Make a custom sign for your door

What can we use instead of cardboard, a hole punch, or string if those are missing?

If you don't have cardboard use a cereal box or foam board for the cut-out, if there's no hole punch carefully make holes with a sharpened pencil or pushpin (with adult help), and replace string with ribbon, yarn, or a twist-tie when you thread and tie the hanging loop.

My sign tore when I punched the holes and the string keeps pulling through—what should I do?

If holes tear or the string slips, follow step 10 and reinforce each hole on the back with extra tape or small punched cardboard circles before threading, and if cutting was uneven trace the shape with a ruler and cut slowly or ask an adult to help with the scissors.

How can I change this activity for younger kids or older kids?

For younger children have an adult pre-cut the chosen shape and pre-punch the holes so they can focus on decorating and tracing their name, while older kids can measure and draw their own shapes with the ruler, use stencils or a craft knife for precision, and add layered materials like foam letters or paint.

How can we make the door sign more special or durable beyond stickers and drawings?

To enhance the sign, add foam letters over your traced name from step 6, cover the decorated surface with clear contact paper or tape to protect it, attach magnets or a suction cup instead of string for different hanging options, or outline the edge with battery fairy lights before sharing a photo on DIY.org.