DIY Kentucky Derby Door Hanger with a Rick-Rack Ribbon Bow

By Kim Hume

Looking for a festive way to celebrate Derby season? Today, I’m sharing how to make a colorful DIY Kentucky Derby door hanger with a rick-rack ribbon bow that’s perfect for adding some Derby flair to your front door!

This fun and budget-friendly project combines bright rick-rack ribbons with a classic fleur-de-lis design and a jockey silhouette. Follow along as I show you how to create this unique Kentucky Derby door hanger using affordable materials and a few creative touches.

A fleur-de-lis shaped decoration with colorful polka dots and a pink horse silhouette. Below, a bow with striped, polka dot, and pom-pom ribbons. It's mounted on a brick wall.

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Kentucky Derby season is one of the most exciting times to live in Louisville! The weeks leading up to the first Saturday in May are filled with festive events, from giant fireworks to steamboat races, parades, and balloon races. The whole city seems to buzz with excitement, and this year I wanted to join in the fun and add a little bit of that Derby spirit to our front door with this colorful Kentucky Derby door hanger!

It’s even more fun to tie in the excitement of the Kentucky Derby with today’s Handcrafted Society monthly blog hop! This month’s theme is all about rick-rack and pom poms, and you’ll find plenty of creative craft ideas linked at the end of this post!

What’s the Handcrafted Society? The Handcrafted Society is a special group of my very talented blogging and crafting friends who come together each month to share one another’s beautiful creations centered around a specific theme or craft medium for the month. This month, we’re all exploring unique ways to work with rick-rack and pom pops —so be sure to check out all the inspiring projects at the end of this post!

Derby Door Hanger Inspiration

One of the most exciting (and my favorite) parts of the Kentucky Derby is the colorful display of jockey silks! Bold, bright colors like red, blue, turquoise, yellow, lime green, and hot pink create such a festive and vibrant atmosphere. I knew that creating a colorful rick-rack and pom-pom streamer ribbon would be the perfect way to tie in the door hanger to our monthly theme.

A stack of colorful ribbon spools sits on a dark table, their vibrant red, blue, green, and purple hues evocative of a Kentucky Derby door hanger. Natural light streams through a window in the background, highlighting the intricate patterns.

The best part? This project was super budget-friendly! I found the fleur-de-lis door hanger at Goodwill, used paint I already had on hand, and only had to purchase the rick-rack and pom-pom ribbon to complete the look. It’s always a win when I can create something fun and festive without spending much!

Supplies Needed:

Decorations for Spring Ideas for Tulips

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ready to get started? Follow these simple steps to create your own colorful and festive Kentucky Derby door hanger! 

Step 1: Prepping the Door Hanger

Since I used a thrifted fleur-de-lis door hanger from Goodwill, I just needed to touch up a small spot at the bottom with black paint. My intention was to preserve the original black background, and use the cream polka dots as my guide for painting the colorful polka dots in the next step.

A large, black fleur-de-lis wall decoration with beige polka dots hangs prominently on a chair. Reminiscent of a Kentucky Derby door hanger, it's situated indoors near a large window, offering a lush view of trees and bushes outside.

If you’re starting from scratch with a new wooden door hanger, here’s how to achieve a similar look:

  • Purchase a wooden fleur-de-lis door hanger.
  • Paint the entire surface black to replicate the look of my original piece.
  • Allow the paint to dry completely
  • Once dry, use a circle stencil or round object to draw an outline for your polka dots.

Step 2: Painting the Bright Circles

  • Select the colors you want to use for your bright polka dots. I chose 5 colors — blue, teal, bright pink, green, and orange.
A tabletop with two paint palettes filled with various colors, including blue, pink, and green. A large black artist palette with vibrant paint dots is in the background. A brush and a jar are partially visible.
  • I mixed my colors together to achieve a custom look with my ribbons. For example, my initial shade of pink was two light and I mixed it with a darker red shade to achieve the perfect look.
A person wearing a striped apron is painting a circular wooden craft with a brush. There are paint palettes with various colors on a table covered in paper. The setting appears to be indoors with a visible door in the background.
A person's hand painting a pink circle on a black surface with a yellow-handled brush. A white paint palette with red and white paint is nearby. The person is wearing a bracelet and striped clothing.
  • Using a flat artist brush paint the circles on your door hanger. I worked with one color at a time.
  • For a dimensional and hand-painted look, pick up a little white on your brush while the paint is still wet and swirl it around your painted circle for a shaded dimensional look. I finished off each circle with some white highlights for a fun look.
A person paints a small red circle with a yellow brush on a black surface. A beige circle is visible nearby. The red circle has a white highlight, suggesting a glossy texture.
  • You’ll need to plan out the spacing for your different colored polka dots around the Fleur de lis.
  • Repeat the same painting process above for each of the colors.
A person is meticulously painting the edge of a large, black, fleur-de-lis-shaped wooden decoration that doubles as a Kentucky Derby door hanger. Adorned with colorful dots, the piece comes to life as they carefully apply white paint, dressed in a striped shirt and beaded bracelets.
Close-up of a black butterfly-shaped decoration with colorful polka dots in pink, blue, green, and orange on a cardboard background, reminiscent of the vibrant flair you'd find in a Kentucky Derby door hanger.
  • Finish off the Fleur de lis by painting a white border outline around the edge of the door hanger. Don’t be too particular. Just use a light touch.

Step 3: Painting and Attaching the Wooden Jockey and Horse Cutout

Sometimes a mistake yields the best outcome! My painting technique for the jockey and horse cutout was a bit unplanned, but it turned out to be a great detail of the project! The Kentucky Derby is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes in sports”, and this paint effect resulted in an energetic, dynamic look.

A wooden silhouette of a horse and rider is partially painted white. Nearby are a paintbrush, a paint palette with various colors, and a bottle of Folk Art acrylic paint. A painted feather lies on the table.

Paint the wooden horse and jockey cutout.

  • Start by painting the entire surface of the cutout with cream color paint.
  • Let it dry completely.
  • Use bright pink paint (one of the colors from the polka dots) to create a rough outline of the jockey and horse silhouette around the cutout.
  • While the paint is still wet, take a paper towel and gently wipe off the excess of this pink paint, smearing it across the cutout. In full disclosure, I initially did this because I wanted to repaint the pink outline, and was simply trying to remove the excess wet paint.
A hand with pale pink nails points at a cut-out shape of a horse's head, outlined in red with a blue circle above it, on a dark surface.
A close-up of a decorative black board featuring a painted silhouette of a jockey riding a horse, surrounded by colorful dots in orange, blue, green, and pink.
  • This unexpected technique created a textured, slightly smudged effect that gave the jockey and horse silhouette a sense of movement. I loved the way this effect turned out, so I decided to leave it as-is!
  • Allow the piece to dry thoroughly.

Attach the cutout to the door hanger.

At first, I thought I would use hot glue to attach the jockey and horse cutout, but I decided this wasn’t the best option. Since my door hanger will be hung outside, I worried that the glue might melt on hot days. Instead, I decided to use a more sturdy and reliable method.

To attach the cutout:

  • I used a hammer and small nail on the backside of the door hanger to create a starter hole where I wanted to secure the cutout.
Close-up of a person's hand holding a small pin while working on a cardboard cutout of a horse and rider. The cutout is placed on a brown surface, with some wires and markings visible.
Close-up of a wooden cutout of a cowboy on a bucking horse. The back shows glue, paint marks, and a wire hanging system attached with a metal bead, set against a cardboard background.
  • Next, I inserted a tack into the hole and tapped it firmly into place.
  • To ensure the cutout stayed put, I wrapped florist wire around the head of the tack.
A close-up of a tangled black wire resting on a wooden surface, with a red price tag partially visible. The tag reads "$5.99" in black ink.
  • Then, I wrapped the wire around the back of the door hanger and twisted it tight.
  • This method allowed the cutout to be securely held in place without worrying about the glue giving way in the heat.
A decorative piece featuring a black fleur-de-lis shape with colorful polka dots and a central pink silhouette of a jockey riding a horse. It is placed on a brown surface in an indoor setting.

Step 4: Creating the Rick-Rack Ribbon Bundle and Bow

The last step in the process is to create and attach the colorful rick-rack and pompom bow! This bow has two parts — the base bow made with four 12″ long strips of 2″ wide ribbon twisted together, and the strands of the rick-rack ribbon bundle.

A close-up of a decorative arrangement features a bundle of colorful ribbons in various patterns, including stripes, polka dots, and lace. Behind the ribbons, there is a wooden cutout of a ballet dancer with multicolored dots.
Close-up of black and white striped and polka dot ribbons arranged over a dark surface with circular cutouts.
Close-up of a sewing machine with a hand guiding fabric under the needle. The fabric is black with white polka dots, and a lime green zigzag trim is being stitched along the edge.

Making the Base Bow:

  • I first started with four 12″ long strips of 2″ wide cream and black ribbon. Some were plain black and cream striped, and some were black and white polka dots.
  • To add more color to this base bow, I decided to stitch strips of rick-rack trim down the middle of these pieces using my sewing machine.
Hands decorate a black fleur-de-lis shaped design with brightly colored polka dots. A pink cutout is glued in the center, overlapped by layered ribbons in various colors and patterns, including black and white stripes and polka dots with red pom-poms.
A hand holding a large, white fabric bow with black edges. In the background, there's a colorful painting featuring a pink horse and multicolored circles on a dark surface.
  • To create the base bow, layer these four strips of ribbon together and twist them together with florist wire.
A decorative piece featuring a painted silhouette of a horse and rider in pink on a black background. Colorful dots embellish the backdrop, and a large bow with black, white, striped, and polka dot ribbons is attached below. A hand adjusts the ribbon.
  • Cut a strip of black and white ribbon to wrap around the back side of the door hanger and tie a knot. Place the base bow on this ribbon and tie it to the door hanger with the striped ribbon.
A collection of colorful ribbons arranged on a woven surface, reminiscent of a Kentucky Derby door hanger. The ribbons feature various textures and patterns, including lace, stripes, zigzags, and pom-poms in vibrant shades like red, pink, blue, green, yellow, and white.

Adding a Colorful Twist with a Rick-Rack Ribbon Bundle:

  • Gather the strips of rick-rack ribbon pieces together.
  • I used a combination of colorful rick-rack trim, pompom ribbon, crocheted lace, gingham and striped ribbon to represent the colorful silks worn by the jockeys.
A person adjusts colorful ribbons on a decorative fleur-de-lis, featuring a pink silhouette of a horse and rider. The fleur-de-lis is adorned with multicolored dots.
Hands decorating a star-shaped board with colorful ribbons and a pink horse cutout. The board has colorful circles around the edges. The person is wearing a green sweater and a pearl bracelet.
  • Fold the bundle of ribbon in half and place it on top of the base bow. Use the black and white striped ribbon to secure the ribbon bundle to the bow. Tie a knot to secure it in place.
Door decoration featuring a large black fleur-de-lis with colorful polka dots, a white horse and jockey cutout, and various colorful ribbons with stripes, polka dots, and pom-poms hanging below.

Now that your Derby door hanger is all ready, it’s time to display it and show off your colorful Derby spirit! The combination of bold colors, rick-rack ribbons, and the jockey silhouette is the perfect way to celebrate the Kentucky Derby and add a little extra flair to your porch or front door as you greet your Derby guests!

A decorative fleur-de-lis with colorful polka dots hangs on a brick wall. A pink horse and rider silhouette is in the center. A striped and zigzagged ribbon with vibrant colors adorns the bottom.

Important Note: I didn’t seal the paint on our door hanger because it hangs in a covered area. If your door or porch isn’t covered, then you should spray your painted door hanger with a protective sealer.

Decorative wooden sign with a black fleur-de-lis shape, adorned with colorful dots and a pink silhouette of a horse and rider. A vibrant bow with stripes and pom-poms is attached below. The sign is mounted on a brick wall.

I hope this project inspires you to create your own unique Derby-themed decor! Whether you’re celebrating Derby season or just looking for a creative project, making your own custom door hanger is a fun way to add some personality to your space.

Now, be sure to check out my talented Handcrafted Society friends and all their lovely rick-rack and pom-pom creations below!

Happy Derby!

Kim

Pin it for later!
A decorative Kentucky Derby door hanger features a black shape with colorful polka dots and a pink horse design. It's adorned with a striped and colorful ribbon bow, adding charm. Text overlay reads: "DIY Kentucky Derby Door Hanger Perfecting Places.

By the way, do you follow me on all the socials? If not, check out my Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook and be sure to follow along so you don’t miss out on any of my decorating and DIY ideas.

The Handcrafted Society

My friends have created some fabulous projects this month that you won’t want to miss. Please check out these amazing creations below!

A decorative pillow with purple fabric flowers sewn onto it, resembling a meadow scene with green grass and a light blue sky. A leafy green plant is partially visible beside the pillow.

South House Designs

Two painted eggs with pipe cleaners shaped as bunny ears and feet. One egg is red and white with a blue bow tie, and the other is purple and white with an orange bow tie. They are in front of a woven basket filled with green grass.

Thistle Key Lane

A festive decoration featuring a black shamrock with colorful dots, a pink silhouette of a horse with a rider, and a vibrant bow made of various ribbons, hangs on a brick wall.

Perfecting Places

French Bulldog sitting on a white fluffy blanket wearing an illustrated bandana with bright pom-poms. The dog's ears are perked up, and it looks directly at the camera. The background includes a light gray couch with pillows.

White Lilac Farmhouse

Stylized text logo reading "Handcrafted Society" in black script, overlaid on a larger, light purple "HS" with a rectangular outline around the main text, set on a white background.

The Handcrafted Society

Yarn-wrapped bunnies with pom-pom tails in pink, white, and brown are lined up on a decorative shelf with a wavy trim, set against an ornate wrought iron backdrop.

And Organized Season

A grey wicker basket sits on a blue quilted bedspread, filled with yellow, blue, and cream yarn balls and pom-poms. The background features a wooden nightstand and a watercolor-style blue wall.

Sonata Home Design

White paper bags sealed with blue and white gingham bunny-shaped clips featuring yellow pom-pom tails. The text below reads "Easter Bunny Bag Clips.

Sky Lark House

A collection of colorful fabric crafts including floral and polka-dot bunting, fabric tassels with ribbons, and various pompoms in pastel colors, arranged on a wooden surface.

Amy Sadler Designs

Love these Handcrafted Society projects? Check out more HCS creations below:

Colorful glass jars, expertly tinted with Mod Podge and food coloring, are filled with small white flowers and green leaves on a table. The teal and green jars rest atop a woven runner, some on a tiered stand, with a white plate nearby. Sunlight warmly illuminates the setting.
Tinting Glass Jars with Mod Podge – A Stunning DIY Makeover
An interior scene shows a vase with a bouquet of flowers, set on top of a stack of books. Nearby, a framed landscape painting sits on a wooden stand. A large circular mirror with a sunburst pattern hangs on the wall behind the display, reflecting part of the room.
Get the Look: Anthropologie-Inspired Jute Twine Vase Tutorial
A textured DIY cement planter bowl filled with green leafy plants topped with small pink and yellow flowers sits on a table. In the background, a bowl contains several peaches. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting with greenery.
How to Make DIY Cement Planter Bowls with Yarn
Wood Slice Spring Art with the Handcrafted Society
DIY Spring Decor: How to Make Wood Slice Spring Art

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8 Comments

  1. Kim, your Kentucky Derby door hanger captures the sprit of the race perfectly! Love the makeover, and the colors are fabulous!! Pinning!

    Reply

  2. Amazing, Kim! This could not be more festive and adorable! I love how you added color to the fleur de lis, shared your paint technique on the jockey (love smudging!), and added whimsical texuture with the ric rac bow! The race may be only two minutes but this fun door hanger keeps the celebration going! Cool!

    Reply

    1. You’re so sweet, Missy! I loved using all the fun colors, and thought of you and your love of color while I created!

      Reply

  3. This is wonderfully colorful and festive, Kim!! LOVE the huge bow with all of the different ribbon tassels!! Amazing use of a thrifted item, too!

    Reply

    1. Thanks so much, Rachel! I really enjoyed working with all the fun colors and textiles! I’ve had the door hanger for a while and I’m glad to finally use it!

      Reply

  4. Hi Kim, I really miss being in Kentucky at this time of year! Derby and all the festivities are so fun! I adore how you made over this door hanger and incorporated rickrack and tiny pom poms into your bow! It’s such a great idea to layer the ribbons like that! Thanks for the inspiration, I can’t wait to dress up the next bow I make!
    PS-I heard they cancelled Thunder Over Louisville because of the flooding! So Sad!

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Donna! Derby really is such a fun time to live in Kentucky, and yes, it’s sad they had to cancel the fireworks show. The river is just too high! We’ve definitely had a crazy weather week with tornadoes and floods!

      Reply

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