A Decorator Door Hanger

We use them to enter and exit a room on a continual basis. If you want to brighten them a little more, add some extra design to door knobs and doors with this project. Make several and give as gifts.

MATERIALS

* 1 Piece cardboard 7" x 12-14" (or smaller, depending on the size and shape you want it to be)

* Craft felt or fabric (plain or holiday print, but not too flimsy)

* Decoupage or craft glue

* Cord trim 14" long (or the size of the shape outline and 1/4" - 1/8" overlap)

* Various decorative items: flat and/or 3-D plastic or wooden shapes, or holiday items and decorations

* Scissors

* Compass or large glass (for drawing a circle)

INSTRUCTIONS

*Note: Measure how large you want the Door Hang to be, based on each door you're decorating. Be careful to not make it so wide that opening and closing the door becomes awkward because of it. Do not have the edge of it meet the edge of the door; make it at least an inch more narrow than that.

1) Cut and round the top and bottom corner edges of the cardboard piece that you're using so they're not pointed but curved.

2) Using a compass or a large glass, etc., draw a circle on the center top area of the cardboard. Be sure to leave at least a 1 inch rim of cardboard framing the cut out portion of the cardboard in order to be able to hang the item on the door knob. Make sure that the circle you're cutting out will leave a hole large enough to fit over the door knob so it can be slipped on and off easily.

3) Cut out the circle. It won't be used, but you can save it for a smaller recycling craft project.

4) Place the finished cardboard shape "pattern" on top of the back of the piece of felt or fabric that you're using. Trace around the edges of the cardboard, making sure to include drawing around the hole that was just cut out.

5) Cut the fabric to fit the exact shape of the cardboard.

6) If using decoupage, work very quickly to paint the decoupage onto the cardboard and place the fabric or felt on top. Press quickly as you smooth the fabric to remove any air bubbles. (THIS DRIES VERY QUICKLY SO TRY AND GET THE FABRIC IN POSITION BEFORE IT DOES!) You can use a mixture of half craft glue and half water instead of the decoupage. Test a small, extra piece of the fabric first though to see if the glue/water mixture seeps through. It takes longer for this to dry, but it also gives you a little more time to get the fabric or felt placed just right on the shape.

7) When it is dry, glue a piece of the cording around the entire edge of the Door Hang to cover the edge of the cardboard. A hot glue gun works best for this, but craft glue can be used. It just takes the craft glue longer to dry. You can also cover the back of the shape in the same way in which you covered the front. If you do this, wait until it is dry as well before gluing on the cording around the edge rim.

8) Finish decorating the front by gluing on the embellishments you've chosen.

9) When dry, hang on the door knob and enjoy or wrap as a gift.

Regenia G. Butcher is an author on a site for Creative Writers ( http://www.Writing.Com ). She is also a crafter and is currently working on a "quirky" word reference book. She usually not only sees the glass half full, but rejoices that there IS a glass. You can visit her portfolio at: http://www.sensity.writing.com