I’m so excited to be painting this charming “Hello Autumn” door hanger with you today! This fall door hanger is perfect for carrying through the Thanksgiving season. Whether you’re an experienced artist or a creative person looking to try something new, I’m going to walk you through the process of painting this door hanger with a stencil and even give some helpful tips and tricks along the way. Let’s get started! 

Supplies: 

• Wooden Door Hanger Round 

• Paint Colors: 

• Camel Beige (or a similar color) 

• Scarlet Red

• Vivid Orange 

• White

• Black 

• Clover Green 

• Hauser Dark Green 

• Scruffy Chip Brush

• Stencil from The Stencilsmith

• Stencil Brush 

• Painter’s Tape 

• Baby WIpes

Painting the Background 

One of my favorite things about this door hanger is if you’re starting the project out with a rough surfaced door hanger round it’s totally fine! For this specific tutorial the rough surface just adds to that rustic fall feel we are going for in the faux linen textured background. I painted my entire background black. Then you will start by grabbing your favorite chip brush and dry brush the beige color lightly over the door hanger. Be sure that you are brushing across the surface in one direction which will allow some of the wood to peek through for texture. Next, you’re going to go back and brush in the opposite direction to create a cross-hatching effect. 

TIP: You might notice some areas that are a bit too covered by this cross-hatching effect. To soften any harsh areas, lightly brush over them with a bit of black paint. You can thin the paint with a bit of water, but you’ll want to be sure that your brush remains mostly dry. 

Once you are happy with the texture on your background you will want to let it dry. I just want to encourage you to not get too caught up in the perfection of your background. I know it can be tempting to get it just right, but soon we’ll put a stencil on top and add our design so most of the background will be covered. If you’re eager for your background to dry so you can move on to the next step, you can use a hair dryer to speed this process up a bit. 

Adding the “Hello Autumn” Design

You’ll want to be sure that your door hanger is completely dry before you put your stencil down. I am using this adorable stencil from The Stencilsmith, I have the 18 inch and it fits perfectly on my door hanger. Did you know that I am an affiliate for TheStencilSmith.com? If you use my code ARTSYMOON you will get 15% off - not only this stencil - but your entire order over at The Stencilsmith. 

When using a stencil, painter’s tape is going to be your best friend! Center your stencil on your dried background by lining up the horizontal lines of the stencil with the board. Next, use painter’s tape to secure the stencil in place so that it doesn’t shift while you’re painting. 

We’ll start by painting the pumpkin in the center of the design. Use a stencil brush, and pick up both Vivid Orange and Scarlet Red on the same brush. Offload any excess paint onto a paper towel to avoid bleeding under the stencil. The key here is to apply lightly and evenly using a circular motion. Once the first layer is dry, you can go over it again to intensify in color. To add highlights to your pumpkin, you’re going to want to dip your brush into a lighter orange or mix in a bit of white. Gently apply this to the areas of the pumpkin that would catch the light, focusing on the top and middle sections. Use darker shades, like the Scarlet, at the base of the pumpkin to add some dimension. 

Add the Bold Lettering 

Now it’s time to make the words “Hello Autumn” really pop! Using the same stencil brush, start with Scarlet for the base layer of your letters. Offload the excess paint and use small circular motions, just as you did for the pumpkin. To create a subtle glowing effect and add depth, mix some white paint with your orange paint and lightly highlight the tops of your letters. If you feel like any of the areas are too light or could use a little more contrast, just continue to go over them with darker shades until you’re satisfied. 

Adding the Final Touches

Next, we’ll work on the stem and vines of our pumpkin. For the stem, we’re going to paint it Clover Green. As we work our way up the stem, we’re going to add in some white to highlight the top part. Using Hauser Dark Green, add some shadows to the stem at the base where it meets the pumpkin. Finally, tap in some white and green paint mixtures to create highlights and give the stem a more 3-D feeling. 

Before removing the stencil, it’s important to do a quick check to be sure that everything looks balanced. If you’re happy with your work, carefully lift off the stencil for the big reveal. This is the most exciting part! Add any final highlights or shadows to your pumpkin, vines, or letters using small detail brushes. 

When you have completed your work I always recommend sealing the door hanger with a clear matte or satin varnish to protect it. Once it is dry, you can attach a pretty ribbon or hanger and it’s ready for your front door! I usually don’t get too fancy with my ribbons, but you certainly may do that!

Something Else for You to Enjoy

If you enjoyed the process of painting this door hanger, then you will love all the painting projects we do together in my membership, the Artsy Moon Paint Club! From door hangers to canvas paintings, the Artsy Moon Paint Club is a library of over one hundred Step-by-Step painting tutorials, and it’s constantly growing with two to three new tutorials every month. 

This membership isn’t just for beginners or advanced painters, either. There are tutorials for every skill level in my membership. Be encouraged by other painters in the club with a community setting that is there to lift one another up. With tons of tutorials to choose from that are organized and easy to follow, it’s perfect for busy schedules. You can sign up today and make painting a relaxing part of your routine!