How to Make Painted Stars and Stripes Wall Art

Hello fellow sports fans!

I hope that all of you moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day.  I got treated to my favorite dark chocolate, and spent the day getting in an early morning run, then reading and relaxing on the deck with some cold beer.  The perfect day!

How are your hockey teams doing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs?  The conference championship series started over the weekend, with the Tampa Bay Lightning facing the Washington Capitals in the East, and the Vegas Golden Knights against the Winnepeg Jets in the West.  Who are you rooting for?

How about your basketball teams?  The NBA conference series have also started, with the Cleveland Cavaliers taking on the Boston Celtics in the East, and the Houston Rockets facing the Golden State Warriors in the West.  Will the Warriors repeat as champions, or are you hoping for someone new this year?

With the hockey and basketball games still going on, it’s hard to believe that we are half way through May, and that Memorial Day is less than 2 weeks away!  But I am always looking forward to celebrating the summer patriotic holidays, and all things Red, White and Blue!

I’ve shared a few DIY painted canvas wall art projects before (check out the sports series if you missed it last year), but today I’m preparing for Memorial Day, Flag Day, the Fourth of July, or any day you like to add some patriotic style!  There is nothing that says “America” like the stars and stripes!

So gather some supplies, and let’s get painting!

Step 1 – Collect the Supplies

Here’s what you need:

• Stretched canvas in the size of your choice (get the ones that are primed with gesso)
• Acrylic paints in Red, White and Blue
• Medium paint brush – I used 1-1/2” wide
• Small paint brush – I used ¼”
• Masking tape
• Newspapers (to protect your work area)

 

 

Step 2 –Preparation

• Lay some sheets of newspaper on your work area
• Place the canvas on the newspaper

 

 

Step 3 – Mask off the Star and Stripes 

• Use masking tape to create a star shape in the center of the canvas
  • Download a template to cut out and trace here: Star template
  • The masking tape is INSIDE the star shape
  • Use a scissors to cut the tape to fit cleanly

 

• Use the masking tape to create stipes
  • You will paint the red stripes, and the masked off area will be the white stripes
  • I have a 10” canvas, and measured my stripes to be 2” each
  • An easier way to do this would be to use masking tape the same width as your finished stripes.

 

 

 

Step 4 – Paint the stripes

• Shake your red paint well before starting
• Squirt a little paint into the first area that will be a red stripe
• Use the large brush to spread the paint (don’t forget the sides)
• Repeat for remaining red stipes
• Wash your brush (acrylic paint washes up with just water, but read your directions).
• Let dry (my paint is dry in about 1 hour)
• Add a second coat of paint if desired, and let dry thoroughly
• Remove all of the masking tape

 

 

Step 5 – Paint the star

• Use the masking tape to tape off the OUTSIDE the of the star
  • Use a scissors to cut the tape to fit cleanly
• Shake the blue paint
• Squirt some paint in the middle on the canvas
• Use the large brush to fill in the star, adding more paint as needed
• Wash your brush
• Let dry
• Add a second coat of paint if desired, and let dry thoroughly
• Remove all of the masking tape
• Touch up as needed, using the small paint brush

 

 There you go! Your work of art is ready to hang on the wall!  Mine is is hanging in my screened-in porch, as it goes nicely with a few other pieces of Americana that I already have hanging out there.  Where will you hang yours?

 

Until next week ,

Carrie

P.S. Make sure you are following the blog, so you don’t miss a single week!  I’ve got some more painted rocks coming up next week (in red, white and blue of course), and lots of other sports and holiday themed goodies planned for you.