American Flag DIY

At Wrinkles and Grace we really enjoy having our monthly craft nights that are full of fellowship, yummy treats and of course crafts. Our June craft night was extra special for me. My mom, Ginny, had been out of town on a beautiful vacation. So, I was given the responsibility of coming up with and creating the craft for June. It may be because I have a "firecracker baby" or my love for Americana, either way summer decor should always involve an American flag in my opinion. So, a Boho inspired American flag wreath is what I came up with and I am excited to share step by step directions with you. I also hope that you take the time to create this wreath for your own home and share it with us!

To start this craft, first you are going to need to gather your supplies:
1. Embroidery hoop (We used a 12-inch hoop)
2. Hot glue gun
3. Fake flowers (We used sunflowers found at Walmart)
4. Red fabric, ribbon and yarn
5. White fabric, ribbon and yarn
6. Denim, blue ribbon and blue yarn
7. Pearls (plastic)

Now that you have all of the supplies you will need to create your summer wreath, you can start cutting the fabric into 2 to 3 inch stripes. Make sure that your strips are double the length that you would like the flag to be when hanging from the bottom of your hoop.

A good tip is to hang the bottom of the embroidery hoop of the edge of the table. This will allow you to see what each piece will look like as well as keep them from shifting out of place so easily.

Remove the inner circle of the embroidery hoop and set it aside for later. Now, start hanging the red and white materials in their pattern across the bottom third of your hoop. Feel free to layer white on top of white or red on red to create more depth and character to your flag, using lots of different textures of materials makes a big impact on the finished product.

Once you have covered the bottom third of your hoop with the red and white pattern then start cutting your blue denim and blue ribbon. You will want to cut your blue material in half of the length you chose for your red and white fabrics.

Now that your blue material is cut, using the same technique that was used with the red and white pattern, layer the blue fabrics over what is there on half of the right side of the hoop. (see below)

After you have adjusted all of the material and achieved the look you want as far as texture and length, grab the inner circle of the embroidery hoop. Making sure that the screw is at the top of the hoop, put the inner hoop inside and tighten the two together using that screw. This will keep your fabric in place while also allowing you to change it out in the future if you wish. I think changing the red, white and blue out for different flannels in the fall could be really cute. 

The next step after your materials are snug between the two hoops is the placement of your flowers. Take off the flowers from the stem that they come on, do the same with the leaves. Before you start to glue lay them out until you are happy with the look. 

Lift the flowers up and glue from the top as much as you can. Flip the whole thing over and glue around all of the flowers again from the bottom. Doing this extra step helps the durability and allows you to add more leaves and depth to the look of them. 

Flip the hoop back over one more time for your final step. We need some stars for our flag and that is where the pearls come in. I just laid pearls out randomly on top of the blue strips and did not count out 50, I wanted to leave it as a suggestion, but feel free to count them out if you would like. 

Hang and enjoy for the summer or beyond. 

However, before you go I would love to share a quick word with you. Memorial Day has just passed, The Fourth of July is right around the corner and election season is just gearing up. There is so much division in our country. We are so lucky live in a place were we don't only have the right to an opinion, but the right to express it. However, sometimes we can cause more hurt than help with those opinions. What our country needs more of rather than louder opinions, is prayer. As Christians, we are to live in a balance; standing for that which is true while seeking unity with each other as much as possible. Standing firm in faith while showing grace to those who do not, holding our leaders accountable while praying for their wisdom and well-being. In the craziness of opinion, can we stand in the gap and pray that God continues to work in the midst of it all?

1 Timothy 2:1-2 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

1 Peter 2:17 " Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor."

Jeremiah 29;7 "also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."

Proverbs 21:1 "The kings heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will."

Whether you like were our country is at or headed. Whether it breaks your heart to see whats on the news and how things have changed over the years. Whether you are complacent and try your best to ignore it all. We as Christians are called to do more, to show honor, respect and love, to choose peace and to pray. 

As cheesy as it is... God Bless America, land that I love.

Rachel Batey