has always been the Fourth of July. The parades, the warm (hot) weather, the USA, the picnics, red, white & blue. What's not to love? I have also always loved this:
That flag is from Pottery Barn so of course it is a tad bit expensive. If you're me, it's really expensive. But oh how I've always loved it. Which gave me an idea.
We could make our own. Here's our version:
Not bad. Of course, it's not quite as large, but it is the same idea. The flag design is actually one of our new canvas prints that you can purchase, but today we are showing you how to complete the entire project.
What you will need:
- The flag canvas print– it is sized 12" x 19"
- Two 3/4" boards cut 7" wide by 21" long
- Two pieces of 1/2" thick wood cut 11" x 1 1/2"
- White paint
- Sandpaper and/or electric sander
- Rope
- Stain- we used a brand called Annie Sloan (more on that later)
- 4 small black nails
- screws
- drill
Here's what you do:
The print already comes with a distressed look to it:
But we wanted the edges to have a sort of frayed look. We slightly sanded the edges to achieve this:
Next, sand the 2 boards to make sure they are smooth:
We were going for a white-washed look, so we lightly painted the top and the sides of the board white:
Next, we "aged" the board. We used a product called Annie Sloan's Soft Wax. It is so fun and easy to use, but you can use any stain you wish. Just put a small amount on a rag, rub it into the wood and wipe it off. If you use the Soft Wax, you apply a thin layer of the clear wax, they apply the brown over it. More instructions are on their website.
The board on the left is finished, and the board on the white isn't stained yet:
Here is a close-up of the finished board:
Use the smaller pieces of wood to connect the 2 boards. Simply use a drill and screws to attach the wood to the back of the boards:
Attach the print to the boards with small black nails in each corner:
The last step is to drill holes for the rope. Measure over 1 1/2" from the side and 3/4" from the top and make a mark (on both sides). Drill a hole large enough for your rope to slide through. Tie a double knot at each end of the rope to secure.
That's it! You are now ready to hang it up.
If you want to try, you can get the print here. It took us less than an hour, and it was a lot cheaper than going to Pottery Barn.
Now something sewing related. Here is a look at July's Label Crew project.
The "Good Night, Good Morning" pillow cases are perfect for summer. The fabric kits will be available in several colorways from Lucy's Crab Shack. Look for them around the 1st of July.
For more information on the Label Crew, click here.
Enjoy your Thursday!