Now that it’s October, I am so excited to finally feel like we are in the real fall season! Although I am all about the pumpkin spice and hayride life this time of the year, I have never been a huge fan of orange – so when it comes to decor, I try my best to steer clear of that color as much as possible. Even so, I seriously considered making this wreath specific to Halloween, but as you can see, instead, opted to go a more neutral route for a couple reasons: 1. Limit the orange (oops. I tried to love it, y’all), and 2. keep this season’s decor a little more low-maintenance. The less stuff we need to take down/repack at the end of October – the better! Can I get an Amen?! As always, I’ve included my supplies below, followed by the 5 simple steps to complete this DIY. Keep in mind that this project is super customizable – so feel free to switch up your colors & choice of ribbon to your heart’s content!
Supplies:
Unfinished Initial (I used the 15″ size in this project)
Chalk Paint in Linen (y’all, I have used this same can since APRIL!)
Acrylic Paint in White, Light Brown & Dark Brown (I used paint I had leftover from other projects but if you are starting from scratch, I recommend this set to save some $$ and get all your basic colors at once)
Finishing Protective Spray in Satin
Step 1: Get out your unfinished initial/monogram (this company has so many options on Etsy that are super inexpensive). As you can see, the back of the initial has a small opening for hanging – if you are planning on securing your finished project using that opening, I recommend that you do not paint that part. Begin painting the initial using your chalk paint and foam brush. Allow the first layer to dry & repeat until desired coverage is reached – I did about 3 layers in total.
Step 2: After the chalk paint has dried, grab your acrylic paints in brown, dark brown, and white, along with a couple paper towels, small cup of water, and paper plate for mixing. Dip your brush in water before applying the paint as this will help in creating a faux wood grain appearance. Using the lighter shade of brown first, begin streaking it around the circular portion of the initial – always going in the same direction. Follow by adding in dashes of the deeper brown, blending it in with your brush. If you want more of the worn look, take one of the paper towels and firmly rub it across different portions of the freshly painted oval. Then, using the light shade of brown, dip your brush back into the water and very gently streak it in different areas of the letter itself to complete the rustic look.
Step 3: Once the acrylic paint has dried, grab your finishing spray – this step is key for protecting your work, especially if you plan on putting your finished fall piece out where it will be exposed to the elements. In a well-ventilated place (preferably outside) spray one layer, wait 30 minutes, then spray another. This sealant will dry to the touch in 10 minutes, but I recommend giving it another 30 or so to set before handling.
Step 4: If your sealant has dried, it’s ribbon time! Burlap and lace are perfect for all seasons, but especially for fall and winter. Before cutting your ribbon, test out the size you think you will want your bow to be by wrapping the ribbon in from the back and looping it the same way for the other side of the bow. Fold each end of the bow to make its ears. When satisfied with placement/proportion, cut the ribbon to size; securing the bow to the initial by tying a double-knot in the back. On either side of the bow, adjust the parallel ribbon pieces to fit your preference.
Step 5: All that’s left is to hang your completed fall monogram door hanger & you’re all done! (Side note: Our front door has a screen door in front of it, which is why I did not treat the ribbon. If yours does not, a quick layer of Scotchgard should do the trick!)
Hope y’all enjoyed this DIY! More fall posts will be headed your way soon & even though I definitely made it sound like I do, I pinky-promise I don’t always completely limit the orange in our house for Halloween/October, check out last year’s Halloween Bar Cart & Mantel posts for proof 🙂
Supplies for this project:
Not ready to get started? Pin this project to complete it later:
