We’re thrilled to welcome Donna from Do Dodson Designs to share a patriotic DIY project just in time for Memorial Day! In this guest blog, Donna will guide you through creating a stunning torn wooden American flag using scrap wood and Dixie Belle Paint. Whether you’re looking to honor the holiday with a handmade piece or simply love adding rustic charm to your decor, this project is the perfect way to celebrate our nation’s pride and history. Let’s dive into this step-by-step guide and make something beautiful for Memorial Day!
(The following is an excerpt from Do Dodson Designs. Read the full article here.)
Looking for a unique and patriotic home decor piece with personality? You’re going to LOVE this! In just a few simple steps, this tutorial will teach you how to make a rustic, DIY wood American flag wall decor with reclaimed broken pieces of scrap wood.
Materials Needed To Make a DIY Scrap Wood American Flag
- scrap wood (fence pickets)
- hammer
- drill
- wood screws
- wood glue (exterior)
- wood sander (my preferred sander)
- 220 grit sandpaper
- Bonding BOSS (bonding with stain blocker)
- painters tape
- Cotton (white) Chalk Mineral Paint
- Rustic Red Chalk Mineral Paint
- Bunker Hill Blue Chalk Mineral Paint
- Evergreen Chalk Mineral Paint
- Artist Brushes
- Synthetic Chip Brush
Tattered Wooden American Flag Tutorial
STEP 1: Start by gathering broken wood or old fence pickets. I used pine fence pickets because that’s what I had on hand. However, any type of wood will work, as long as it’s already broken or can be easily broken. Keep in mind that new wood won’t work for this project.
The boards were old and weak, particularly in the middle where the nails attached them to the fence. As a result, some were beginning to decay, which made breaking them into pieces quite easy.
Using six boards, I laid them out as I thought they looked the best.
Next, I used wood glue and wood screws to secure them together on the backside with two smaller boards.
Sanding And Prepping The Wood
STEP 3: Depending on the roughness of the boards, start by using 180-220 grit sandpaper to smooth out the wood. Then, remove any remaining dust from the surface using a soft brush or, alternatively, compressed air and a hose.
Paint The Red And White Stripes
STEP 4: Start by using 1.5-inch painters tape. Begin at the top of the wooden flag and place the tape 1.5 inches apart, using a small piece of the tape as a guide for each stripe. This method should work out almost perfectly, creating thirteen stripes. While it may require a bit of adjusting on a few lines, the results will be very close to ideal.
Make sure to press down the edges of the painter’s tape firmly to ensure a good seal. This step is crucial in preventing paint from bleeding under the tape. Additionally, painting stripes on old wood can be tricky; therefore, it’s important to sand the wood thoroughly to achieve a smooth surface.
Next, take the same tape and use it to mark off the blue background in the star area, which is located in the upper left corner of the American flag. This area measures approximately 11 inches by 13 inches.
Stain Blocker On Wood
Before painting the white stripes, use a stain and wood tannin blocker. This will prevent any stains from surfacing on the white. I used Dixie Belle’s Bonding BOSS in white. Apply 1-2 coats for full coverage. Allow to dry completely.
STEP 5: Now for the paint. I painted Cotton (white) Chalk Mineral Paint using a quality chip brush over the primer. One coat of paint was all it needed for full coverage.
Immediately remove the painter’s tape.
Tip of the day… use the same color primer under the paint. You will need less paint for full coverage.
STEP 6: After applying the white stripes, paint the red stripes and the star area blue as the background for the stars. Because the blue and red paint I used is highly pigmented, it covered beautifully with only one coat each.
Using a good-quality paintbrush is key to getting clean lines. I like using the synthetic chip brushes by Dixie Belle Paint Company. They are reusable.
Change Of Plans (No White Stars)
Okay, after painting the white stars, something felt off. I didn’t feel right knowing that a torn, tattered flag should be retired.
So, I painted over them and did some digging on my favorite platform, Pinterest. Here’s what I came up with, and I’m super happy about the changes I made. It just makes sense.
If you want to paint the traditional flag, there are 50 stars. I used a dot of white paint to mark the center of each star and freehanded them all. There are six stars across the top and bottom of the blue background and five on each end. Fill in the rest to repeat each line. This was a good workout for my brain.
Floral Painted Wood American Flag
THIS! I decided to paint flowers instead of stars. It’s not traditional, but I like to think of each flower as a fallen soldier who gave his life for this country. Here’s how I did it.
Don’t worry, it’s simple. I don’t do anything complicated.
STEP 7: Using Evergreen Chalk Mineral Paint, randomly paint leaves with a chiseled-edge artist brush, overlapping the blue background. Add the green first with two simple strokes, and while the paint is still wet, dip the same artist brush in the white and overlap the same stroke with the white. This creates a blended and highlighted effect on the leaves.
When I say two strokes, I mean two strokes. If you continue trying to make them perfect, they won’t be. Trust me on this. These are very whimsical, first-grade-level flowers. LOL
How To Hand Paint Whimsical Flowers On Wood
STEP 8: You’ll need the two colors, Bunker Hill Blue and Cotton, and a round, tapered-tip artist brush for the best results.
First, add both colors to your paint palette (you can use a paper plate or whatever you have on hand). Next, mix a little white with the blue to create a lighter shade of blue. Then, load your paintbrush with the mixed paint and gently press it down on the wood. To create a circle, twist the brush between your thumb, pointer, and middle finger. This will form the center of the flower.
In the same fashion, repeat that same circle five more times around the first circle. Now you have a five-petal flower, as I have shown in the photos above.
Next, use the dark blue (Bunker Hill Blue) and add small C-shaped strokes around the inside of each pedal using the same brush. Don’t clean the brush. The colors look more natural when blended. It doesn’t have to look perfect. Trust the process.
Next, you add highlights with the white paint over the wet paint again with the same brush.
When you think it looks terrible (and you will), add a dab of dark blue to the center of the flower. It makes all the difference. Channel that inner artist!
Unique Torn DIY Wood American Flag Memorial
My family is very patriotic, and we love our country. That’s why I made this DIY American Flag craft. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for a while, and I finally got around to it, with some help from Dixie Belle Paint Company. I used reclaimed wood, and I love the rustic result. I also love the details in the flowers and the symbolism behind them.
A huge thank you to Donna from Do Dodson Designs for sharing this patriotic project with us! This torn wooden American flag is the perfect way to show your love for the country this Memorial Day. We hope it inspires you to add some festive flair to your home. Be sure to follow Donna for more creative DIY ideas, and don’t forget to share your finished projects with us. Happy Memorial Day crafting! For another great and easy patriotic project, check out our blog, Patriotic Makeover.
