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If you’re anything like me, you love switching out your door hanger for every season. There are just so many cute ideas floating around out there that I want to try! I could seriously have a new door hanger for every week of the year. 

But sometimes, you just want one that can hang up all the time, without thinking about changing it out. Well, friend, meet your new favorite: the “Welcome Friends Ticket Frame” all-year-round door hanger. 

It’s cheerful, classy, and totally versatile — perfect for any season and any porch. And this video will walk you through how to make it on your own! 

Grab your paintbrushes and let’s get to paintin’!

All Year Round Door Hanger Tutorial Supplies

Whether you’re using a ready-made wood blank from our shop or cutting your own with a template, the basics are the same. 

• Paint colors (you can find them here):
  • White (base coat)
  • Light Mocha (buffalo plaid background)
  • Victorian Blue, Royal Navy, and Baby Blue (for the bow and text)
  • Houser Medium & Light Green (for the vines)
    
• Brushes and tools:
  • Flat, filbert, round, and angled tip brushes
  • Painter’s tape (1.5” is the sweet spot for plaid!)
  • Baby wipes to help wipe up any mistakes
  • Sponge, paper towels, clear spray sealer, and water for blending

You can also purchase the blank and the door hanger template for this design in our shop!

Step #1: Soft Buffalo Plaid Background

We start with a white base coat — that’s our blank canvas. When you have a solid basecoat down, you can paint everything else pretty easily!

Then, it’s time to create the buffalo plaid:

1. Lay painter’s tape horizontally, using a small piece as your guide.
2. Wrap a baby wipe around your finger, dip it into Light Mocha, and dab between the tape.
3. Peel the tape, dry the stripes, then tape them again vertically and repeat. Crossing the stripes is how you get the plaid look!

Step #2: Paint the Bow and Lettering

This step is when we start adding in the color. We’ll use the Victorian Blue for both the bow and the letters. Then, to add depth, you’ll need to: 

• Add Royal Navy for shading and Baby Blue for highlights. Trust the process here! The contrast makes it pop beautifully.
• Outline your shapes with a round brush and some thinned navy paint. Go slow, and rest your hand on the table if it helps.
• For extra flair, mix a bit of Baby Blue with Victorian Blue and add highlights to the downstrokes of the letters. 

Step #3: Paint the Vines

This is the last detail to add, and this greenery is the piece that really brings it all together!

• Start with Houser Light Green and add Medium Green for shading.
• Use an angle tip brush to glide those soft shadows on the leaves. Don’t overthink it — it’s okay if it’s not perfect! It will add a touch of whimsy to your overall design.
• Step back and see if you need to adjust any of the leaves for a fuller look.

Don’t Forget to Seal the Final Product!

Want to enhance your design even further? Always seal your door hanger if it’s going outside — front, back, and edges! This will help it last longer and protect it against things like wind, heat, sun, and dust.

Just make sure you wait until it’s fully dry before using the sealer.

NOTE: I recommend only using a spray sealer. Paint-on sealers don’t tend to work well with acrylic paint. 

Grab this Year-Round Door Hanger Blank and Template in the Shop!

Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned painter, this project is a joy to create. It adds a warm, welcoming touch to your home any season of the year. Give it a try and have some fun with it! Even if you mess up, it’s just paint, and you can always paint over it. 

Don’t forget to grab your door hanger blank and the door hanger template in the shop so you can follow along with the video tutorial!