Add a patriotic touch to your country decor by upcycling an old paperback book. This quaint little flag will add charm to a holiday vignette, or a room decorated with Americana elements. Place it on a table, or display it on a shelf with other rustic items.
I used an old paperback book that I purchased for a dime at a yard sale. With the addition of scrap fabric and a few craft supplies, this project was finished in an afternoon.
Things You Will Need:
Paperback book
Tea bag, cup and hot water
Sponge brush
Measuring tape
Red, blue and muslin fabric scraps
Scissors
Craft glue
1-inch wooden star
Drill and 1/64-inch drill bit
Off-white crochet thread and embroidery needle
Pip berries and sticks
Rust metal bow
Step 1
Tear off the front, back and spine cover of your paperback book. Tear off the first few pages until you have a full printed page at the front of the book. Tear off the last few pages until you have a full printed page at the back of the book.
Step 2
Steep a tea bag in a cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Using a sponge brush, paint all sides on the outside of the book. Allow the tea stained book to dry. To hasten the drying time, place the book in a warm oven and watch carefully.
Step 3
Using a measuring tape, measure around the length of the book and add an inch. Cut three 1/2-inch-wide red fabric strips by this measured length. Cut one 2-inch wide by 3-inch long blue fabric rectangle.
Step 4
Place the book on your work surface with the bound edge at the top and the desired side for decorating facing up. The long length of the book is now the width of your flag. Apply three equally spaced lines of craft glue across the long width on the front of the book. Center the length of each red strip over the glue with equal amounts extending from each end.
Step 5
Turn the book over with the back facing up. Apply three equally spaced lines of craft glue across the long width on the back of the book. Continue to wrap the red strips to the back and place in the glue. Apply glue under each overlapping end to secure.
Step 6
Turn the book with the front side facing up. Apply craft glue to the back of the blue rectangle. Place the blue rectangle in the top, left corner of the flag with the long edge running horizontally.
Step 7
Using a 1/64-inch drill bit, drill two “button” holes in the center of a 1-inch wooden star. Thread off-white crochet thread on an embroidery needle. With the strands doubled, stitch through the button holes and tie the ends on the front of the star. Trim the tails of the thread to a 1/2 inch. Apply craft glue to the back of the star and place in the center of the blue fabric field.
Step 8
Rip a 1-inch wide by 20-inch long strip from muslin. Wrap the strip around the width of the book. Center the strip and tie in a knot on the front of the flag. Trim the ends of the strip to 2 inches.
Step 9
Glue small sticks and pip berries under the knot of the muslin strip. Apply craft glue to the back of a rusty metal bow. Center the bow on the muslin knot.
This project would also work great for a sleepover party project. Once finished, the guests can take them home as a memory-favor of the occasion.