Last Minute Patriotic Crafts

I am posting these extremly last minute not because I am slow at posting but because I seriously made these two things last night/afternoon just in the nick of time.  They are both super easy so you still have time even today to get them made.

The first is a 2x4 flag.  This requires a bit of hubby assistance as you will need to have 6 2x4's cut the same length.  I didn't sand them, or even brush them off before painting.  I wanted it to be as rustic as possible.  Spray paint them the appropriate colors (before assembling), I made an el-cheapo cardboard stencil for the stars.  After they are painted sand them.  Then flip them over and nail thin boards on the back to hold them all together (or a heavy duty staple or nail gun could be used-which leads me to a side note: power tools are fairly essential to crafting I am finding out.  I Wish I had more confidence in using them-I could do some serious crafting damage).  My husband was gone while I put the whole thing together so the actual assembly for me was a bit of a gong show (which is why I am not showing you the view from the back).  But I got it together and up for now until he can step in a help fix it.  I have it on my front step tucked behind these milk cans.  I love it. 

The second is a burlp covered wreath.  I cleaned out my craft room today and had one random piece of burlap that I didn't know where to store it.  So I had a moment of inspiration and this lovely and patriotic wreath was created and the burlap is now taken care of.

 I cut my burlap into strips long enough to wrap around the wreath.  I spray painted them red, white and blue.  Then using hot glue I wrapped them around the wreath and glued in place alternating red and white strips.  NOTE: be very careful gluing these on-the glue soaks right through the burlap and is very dangerous just ask my finger that is missing a big chunk of skin that was stuck to the hot glue (it's not pretty).

 Add the strips of blue.

Paint on the stars. I just free handed some stars with white paint and a brush.

 And done.  Literally 15 minutes start to finish and I love everything about it.