I didn’t get to blog last week because I’ve been beyond busy at work, but couldn’t let another Tuesday go by without a Tailgate Tuesday post. The Razorbacks haven’t exactly been at their best this season, but that hasn’t stopped us from tailgating in style.

Today I’ve got a door hanger tutorial for the front door of every proper football fan.

It seems like these burlap footballs are popping up everywhere these days. I’ve seen them at several local boutiques priced at something like $50. Always thrifty lazy, I decided to make my own for a few dollars.

Here’s what you’ll need:
–burlap (I bought a yard of brown burlap on a roll for $2 or $3)
–cheap acrylic craft paint
-puff paint
–stencil or printout of design or you could freehand your design
–paintbrush
–freezer paper
–scissors
-chalk
-spray starch
-plastic grocery bags or poly fill to stuff the football
–ribbon if you want to make a bow, or wire if you want to use a wire hanger 
–hot glue gun or embroidery thread
–black quilting thread

1. Lay out the burlap in a double layer and draw a football shape with the chalk. You could download a stencil and trace it on, but I just made up the shape. Make sure your canine assistant sits right in the middle of the fabric, making it impossible to work with.

2. Starch and iron the burlap to stiffen the fabric. Honestly, I don’t know that this did much, but I did several coats for good measure.

3. When the burlap is starched, grab a t-shirt form or other piece of scrap cardboard to place underneath while painting.

4. Draw the laces and other white sections with a piece of chalk and paint with the acrylic and puff paint.

5. Add details with the puff paint when the white paint has dried.

6. Print out your team mascot or whatever main design you’re using and trace onto freezer paper. Cut out the outline of your desired shape and iron onto the burlap.

7. Fill in the freezer paper shape with paint. It will probably take several thin coats to achieve a bold enough color. Once dried, add details with puff paint.

8. Attach the front and back pieces with a line of hot glue around the border. Leave several inches at the top open to stuff the shape.

9. Stuff the shape with plastic grocery bags or preferred filling. I used plastic bags because they were free and won’t get damaged by the outdoor elements.

10. Make a bow with ribbon. Cut a length of ribbon and glue the ends between both burlap pieces to use as a hanger. If using wire instead, attach it now.

11. Finish gluing the top seam and attach the bow with hot glue.

12. Now find a place to hang your burlap football and enjoy! Go Hogs!