Have you ever downloaded a digital template and then thought, “Now what?” Maybe you’ve seen plenty of beautiful designs online, but had no idea what you would do with them. Maybe you even have a secret stash on downloaded templates on your computer, but have never tried using them. 

If that sounds familiar, this post is for you! I’m about to walk you through the exact process for using a door hanger template — printing, taping, tracing, and cutting out a design…the whole nine yards!

The best part? Once you learn this process, you can use it over and over again for any digital template you download. 

For this tutorial, we’re diving into our Magnolia Welcome design — a fan favorite from a past workshop. And guess what? We’ve never released this tutorial publicly before, so you’re getting an exclusive sneak peek!

You can also purchase the template and wood blank to follow along.  

Step #1: Preparing Your Template

First things first, print out your digital template. Then, lay out all the pages in order. You’ll notice the design is split across several sheets, but don’t worry It’s supposed to be printed this way. Just line them up and tape them together like a puzzle, overlap the edges by about 1/8 inch, and smooth it down. 

While I normally use clear shipping tape, regular tape works just fine! 

Make sure everything lines up — especially any words or detailed designs. Once everything is taped together, take a pair of scissors and cut around the outer edge of the design.

Step #2: Tracing Your Design onto Wood

Not sure what type of wood to use for your door hangers? Check out my guide here. 

Once you have your wood, lay the template as close to the edge of the wood as possible (this helps you maximize your space without wasting any wood). 

Using an ink pen or pencil, trace around the outer edge of your design. You might not see the lines very clearly at first, but they should be visible enough to guide you as you cut the wood. 

Step #3: Cutting Out Your Door Hanger with a Jigsaw

Here’s where the fun really begins! In this tutorial, I use a standard Skill brand jigsaw with a 20 TPI (tips per inch) scrolling blade. It’s narrow with lots of teeth, which makes it perfect for maneuvering around curves and tight spots.

A few tips…

• Start at the edge of the wood, and slowly guide the jigsaw forward, watching the blade as it follows your traced lines.
• When approaching corners, slow down, and if needed, back up slightly to reposition before turning.
• For tight turns (like leaves in this design), go slow, and don’t be afraid to stop and readjust when needed
• If the blade starts making that chattering sound, support the wood better to stabilize it. 
• If you need a sharper angle, back up and cut through scrap wood to give yourself a better turning angle.

Psssst…I have some more in-depth instructions for you in my beginner’s guide!

Step #4: Smoothing the Edges

Once your piece is cut out, you need to sand the rough edges so your paint goes on smoothly. I use an 80-grit mouse sander from Skill for this step. 

Sand in a downward, circular motion all the way around your piece for a nice, smooth finish. When it comes to the edges, pay special attention to where the wood was cut. They’ll be rough, but a good sanding will make all the difference!

Ready for the Next Step?

I hope this guide gives you the confidence to try using a jigsaw for yourself! I know it can feel super intimidating at first, but you’ll feel so proud once it’s done!

And now that you’ve cut your door hanger and it’s sanded, it’s time for the best part — painting! In the next tutorial, I’ll show you how to paint the Magnolia Welcome design