DIY Watermelon Door Hanger from Woven Placemats (Yes, Really)
If you are looking for a fun way to decorate your front door this summer, this DIY watermelon door hanger from two woven placemats deserves a spot at the top of your list!
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Your neighbors are going to stop and look.
Not because your front door decor is over the top.
Because it’s a watermelon!
Made from placemats. Two of them to be exact.
Two placemats. A needle and thread. A guitar strap. I promise this is going somewhere good…
It hangs from a guitar style crossbody strap, and it has a built-in pocket along the top for tucking in faux greenery or florals.
It’s beginner-friendly, budget-smart, and a fun way to decorate your front door all summer long!
Your Shopping List, Sorted
Here is the supply list of what you need for this project:
- 2 round woven placemats (look for flexible placemats, not rigid.)
- Straight pins or T-pins
- Large needle and thread or twine
- Acrylic paint: dark green, lime green, white, light pink (or red and white to mix), red, black
- Paint brushes in various sizes
- 2 hinged O-rings (the key ring style)
- Guitar-style crossbody strap
- Faux greenery or florals for the pocket
Round woven placemats are pretty easy to find these days. Check your local craft store, Target, TJ Maxx , or honestly, your own kitchen drawer. You are looking for neutral, flexible ones that have a tight enough weave to hold paint.
Slice, Stitch, and Paint
Before we get into the really fun part, a little assembly is required. Grab your placemats, your pins, and your needle and thread… here is how it all comes together.
Fold and Pin
Take each placemat and fold it horizontally so you have a half-circle shape. Pin along the straight folded edge to hold everything in place while you work.
If your placemats are on the thicker side, T-pins will grip better than regular straight pins.
Do this on both placemats before moving on.
Sew the Edges
Thread your needle and use a simple over-under stitch to sew the pinned edge of each placemat closed. Be sure to tie a strong knot when you finish. Then repeat with the second placemat.
Once both are sewn, stack them on top of each other and line up the edges.
Now sew along the curved edge only, with stitches about half an inch apart. Leave the straight top edge completely open. That open edge is your pocket, and you will thank yourself for it later when you are tucking in faux greenery.
You can remove all the pins once the curved edge is sewn.
Missy’s Note
Don’t stress about making your stitches perfect or matching them up between the two layers. They are going to be covered with paint. Nobody will ever know!
Paint Your Watermelon Slice
Now for the fun part!
Start painting with your dark green paint along the curved edge of the pocket. If your placemat has a natural woven pattern along the edge, follow it as your guide for the green rind.
Paint the bottom of the curve and a little bit onto the other side as well.
Next, paint a stripe of lime green just above the dark green. You can buy the lime green acrylic paint or mix it yourself with green, white, and a touch of yellow. (This saves you money!)
Then a thin stripe of white above the lime…
And then a thin stripe of light pink. (I mixed my red and white to get the shade of pink I wanted.)
Now paint the rest of the woven side red for the flesh of the watermelon slice. A melon red rather than a fire-engine red looks most realistic. Add a tiny bit of white to your red if you want to soften it up.
A combination of brush strokes and a pouncing motion works really well on the woven texture. You can cover the mat completely or leave a little of the weave showing for texture. Both look great!
Missy’s Note
This project needs to dry overnight. I know. I know. It’s hard to be patient! But the weave soaks up the paint and rushing it will cost you. Set it aside, go do something fun, and come back to it tomorrow. It will be worth it!
Paint the Black Seeds
Once your watermelon slice is fully dry, use a smaller paint brush and black paint to add seeds to the red flesh.
Dot them on in a natural scattered pattern. A few seeds are plenty. This is a watermelon, not a seed catalog!
Add the Hardware
Take your two hinged O-rings and push the hinge down on each one. Pierce each ring through the side of the watermelon slice a few inches down from the top, sliding it around two or three of the side stitches. Release the hinge and give it a good tug to make sure it is secure, one ring on each side.
Clip your guitar-style cross-body strap onto the O-rings on both sides.
Then tuck your faux greenery or florals down into the open pocket along the top. That’s it!
So cute and so summery!
How to Style It for Your Front Door
There are so many ways to display this door hanger.
Hang it on your front porch door, a hook on your patio, or even on an interior wall for a pop of summer color. Have fun with it!
The guitar strap does a lot of the decorating work on its own, so lean into a fun pattern. Stripes, gingham, or a bold floral all look amazing against the watermelon slice.
Swap out the greenery with bright, faux florals if you want more color, or tuck in a small patriotic pick around the Fourth of July and get a little more mileage out of it.
This door hanger makes me genuinely happy every single time I walk past it. Summer decor should feel like that!
If DIY is your thing…
grid mirror diy
woven map travel journal
Simple Crackle Glass
One Last Seed
Such a random supply list (placemats and a guitar strap?) that turns into such a fun decor piece.
That is really all it takes to have the most cheerful front door on the block this summer!
If you make one, I would absolutely love to see it. Tag me or drop a photo in the comments.
Cheers!
A Little About Me
Hi! I’m missy. So happy to meet you!
“Decorate with Joy! Live with Happiness”
I truly believe that your home should be a reflection of your personality, a space where you feel free to express yourself and create a sanctuary that feels uniquely yours.
I love creating mood boards, hunting down unique home décor treasures, tackling easy DIY projects, and gathering with family and friends. Homes are meant to be enjoyed, filled with laughter, and shared with the people you love!
– cheers –
Don’t Forget to Pin It!
Pin the image below to your boards on Pinterest (just click the Pin button in the top left corner). You can also follow along with me on Pinterest!
For Your Shopping Bag
