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Learning how to letter on door hangers doesn’t have to be intimidating! This checkered Easter door hanger combines a trendy pattern with hand lettering for a project that looks impressive but is totally beginner-friendly.
The secret? Using lettering templates and a few simple techniques that eliminate the guesswork. In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through creating a colorful checkered door hanger with “Hippity Hop” lettering – just in time for Easter.
Whether you’re new to hand lettering skills for crafters or looking to improve your technique, this step-by-step guide will help you create professional-looking results.
Checkered Easter Sign Supply List
Before we begin, gather these materials to make your hand-lettered wood sign. Most of the supplies I used can be found on my Amazon storefront, or at your local craft store!
Paint & Base Materials
- 16-inch round MDF door hanger blank
- White chalk paint (I used Afraid Knot Cotton by Nicole)
- Crystal Blue acrylic paint (Folk Art)
- Tangerine orange acrylic paint (Folk Art)
- Pink, green, and additional accent colors (in whatever colors you want!)
- Foam or regular paintbrushes (various sizes)
- Flat-tipped paintbrush (width of checker squares)
- Chip brush (for distressing)
- Fan brush (for splatter paint)
Lettering Tools
- Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen
- Posca paint pens (blue, orange, pink, green)
- Gray watercolor pencil
- Graphite transfer paper (white or gray)
- Hand lettering template (available inside the Template Library!)
- Ruler or paint stick
- Washi tape or clips
Finishing Supplies
- Opal glitter medium
- Rustoleum clear gloss spray sealer
- Small liner brushes
- Eraser
Step #1: Paint the Base and Create Your Checker Grid
Start by applying a white base coat to your entire door hanger. Chalk paint provides excellent coverage and typically requires fewer layers than regular acrylic paint. Let this dry completely (10-15 minutes).
Creating the checker grid:
Using a ruler or paint stick, line up with the pre-drilled holes at the top of your door hanger to ensure straight lines. With a gray watercolor pencil, draw horizontal lines across the top half of the sign where you want your checkerboard pattern.
PRO TIP: Watercolor pencils are game-changers for sign making! The softer lead erases easily, and the watercolor formula blends with paint so pencil lines disappear. This is especially important for light colors like yellow or orange that won’t cover regular graphite.
Space your lines evenly to create squares. Then draw vertical lines to complete the grid pattern.
Step #2: Paint the Checkerboard Pattern
Choose your checker colors. For this Easter door hanger, I used bright blue and white for a fun, spring vibe, but farmhouse colors like muted blue or dusty pink would be beautiful too!
Painting technique:
Select a flat-tipped paintbrush that’s approximately the width of your squares. This makes painting much faster and helps keep edges relatively straight.
Paint every other square blue, working across each row. You don’t need tape! Tape often pulls paint off MDF surfaces and creates ridges. Just take your time and paint carefully.
The first coat will likely be streaky – that’s normal. Let it dry, then add a second coat if needed. Remember, we’ll be adding distressing later, so slight imperfections actually add to the vintage charm!
Step #3: Add Vintage Distressing
This step transforms your checkers from flat to dimensional!
Using your chip brush with very little white paint, drag streaky lines across your blue squares in one direction. Then add a few streaks going the opposite direction. This creates a weathered, vintage look while also softening any areas where your checkers aren’t perfectly even.
The distressing technique camouflages imperfections and gives your door hanger that handmade, rustic appeal. Don’t overdo it. Add just enough to add texture and visual interest.
Step #4: Transfer and Letter Your Design
This is where knowing how to transfer lettering to door hangers comes in handy. But if you aren’t sure how, don’t worry! I’ll walk you through it in this step.
Transferring your lettering template:
Position your printed lettering template on the lower half of your door hanger. Secure it with washi tape or clips so it doesn’t shift.
Slide graphite transfer paper between your template and the door hanger (shiny side down toward the wood). Trace over your lettering firmly with a pencil, periodically lifting the template to check that the design is transferring clearly.
Doing the hand lettering:
Once transferred, use your Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen to letter over the traced lines. This pen provides rich, opaque black that shows up beautifully. It’s my favorite for sign lettering!
Press down firmly as you letter – this actually stabilizes your hand and prevents shaky lines. Work slowly and deliberately.
For added dimension, try faux calligraphy: go back and thicken the downstrokes of letters like the “H” in “Hop” to create varied line weights.
PRO TIP: After lettering, check your work from a distance or photograph it. You’ll notice things from far away that you can’t see up close, allowing you to clean up any uneven areas.
Step #5: Add Colorful Accents
This step brings everything together!
Accent dots and dashes:
Using Posca paint pens in coordinating colors (blue, orange, pink, green), add small decorative elements:
- Tiny dots along the lettering curves
- Short dash marks around letters for emphasis
- Color accents that tie the checkerboard into the lettering
You don’t need to trace these – just freehand small embellishments that complement your template design.
Splatter paint:
Thin your orange paint with water until it’s quite runny. Load a fan brush with the thinned paint, then flick it across your door hanger to create splatter effects. Practice your aim first – the paint will spray in the direction you’re flicking!
Step #6: Finishing Touches
Add glitter:
Apply Opal glitter medium to your lettering and select accent areas. This iridescent glitter catches light beautifully and makes colors pop.
Use a small brush and work carefully. You can go over black ink marker once without smudging, but multiple passes may cause the ink to blur.
Seal your work:
Once everything is completely dry, take your door hanger outside and spray it with Rustoleum clear gloss sealer. Hold the can 8-10 inches away and apply an even coat. This protects your hand lettering from smudging and weather damage.
Add your bow:
Finish with a coordinating ribbon bow that incorporates all your accent colors. This ties the whole design together and adds that polished, professional touch!
Ready to Master Hand Lettering for Signs?
Did you enjoy this tutorial? You’ll be happy to know that creating hand-lettered door hangers becomes so much easier when you understand hand-lettering composition for signs and have the right techniques in your toolkit!
If you loved this checkered door hanger project and want to take your sign lettering to the next level, my Lettering for Signmakers Course teaches you everything you need to create professional hand-lettered signs from scratch.
Inside the course, you’ll learn:
- Layout and composition for perfect spacing every time
- How to choose the right tools for different surfaces
- Transfer methods that actually work
- Paint pen and brush lettering techniques
- Troubleshooting common lettering problems
- Creating signs for every season and occasion
Whether you’re making door hangers, wood signs, or paint party projects, these hand lettering skills for crafters will transform your work.
