Hey there! Welcome to Decorate and More with Tip! Here on my blog I share how you can decorate your home on a budget. I share budget friendly decorations by creating it from scratch, revamping, re-purposing or giving it a makeover with easy tutorials. I hope I inspire you to create something beautiful for your home. 🙂
Today’s is the 10 on the 10th Blog Hop, I am joining 8 talented bloggers who gets together on the 10th of the month to share our ideas for under $10. This month’s theme will be Red White and Blue! If you are coming over from Jodi at The House House what did you think about Jodi’s straw décor? I am going to have to try that craft myself! At the bottom of my page I will have all of the blogger’s red, white and blue inspiration for you! 🙂
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For my craft I am going to make an Uncle Sam garden flag. I decided to pull 6 of my extra blind slats to do this DIY, but you could use several different other items, you could use wood slats, wood shims or even paint stir sticks. If you don’t have blind slats and like my idea, check your local thrift stores I have found blinds for our daughter’s home for $5. You can make several crafts out of a whole blind. I shared several DIYs with them. You can check them out here – BLIND SLATS DIYS.
Using the extra PVC blind slats for a garden flag would prevent wear and tear from the weather. I am using 6 slats for this project. Let’s get started with the cute July 4th garden flag.
Taking 6 blind slats and cutting 10 pieces from them.
- Four 8 inch slats
- Four 14 inch slats
- Two 15 inch slats
Taking the four 14 inch slats laying them flat together. Attaching the four 8 inch slats to the top and bottom of the 14 inch slats to the front and the back. I want my flag to have a front and a back. If you want to use this as a wall hanger than you can skip the back side.
We will let that sit for 15 minutes.
Paint the front and back all white. I know the blinds are white, but some are dingy I want to make it a crisp white.
Measure up on one side 8 inches, mark and on the other side measure up 6 inches, mark.
Taking a piece of painter’s tape and place at the marks. You should have a diagonal stripe.
Cover every other slat with painter’s tape.
I am using Flag Red craft paint to the exposed slats above the diagonal tape. I gave it 3 coats. Remove the tape after the last coat before it dries.
Put that aside and let dry. Grab the two 15 inch slats painting them with blue. I am using Cobalt Blue craft paint.
Let dry. Taking some raffia and applying it underneath the red and white stripes. I applied some power grab to each side under the red and white strips. Adding raffia strips on the glue. This will be Uncle Sam’s hair. 🙂
Taking one of the 15 inch blue slats adding power grab to the back. I placed it on top of the raffia and red and white stripes.
Using a wooden star to trace around on the blue slat. Painting the stars white.
Giving our little guy a face. I free hand two eyes, a nose and a smile with a pencil then using craft paint.
To give him a little bow tie I took a piece of ribbon and tied a knot in the center, added a drop of power grab in the lower center to attach the bow.
This is what my Uncle Sam looks like.
Turning it over and doing the same thing with the red and white paint. Adding raffia in long strips across the slats and then adding the blue slat with painted white stars.
To be able to hang my piece I drilled two holes to the top of the hat.
Taking some strong wire and adding it to the top of my hat. I thread the wire through the drilled hole wrapped it around a pin. This will stop the wire from going through the hole when hanging. I did my wire two ways for you, one to use as a wall hanger and the other way to use on a flag pole like I am doing.
You can cut the wire and make two separate loops to each drilled hole.
Last step will be giving it one good coat of a top clear coat sealer. Front and back.
Let it dry for 12 hours.
After it dries hang it on your garden pole or wall and enjoy. Isn’t it the cutest thing….ever?
If you want one and don’t want to create one yourself here is a similar one I found on Etsy → Uncle Sam. But making one yourself is so easy and cost you little to nothing to make.
Next up is Ann at The Apple Street Cottage. Can’t wait to see what she has for us!
Would you like a Uncle Sam Garden flag?
If you do…..
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Let’s see what the girls have for us. Click on their name and I will take you right over to their blogs.
Carol at Bluesky at Home
Jemma at At Home with Jemma
Barbara at French Ethereal
Jodi at The House House
Terri at Decorate and More with Tip
Ann at Apple Street Cottage
Tammy at Patina and Paint
Patti at Pandora’s Box
Katie at Let’s Add Sprinkles
Decorating our home on a budget is my thrill. I think a home can look beautiful without breaking the bank. Your home should bring the best out of you and make you feel happy. You should smile every time you enter your home. 🙂
Your Uncle Sam hanger is adorable! What a fun patriotic decoration!
Thank you Paula. I think he turned out so cute!
Your Uncle same is adorable, what a clever way to upcycle blinds!!
Thanks Pamela. I love to recycle things and turn them into something we can use again. He turned out so darn cute.
This little guy is so adorable, Terrie! The process looks simple enough but he looks so very cool in your front yard. Perfect for Independence Day indeed!
Thanks Katerina. He is so adorable and easy to make.
Terrie, your Uncle Sam is adorable!!! What a great way to repurpose old slats from window blinds… I’ll have to make one for 4th of July! So enjoy all the ideas you dream up!!! <3
Enjoy your little garden guy,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
Thank you Barb. I enjoy working on projects and using supplies I have. Sometimes being creative works out and sometimes it flops. ha!
Hi Terrie,
This is one adorable project! Love the cuteness, cleverness and overall patriotic joy!
You definitely have your craft vibes going on.
Great to share in the joy of crafting with you!
Jemma
Awe thank you Jemma. I love how he turned out and how cute he looks hanging on my garden pole. Even as a wall hanger would look just as cute. I love working on things using uncommon things.
Also fun working with you too!
Your Uncle Sam is absolutely adorable.
Awe thanks Katie.
I’ve always wanted a flag holder and now your adorable red, white and blue decor makes me want one even more! Super cute Terrie!
Cindy you don’t have a flag holder??? You need one girl.
Thanks for your sweet comment, I think it’s cute too!
Your Uncle Sam is adorable, Terrie. I love how you repurposed blind slats and finished both front and back. Great project!
Thank you so much Ann! You know I love to use things I have on hand and think outside the box.
Oh my goodness, Terrie! Your Uncle Sam is just darling! Love that you thought to do the backside too!
Isn’t he just the cutest? I thought it would look more finished to have the back of him decorated as well since I am having him hang from my garden post. Thanks you Christine!
This is so cute!!
Thanks Michelle. I think it is too. So easy to make and helps to use up the things I have in the craft closet. Hope you have an awesome July 4th season!
Your Uncle Sam garden flag is as cute as it can be! The detailing is perfect, down to the curled wire to hold the flag.
Awe thanks Donna. I just love how he looks in the garden. Mr. Tip said it’s too early to place out there, I have to agree but I will be placing it back out there soon.
Oh my gosh! This is so cute. Great job, Terrie. You are so creative.
Isn’t it Jodi. I just love how it looks. Was so easy to create and cost me nothing but time. Can’t beat that.
LOVE this! I showed The Hubs and he said that between the tow of us we’ve used those unused blind slats in ways no one else would think of! lol True. BUT I LOVE that you made a “garden flag” out of them. I’m headed for the garage right now to dig some more unused slats out. Going to give the garden sign a try for sure. SO. STINKIN”. CUTE!!
Mr. Tip just shakes his head when I do things like this. He loves the outcome but looks at me funny when I gather my supplies. ha! Don’t you want to know exactly what they think when we have a craft we want to create? ha! You will have to share what yours looks like when you get done. Rest up my friend.
Darling idea, Terrie. Great way to add a patriotic flavor to your front yard. What is power grab?
Carol Power Grab is a heavy duty type of glue. Stands up to moisture and is stronger than any other glue. I used it for a lot of my projects.
This is just the cutest Uncle Sam! I love how you also finished off the back. Such a clever idea – your ideas are always the best!
Thanks Patti. Hanging it up on my garden flag holder I thought it should have a front and back to it. I love how it looks and will be enjoying it this Independence Day season.