DIY Hand Painted Wooden Pencil Door Sign

Create one of a kind, unique and personalized teacher gifts with this DIY hand painted wooden pencil door sign! My step by step tutorial will teach you how to draw the pencil outline, cut the wood, paint it and add a ribbon bow! 

Decorating a classroom can be a fun way for teachers to welcome their students and add a sense of personalization to their classroom door. With just a few supplies and some imagination, you can transform a plain piece of plywood into a beautiful painted classroom door hanger, complete with the teacher’s name in the shape of a pencil! 

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Check out my Teacher Gift Ideas  and a class printable for daily Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas!

DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

Why I Wanted To Make A Door Hanger

My daughter’s teacher’s birthday is coming up, so you all know what that means…you need a gift! Because I’m the queen of handmade gifts I started thinking about what I could make. I didn’t want it to be something that she probably had 100 of already, like a mug. I wanted something that could stay up year round and would be a friendly reminder each time she saw it. 

I thought about the supplies I already had laying around, because hey, let’s face it! Doesn’t it seem like every time you turn around you’re shelling out money for this and that and this and that for school related happenings?? — I know I’m not alone on this one! ha!!

I had a leftover sheet of 1/4” plywood in the garage so I decided to make a door hanger in the shape of a pencil! I was so thrilled with how it turned out, that I couldn’t wait to share my tutorial with you so you can make one yourself!

DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

I’ve always allowed my kids to help me with every project I do so this one was no different. They were the best little helpers and made this hand painted wooden pencil door sign extra special!

It was so easy to make, so easy that you all can make it too! For less than $10! Let me show you how you can make your own!

Supplies To Make A Pencil Door Hanger

Pencil Door Hanger Template

While I would highly recommend free-hand drawing the pencil for a template, I know that some people would prefer a template to trace or at least copy. 

So, I created a template for you to download, print and copy to create your very own sign! Adjust the print size percentage to your desired pencil sign size. If you are making a larger sign, like mine, you can print this on multiple pages and tape them together to make the template. 

Step-by-Step Tutorial Process

To make one for yourself, first you’ll need paints and brushes, as well as plain wood – like plywood – to create the sign. Cut out the pencil shape with a jigsaw and then paint with your favorite acrylic paint. When all is dry, it’s time to add some flair – like how about a ribbon and burlap bow added to the top of the sign? Now you have one fabulous and personalized door hanger ready to adorn your classroom this upcoming school year.

My daughter drew the pencil and then I took my Black & Decker Jig Saw and cut it out. (If you are looking for a saw that is easy to use I 200% recommend a jigsaw! Seriously it’s beyond easy to use, isn’t scary at all and can cut through most anything you would ever need to cut!)

Step 1: Cut out the pencil with a jigsaw

DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

The kind of wood I used was 1/4″ plywood which can be found at your local hardware store.

Step 2: Sand the edges of the plywood

DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

Once the wood is cut, use 3M fine grit sand paper to sand down the edges.

Step 3: Drill holes for the hanging wire

Drill 2 holes, one on each side of the top of the wooden pencil (where the eraser will be painted) for the wire hanger. This will be how you hang the wooden pencil hanger once it is complete.

DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

This little Black & Decker drill is actually my son’s drill. (It’s really for adults but as I mentioned earlier, my kids are involved in every project so they needed their own real tools!)

Step 4: Paint the wooden pencil with acrylic paint
DIY Wooden Pencil Sign Personalized

Next up is the fun part, PAINTING!! There is no right or wrong way. Just have fun and make the pencil however you like it! We used acrylic paint because it is permanent.

Step 5: Make a wire hanger

I chose to make the wire a bit more decorative so I twisted the wire around pliers into a coil shape, rather than a “knot”.

How To Hang A Wooden Door Hanger with gauge wire

Use 16 gauge wire to make the door hanger.

Step 6: Make a decorative curly bow out of ribbon and burlap

How to make a curly korker ribbon and burlap bow

Now it’s time for the bow! I used wired burlap ribbon and multi-colored ribbon.

In order to create a curly ribbon, you will need to place the ribbon in the oven. For a full step-by-step tutorial, check out this post for how to make a curly korker hair bow.

  • Step 1: wrap a piece of the multi-colored ribbon around a large wooden dowel rod securing in place with wooden clothes pins on either end of the dowel rod, holding down the ribbon
  • Step 2: place dowel rods on a baking sheet and bake in the oven at 350°F degrees for 15-20 minutes
  • Step 3: remove the baking sheet from the oven and let the ribbon cool completely. Unclip the wooden clothes pins and then carefully slip the ribbon off of the dowel rods. Scrunch all of your pieces of ribbon together and tie together with the 16 gauge wire for the hanger (you can also use pipe cleaners or twisty ties).
  • Step 4: once the bow is complete secure it to the hanging wire by twisting the wires together.
With just a few supplies you can transform a piece of plywood into a beautiful painted classroom door hanger in the shape of a pencil! 


And there you have it! So easy! So simple! So cheap! and Sooo didn’t take a long time!

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With just a few supplies you can transform a piece of plywood into a beautiful painted classroom door hanger in the shape of a pencil! 

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6 Comments

  1. Megan Croaker says:

    How long did you make your pencil?

    1. hmm I don’t remember – I would guess around 24″ long

  2. Is this saw easy to use to cut other shapes for door hangers??

  3. Laurie Brown says:

    I can’t wait to make this! Did you paint the name on the sign or vinyl letters?

  4. what is the measurements of the wooden pencil

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