Some of the links shared in this blog post are affiliate links. This means I make a small commission when you purchase through these links at no extra cost to you. All opinions and reviews shown are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting my small business!

If you’ve been dreaming of a creative project that’s fun, beginner-friendly, and full of all those essential summer vibes, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m walking you through how to paint this adorable beach bag door hanger — perfect for adding a splash of warmth to your front door or beach house decor!

Find the video tutorial below, or the notes version in this post. You can also find a supply list and link to the door hanger template and blank below, too. 

I hope you enjoy this beach bag door hanger tutorial!

Supply List for Your Beach Bag Door Hanger

Let’s get started! For this tutorial, I used: 

• Beach bag wood blank and the printable door hanger template
• Pink and white polka dot ribbon (approximately 1.5 – 2 inches wide)
• DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint in the following shades:
  • Light mocha
  • White
  • Black
  • Fresh mango
  • Jack O’ Lantern orange
  • Bahama blue
  • Teal
  • Gray sky
  • Fuchsia pop
  • Cadmium yellow
• Craft Twinkles glitter (from DecoArt)
• An Iridescent varnish
• Flat-tip and round-tip brushes in various sizes
• Sponge pouncer
• Water spray bottle
• Chalk
• Painter’s tape (optional)
• Baby wipe (optional, for cleaning chalk lines)

You can find most of these in our shop, on my Amazon storefront, or at your local craft store. And don’t stress if you can’t find the same paint or some of the same supplies. You can use whatever you have on hand!

Step-by-Step: Painting Your Beach Bag Door Hanger

Have all your supplies ready? Let’s dig in!

Step #1: Base Coat and Bag Stripes

I always like to start with the biggest section, then work my way down to the smallest surface area. This method makes it easier to paint designs with lots of color or patterns, and helps avoid overlapping paint across sections. Just make sure your paint is dry before you move to another section! 

Start with a base coat of light mocha for the lower part of the bag. Once it dries, use chalk to hand-sketch curved stripes that match the flow of the bag. Then, use your black acrylic paint to fill in the stripes. 

Don’t worry if they aren’t perfect — fabric has a natural, uneven charm anyway! But if you’re having a hard time painting the curves, you can rotate your door hanger so you can pull your brush toward your body. That will make it so much easier to get those smooth lines!

Step #2: Towel and Sunscreen Details

Next up is the beach towel. Use a base coat of white, followed by fresh mango. Once that’s dry, grab your jack-o’-lantern orange and a sponge pouncer to add cute polka dots using the triangle method for even spacing (you can see more on this painting method here!).

Paint the sunscreen bottle white and add a cadmium yellow label for a sunny touch!

Step #3: The Stanley (Swig) Cup

Next, we’ll paint the tumbler cup. I used Bahama blue, then added some fun leopard print using a slightly lighter shade (created by mixing Bahama blue and white). If leopard print feels intimidating, remember that they’re just wiggly shapes. Shaky lines are actually great for this!

If you want more tips for painting leopard print, check out my tutorial here!

Step #4: Sunglasses and Ribbon

Let’s add more detail, starting with the fuchsia pink sunglasses! Paint the frames bright pink (you may need 2–3 coats before you get the shade you want) and finish the lenses with a cool iridescent varnish for a polarized effect.

For the finishing touch, feed your polka dot ribbon through the pre-cut holes and tie knots on each side to make simple, adorable straps — no bow-making required!

Step #5: Cutting Tips and Template Options

If you don’t have the holes pre-cut in your wood blank, don’t panic! Just use a drill with a ½-inch bit to add them yourself. 

Still warming up to the idea of cutting out your own door hangers or using tools like sanders and jigsaws? I show you everything you need to handle them with confidence in my FREE mini-course for beginners. Grab the guide here!

Get More Door Hanger Tutorials on YouTube

If you loved this project and want more beginner-friendly painting tutorials, tips, and creative inspiration, check out what we have for you over on YouTube! There are tons of great tutorials for all seasons and celebrations. 

Want more summer designs? I recommend watching this tutorial next: Paint a Sassy Pineapple!