Patriotic Door Decor

 

 To make this Thrifty patriotic door hanger you will need:
2 cedar fence slats  (about $2 each)
bailing wire
some type of saw, I used a jig saw
pliers
drill
sander
and paint
*I also added a wooden star, fake peat moss and some twine with hot glue for accents

Start with the cedar fence slats and cut both of them the length you want your flag.  I made the outsides of the wood a little wavy so it looked like a flag.

Then cut out the blue square section from one of them. I cut mine out with wavy cuts on both sides, then flipped it around so the edges didn't fit correctly.  I hope that makes sense.  I wanted it to look like it was a separate piece.  If I cut it out and attached it as it lay, you couldn't tell it was cut out.  It would fit like a puzzle and I didn't want that look.

Then cut one more piece to use as the top piece from the extra wood.  I painted the words "Let Freedom Ring" on mine.

*Here's a tip when you are painting words.  Figure out how many letters and spaces you will need.  For Let Freedom Ring I needed 16 characters including spaces.  Split the number in 1/2 which would be 8 in this case.  Then count in that many characters and start there.  For this phrase between the "e" and "d" in Freedom is in the middle.  So I started in the middle of the sign and wrote "dom Ring" with a pencil from the middle going right.  Then I went back to the middle and started the other direction and wrote "eerF teL" going backwards.  This technique will help you center your wording.  I then painted over the pencil with black paint.

Then paint the red and white stripes and the blue square.  I splatter painted mine a little with an old toothbrush.  White and red speckles on the blue, blue speckles on the white, and white speckles on the red.  I sanded the edges to give it the worn look.

Drill holes in about an inch from the edge so you don't pull through the side of your wood and attach your pieces with bailing wire. (I got mine at a Cal-Ranch store.  I know you can find it at Lowes or Home Depot near the Re-Bar.) 

Attach the pieces together like a sewing stitch and twist them on the back side like a bread tie.  Make sure the ends are pointing into the wood so they don't scratch your door.

I added the wooden star on the blue square.  I drilled 2 holes though the star AND through the blue square, much like a button.  I used hot glue to add some moss and then attached the star with the bailing wire.  This one I attached with the wire pointing out and curled it with pliers for decoration and tied a small piece of twine around the curled wire.  I also added the 2 little stars on the sign.  They were attached with one hole and twisted wire on the front.

*While you are here, why not enter our drawing for a set of 4 Vinyl chalkboard labels?  4 winners will be chosen!  

**Also come back and link up at DIY Thrifty Thursday every week here at Thrifty 101! :)
Linking up at:
Tip Junkie, Costal Charms