DIY American Flag Garland

Want a great way to show your pride in America this 4th of July? This easy and fun DIY American flag garland is just the answer!

Some triangles have red and white stripes, and others have a blue background with white stars, all made with inexpensive (and very forgiving) burlap and spray paint. The whole project only cost me $5 to make!

Here’s how you can make your very own red, white, and blue patriotic flag bunting, just in time for the 4th of July, that can also be used for Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, etc.

Supplies:

Burlap (I used 1 yard of the lightest color they had at Joanns- don’t forget your coupon!)
Red & navy blue spray paint (Walmart for $1.50 each)
Macrame cord (leftover from past projects from Joanns), or any jute, twine, or string
Glue gun
Painter’s tape (Scotch Blue is my tape)
Star stickers, chipboard, die cuts, etc.- anything star shaped!
Piece of cardboard or posterboard (for bunting template)

Step 1: Cut a triangle bunting template out of cardboard or posterboard in your preferred size. Trace the bunting shape with a pen onto your burlap, and cut out each triangle. Cut out as many as you would like for your bunting. I used 12 triangles in my bunting. The great thing about burlap is that you don’t have to sew it!

Step 2: Use the blue painter’s tape to create stripes onto your triangles that will be red and white. Since my bunting was made from 12 triangles, 4 triangles were blue and 8 were red and white.

Spray paint two light coats of red over each of the striped traingles. It will be white wherever you place the tape. Let dry before removing tape. Removing the tape is seriously the best part of this whole project! There’s something so satisfying about lifting up that tape and seeing the crisp red lines 🙂

And PS, don’t use Gorilla tape like I did the first time- worked perfectly, but was so strong it tore apart the edges when I tore it off… oops!

Step 3: Apply your star stickers, or stick on your chipboard, die cuts, or whatever you have that’s star shaped to use. I used some leftover star chipboard pieces I had from scrapbooking. Spray two coats of the navy blue over the traingles, and let dry before removing the stars. When spraying the stars, be sure to spray directly from overhead, so your star outline will be nice and crisp!

Step 4: Now that you’ve got your lovely painted garland pieces, it’s time to put the whole thing together. Turn first triangle backwards, and take your cord (or jute, twine, or string) and place at the top of your triangle, just a little bit under the top. Flip the top prtion of the traingle over the cord, and hot gue the whole top down. Repeat for every garland triangle, until the bunting is complete!

We took my bunting with us downtown and had some fun taking pictures!