FOUR MEMORIAL DAY DECORATIONS TO MAKE!

FOUR MEMORIAL DAY DECORATIONS

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, National Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Memorial Day is a solemn occasion honoring the American soldiers who gave their lives in war. The values those men fought to defend form the essence of our country: freedom and the rights of the individual.

Try these Memorial Day craft ideas for decorating your front door and your beautiful porch!

RED WHITE BLUE AND GOLD DOOR DECORATION

Get three ears of fresh corn with husks and soak them in a gallon of water.
Add a splash of chlorine bleach.

Pull the husks back and arrange together at the top. Dry the ears of corn and set aside to dry thoroughly.

Wrap a plastic bag over the husks and spray paint the ears of corn in white spray paint primer (or use a brush).

Let the ears dry. Then paint them in red, white, and blue.

After they dry, wrap plastic over the ears of the corn and spray paint the husks in gold. After completely dry, tie the husks together and hang from your door!

Sorry there is no picture. Ii is stored in the attic and I need someone to climb up there to get it.

Decorate your door with a homemade Memorial Day Wreath. Wreaths really make your front door festive

MEMORIAL DAY STARS AND STRIPES WREATH

Wave the flag and bring out the red, white, and blue with this patriotic wreath. Simply place mini flag toothpicks (about three packages of 100 flags) into a styrofoam wreath (we used a 10″ styrofoam disk and cutout a 7″ circle out, because some wreaths are extruded and are hard for the toothpicks to push through) until the wreath is completely full and there is no white showing. Then your wreath is ready to hang; greeting every guest that arrives!

STREAMER FLAG

Make your own star spangled door hanger for Memorial Day, using affordable craft items you probably already have in your home. Nothing displays American pride during the holidays like our own American flag. Show your patriotism during the holidays by decorating your entrance with an easy to make streamer flag. Hang on your front door to welcome party guests for a day of celebration

SUPPLY LIST:

1 roll of red streamers (1.75” thickness)
1 roll of white streamers (1.75” thickness)
Blue construction or craft paper
Cardboard or similar strong paper or poster board
13 to 50 mini white gift bows
Ruler/straight edge
Double sided tape
3M Spray Mount, ReMount, Super 77 or similar spray adhesive
Xacto blade/hobby knife or scissors
A small piece of yarn or string

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut seven strips of red streamers measuring 35 inches long.

Cut six strips of white streamers measuring 35 inches long.

Cut a strip of cardboard or poster board approximately 26 inches long and 2 inches wide.

Line strip of poster board with double-sided tape and adhere alternating red and white streamer stripes.

Once all stripes are attached trim any cardboard excess and flip cardboard binding over to attach a piece of yarn or string for hanging. Flip back over.

Cut out a 13” x 14.75” piece of blue construction or craft paper. Spray back of blue paper with spray adhesive. Let dry for 30 seconds to lessen tack unless using ReMount which is specifically useful for repositioning. Lay blue paper in top left corner of striped streamer pattern.

Flip entire flag over to adjust streamers by pulling up gently and relaying where streamers may have wrinkled. Take care to line up the fourth red steamer stripe with the bottom of the blue paper so that the bottoms remain flush.

Flip flag back over to front. Assemble mini white bows in appropriate star formation, being sure to place them before adhering. If using 50 bows to represent 50states, create nine rows of stars alternating six and five star rows. If limited to 13 bows, use a pot or pan lid or similar guide to assemble stars in a circle pattern to represent the original 13 colonies.

Hang on front door and watch flag wave in a gentle breeze.

CRAFTING TIPS:

While most of these materials can be found cheaply at the craft or dollar store, try going through your gift wrap and holiday items to see what materials you might already have in storage when preparing for this project. Wide ribbons can replace streamers and star stickers can replace bows.

Try varying the size of your flag if you have fewer amounts of materials and thin ribbons. Smaller flags can be used to decorate gift bags, buffet tables and more.

Door hangers can be used in and outdoors, but be sure to bring your streamer flag inside in the event of rain or gusty winds

MEMORIAL DAY WIND SOCK

You can make a patriotic wind sock from an oatmeal box, construction paper, string, and crepe paper streamers.

SUPPLY LIST:

A cylindrical cardboard oatmeal box
Construction paper (blue and white)
Red and white crepe paper streamers
Glue
String
Scissors
Hole punch

INSTRUCTIONS:

Cut the bottom off a cylindrical cardboard oatmeal box.
Cover the box with blue construction paper and then glue on white construction paper stars.

Cut some red and white crepe paper streamers and glue or staple them to one end of the wind sock.

Punch four holes along the top of the wind sock.

Cut two pieces of string about a foot long. Tie the strings to the wind sock (tie the opposite ends of a string to holes on opposite sides of the cylinder).

Tie a longer piece of string to the smaller pieces - you'll hang the wind sock from this piece of string.

Hang your patriotic wind sock from your window or porch.


May’s Monthly Giveaway!

I have started a Monthly Giveaway. and I will be drawing names from followers that comment.

The drawings will be on the 1st of each month! .

The May Giveaway is

“Eight Homespun Wrapped Clothes Pins and Small Wooden Bowl”

Each time you comment on a new post, it will give you another chance to win.

*If you post about this Giveaway on your side bar you will earn 2 more chances to win + a surprise gift!.
Be sure to tell me you have posted the Giveaway in your comments.

The bowl in the picture isn’t the one you will receive. It is a smaller bowl.