Country Feel to the Pallet Flag Craze

Pallet Flag

We saw these flags everywhere and just instantly wanted one of our own.  

Perfect Pallet

 First you must choose your pallet wisely.  Unfortunately, most pallets are square shaped, or if your lucky enough to find a rectangle the stripes go in the wrong direction.  We lucked out and happened to already have this old pallet, that our ride on lawn mower came on many years ago.  It is the perfect size, shape, and the stripes go in the right direction.  If you have a square pallet and want the rectangle look, you could always leave a stripe or two blank, or even write something patriotic on the first plank with the flag below.

Give your pallet a good scrubbing so your paint will adhere good.  

Let it dry completely before you begin painting

Paint Choices

I wasn't thrilled by the color choices most of the flags out there were.  I thought the bright red, bright blue, and bright white looked a little funny on a pallet.  It didn't give that rustic feel, I think of when  I see pallets up-cycled.  So, we decided on the deeper colors English Navy, Tuscan Red, and Vanilla Ice Cream.  We used Nutmeg brown for the back and sides, since they were covered in green paint.

 I would recommend a paint brush for this project, sponge brushes will just get caught and rip on the rough pallet wood.   You have the choice to just paint the top of the planks, or to also paint the sides like we did.

 I really debated even painting the white stripes, the wood was beautiful and gave an even more rustic look. Obviously, I went ahead and painted them, but it's another option to consider.

Measure out where you want the blue portion of the flag and lightly draw it out with pencil.

I used two coats of paint for each color.

As mentioned earlier, I painted the sides and inside of the pallet nutmeg brown, because of the green paint already on the pallet.  I actually really loved how it looked with the brown paint, it gave it more of a finished look.  So, that is another step to consider including or skipping.

Since I plan on displaying my flag outside, I sealed it with a good quality clear spray paint, 

but you could use any number of sealers on the market.

I'm not a big fan of the painted stars.  To me they just felt cheesy, but that is what most people are doing.  I decided I wanted to hang a metal star where the stars should be.  I found this one at a craft store for a few dollars.  I wish it was slightly larger, but overall I love how it turned out.

Get creative and come up with your own design for a unique pallet flag.

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4th of July Glow in the Dark Hunt/Games

We've been doing Glow in the Dark Easter Egg Hunts for a while now.  Well every year for the 4th of July, before the fireworks start, my Aunt always gives the kids glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces.  I highly recommend doing this if you are going to a park or something.  You can keep track of where the kids are before the fireworks start.  Then, it hit me we should have a glow in the dark 4th of July Hunt, instead of just handing the kids some bracelets and necklaces.  We could also include games and activities the kids can play while we wait.
 

You can put them inside balloons,

make a ring toss game,

connect them into a ball,

make bracelets and necklaces,

make sculptures,

line a table,

mark the boundaries of the hunt,

put inside a treat bowl,

put them in water bottles for bowling,

Drop heavier thicker ones into and swimming pool a dive for them,

Get your creative juices flowing, the possibilities are endless.

We once took a glow stick, pushed it through the spout of a beach ball, blew up the ball, and played dodgeball. One with clear panels works best.

You could buy a glow in the dark ball or line your volleyball net, soccer nets or basketball court with Christmas lights/rope.

For a smaller quicker activity glow in the dark bubbles or silly string would be fun.

These would be fun to include in your hunt.

1

You could use the balloons and play glow in the dark hot potato.

We once took a couple of yellow flannel sheets, and spray painted them with glow in the dark spray paint and played capture the flag.

Really with glow in the dark paint, tape, and glue you can make anything glow.
Spray paint those old balls for whatever sport you want to play.

Have a good old fashion pillow fight, again you could paint them with glow in the dark paint or duct tape.

Don't forget to take fun pictures with the sparklers, play around with your camera settings to see which one your particular camera works the best on.  My kids call it sparkler magic, because it captures the entire movement of the sparkler as if it were a whip.

 

One year we had a shaving cream fight before the fireworks.  Here's the link

 

There just always seems to be a good half hour or so to wait after it gets dark for the fireworks to start.  These activities will keep your kids busy.

We'd love to hear how your hunt went or any other fun glow in the dark ideas you came up with.

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Ice Blocking would also be super fun before fireworks.

Country feel to the pallet flag for some patriotic décor.

Corn Husk Dolls would be a fun craft to make.

 

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Corn Husk Dolls

Corn Husk Dolls

We wanted to make some fun crafts/decorations for Thanksgiving.  I remembered my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Olsen, teaching us how to make Corn Husk dolls, and thought the kids would like it.  They loved it!

You will need a twine/rope and a package of Corn husks (found in the Mexican food section of your local grocery store, used for making tamales). 

Soak corn husks in water for a few hours or overnight.

Separate your corn husks into similar sizes and shapes.

Pick two nice, not torn, long, wide ones.

 Put them on top of each other and tie them off on the skinny side about an inch or two down.

Turn the corn husks inside out where you tied them together.

Tie off the the section you just flipped.  This will become the head.  If it is too thin, you can add a little chunk of corn husk and stuff it.

Grab a piece that wasn't good for the body and roll it.  Tie each end off with the twine.

This will make your arms.

Lift the top corn husk under the tied off head.  Place arms tightly against the head between the two corn husks.

Tie off he two husks under the arms.

Grab two skinnier corn husks.

Cross these two skinny pieces behind the doll.

Fold the skinny pieces over the top of the doll.

After you've folded both pieces over the shoulder, tie them off with twine making a shirt.

Trim any longer pieces off your doll.

If your doll won't stand you can tie her around a small cup to dry and harden.

The girls wanted to make a family.  They twisted and rolled a corn husk and tied it off to make a baby.  They made smaller dolls to make children.

To make a boy corn husk doll, just cut up the middle of the skirt and tie off the feet with twine.

Perfect craft and decoration for Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Columbus Day or Pioneer Day!

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