DIY Patriotic Firecracker Decor

by Michele Pappagallo

3 Materials

1 Hour

Easy

Are you looking for a quick, easy way to add some fun decor for 4th of July, Memorial Day or even Flag Day? Well...here ya go! These are so simple to make and they can be finished in about an hour! And the best part is, you really only need a few wood scraps from the garage to make them!

I decided I wanted to make a quick, easy craft for my holiday decor using mainly wood scraps and a bit of paint.

I decided to make some quick, easy patriotic decor using only wood scraps and a bit of paint.

I started with three pieces of 2x4. Mine were 4", 6" and 8", but you can make them literally ANY length you like! First, I sanded all the edges and the flat surfaces to remove any rough spots. Then, I measured down two inches from the top of each piece and scored a line all the way around the top with an Exacto blade. You can do this part with a pencil, but the pencil mark may show through your paint at the end. Then, I scored two equally-spaced lines (a little over an inch wide) on the front of each piece to make three stripes on each board. These lines will make it easy for painting!

Next, I painted the center strip on each piece using white acrylic craft paint. try to stay in the lines as much as possible. After the white paint dried, I painted the entire top section on each piece blue...including the front, sides and back. I like my paint to look a little more like wood stain, so I mixed it with a little bit of water to thin it as I was painting. That makes it soak into the wood a bit more and look more like stain.

Next, I painted to remaining two front stripes red, as well as the bottom sides and bottom back of each piece. At this point, everything should be painted except the bottom of each piece. I left that plain since nobody will see it anyway.

Since I was going for a rustic look, I took a piece of sandpaper and sanded all of the edges and corners, as well as the flat surfaces to give the pieces an aged, distressed appearance.

Next, draw a star on the blue area, and paint it white. When it dries, sand it lightly to distress it. While you are waiting for the white paint to dry, cut three short pieces of 1/4" rope. I made mine 2" long, but you can do any length you like. After you have distressed the white star area, drill a hole in the top of each board that is the same size as your rope. Put a little bit of craft glue or hot glue into the hole and then push your rope into the hole. Allow it to dry.

And that's it! You now have three darling wooden firecrackers that will be the hit of your ext 4th of July gathering! Use them on your mantle, or sofa table...or even as table decor! For more great crafts ideas, check out my blog, Seashells and Sweet Tea at www.SeashellsAndSweetTea.com!