been There — But You Don’t Have to Stay There

If you’ve realized you’re making these door hanger mistakes, don’t worry. We’ve all been there!

Starting something new can be tough, especially when you’re figuring it out on your own. But over the past 10 years, I’ve learned so much — from teaching paint parties to online tutorials — and now, I want to help you avoid all the mistakes I made!

No gatekeeping here. I’m sharing all the tips and tricks I wish I’d known when I first started.

I’ve created a Beginner’s Guide to DIY Door Hangers just for you. It’s packed with all the basic, need-to-know info about creating your own door hangers from scratch. Inside, you’ll learn what supplies you need, how to use a door hanger template, and so much more!

Sound like what you’ve been looking for? Download your free guide here!