{beadboard flag}

I {love} the 4th of July.  From the parades, to the flags, to the fireworks, to the BBQs, to the decor, to the very reason for its existence, I love it. 

I'm always looking for fun ideas to decorate my home for the holiday--- something cute and simple.I made this darling flag out of beadboard--one of my favorite things--and I am in love! It's so cute, it can be left up all year long if you like.

Beadboard was perfect for this project because of the lines--easy to paint, and totally straight! This is a really simple project, but the outcome is fabulous.  It's pretty inexpensive too, especially if you go in on it with a friend and split the cost of the beadboard. You can also make it as big or small as you want--I think I'm going to make a giant one for my back porch
 

ITEMS YOU NEED:

• beadboard, cut to size (16x20)
• craft paint
• distress ink
• sander
• frame (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut your beadboard to the desired size.  I made mine 16x20 to fit a frame I already had, and it was perfect, because the beadboard lines/sections came out at an even 8.

 

2.  Take a ruler, and measure 9 inches across from the left side into the middle.  Make a mark there, and then use the ruler to make a line from that point down the middle off the beadboard to the direct center--4 lines down.  Apply painters tape along that line.

3.  Using a foam brush, apply your paint to the lines of the beadboard.  I wanted thick, chunkier sections, so I did 2 lines per color, instead of one.  You could easily switch that around if you like it better the other way--alternating every other line.  The paint will not go on thick--the beadboard is slick, and paint doesn't adhere easily.  It's okay though--you're going for more of a distressed look here, and we are just going to sand it later.  I applied a couple of coats, just to get the thickness right.  

PAINT COLORS:  Tompte Red by Delta (in my opinion, the best red out there. I prefer more of a red, instead of a burgundy/maroon, which a lot of reds tend to be.  I also don't like a bright red, and this is the perfect, cranberry red. Vanilla by JoAnn's, and Navy Blue by FolkArt (I searched a long time for a true navy--love this one!).

4.  Once you have your red and cream sections painted, and they have totally dried, removed the painter's tape, and then place it on the other side of the paint so you can do the navy.  Paint on the navy blue and let completely dry.

5.  Take your handy dandy power sander, and go to town!  Distress the paint as much as you like, being careful and going lightly.  The paint will come off very easily, so do a little at a time.  Wipe the dust off with a damp rag.  Use your distress ink to go over the entire board, making sure to get the corners and all the surfaces.

6.  For the star, I just drew one by hand on some cream cardstock, cut it out, then distressed all the edges.  I applied it with double stick tape, but you could also go over it with mod podge if you wanted extra "stick".

SO cute, huh???!!!!

Now the question is, frame or not to frame...

I love it both ways, you decide which you like best! 

Head on over to Reasons to Skip the Housework...Melanie is celebrating 500 followers with a gala, and I'm posting one of my favorite projects...Movie Night Concession Boxes!