Seasonal Door Decorations

Trace on parts around the adjoining parts where only some of a surface will be painted. Place an “X” on the surfaces to be painted.

Separate the parts into lettered groups. Starting at the bottom of the leaf, follow the diagrams to paint parts the correct color. Barely cover the pencil lines without leaving paint build-up. Use the same technique to apply a wipe-on polyurethane to wood pieces where you want a natural finish. Replace the part within the group and repeat for the remaining part colors and groups.

Using a carpenter’s square, align the two pieces to be glued with the ends flush and hold them together for about 1 minute.

Dab glue on Pieces 1 and 2, and add Piece 3 using the square to keep the pieces square. Hold the pieces together for 1 minute. Repeat for the remaining groups.

After the final group is assembled, begin gluing together the groups until the design is completed. Use the carpenter’s square to align the edges where possible.

Drill 1/16-inch pilot holes on both sides of the back in the top third of the design, and screw the D-ring hangers in place. Tie a loose length of wire between the hangers, and add rubber bumpers to the back near the bottom to avoid scraping the door.

Reinforce the assembly of the snowman by cutting one 16-inch piece and two 4-inch pieces from the 1/2 x 3 board. Glue them to the back spaced evenly apart and centered. Lay a heavy object on the reinforcement strips while the glue dries. Then attach a D-ring hanger to the center strip.

Reinforce the assembly of the star by cutting a 1/2 x 3 board 11 inches long for a reinforcement strip. Glue it centered on the back of the star. Attach a centered hanger near the top of the reinforcement strip. Estimated total cost: $182 for four ornaments made separately. (Make all four at one time to share paint, wood, and hardware costs for a lower total.)