Rustic Glory

Mornin' Y'all!

I have a confession to make, I seriously love Americana! I am drawn to the simple, country, rustic look of it.  There is something about making your home feel warm and inviting  that appeals to me. I think Americana helps to make your home warm and inviting. I made this door or wall hanger whichever you prefer to call it, to welcome the celebration of our nations birth with a bit of the country feel I love so much. I hope you enjoy this creation.

I started with the crate from Caramel Apple Pie SVG kit. I used crate_face 1 at the size it imports and used the stars_top from Stars and Stripes SVG Kit in the star box file to make the stars in the crate_face 1. I replicated the stars until I had what I liked. You could do a circle or just a few or some large, whatever you like but I ended up with 42 stars measuring W 0.321x 0.313 H. I grouped them together then drew a box just inside the score lines for the top of the box. This helps to center things when your going to do a cut out. Click on your stars holding down the shift key and select your box, then using your align window center your stars. Move the box you drew off to the side and ungroup your score lines from your crate_face 1. You will need to select release compound path first then ungroup. Try not to move anything. Now select your crate_face1 box and holding down the shift key again choose the stars. Now open the modify window and select subtract. Go back and group your score lines to your box without moving things if you can help it. If you should move something click the back arrow at the top under the help menu or undo is another name for it.
I measured the size of the tea light as that was my original thought to use that as my light source. Mine measured about 1.5 inches in width, then I drew a circle that size, using the box  I centered the hole in the back side of the crate_face1 I used the top of the firecracker from Stars and Stripes SVG Kit and sized the lid from the firecracker to W 5.153 x 2.898 H. I did not use the top for the wick. Cut it out and help it shape a curve by "curling" the paper a bit with a pencil or dowel. You will be gluing the flaps to the inside of your hole. See picture. This will hold your tea light into place by making it fit snugly. I rolled the paper and inserted it into the hole first then glued the side into place. Fold your flaps down to the inside and add a bit of glue under each. Take your time as you do want these to stay into place.

I cut a square  W 4.126 x 3.982 H of Stampin Up's Card Stock Vellum. This is my favorite vellum to work with for windows and things like this. I used vellum adhesive to glue it into the inside of the crate_face1. I almost always have a bit of trouble getting things like this not to warp when I glue them but I have found that if I glue the long part of these first taking my time and then the ends I get a lot less warp to them.

Now for the stripes I used the crate_board1 and duplicated it again. You will need  two short or at the size they import, red boards and one white short board. I used vanilla colored American Craft Card Stock but you could use white as well.  Cut one vanilla and one red board sized at W 14.195 x 3.685 H.  These are your long boards. You will have to place it diagonal on your virtual mat to get it to fit.  Assemble your boards and ink edges with Tim Holtz vintage photo ink.

Lay them on your work surface and decide how far you want them apart. You do not have to be precise as it adds a bit of rustic look to it. I used 2.50 inch burlap ribbon to hold the flag together by hot gluing the stripes to it first. Then I folded the one for the blue portion of my flag in half and cut a triangle out, when I opened it up it fit perfectly over the circle for the tea light. I hot glued it all into place and added a few thin lines on the sides of the stripes and pressed the blue portion together.  The striped ribbon was from stampin up but I believe it has been discontinued. Any great ribbon will work for this. I used Linen thread to make the bows tied around the strap ends. Cut three different shaped stars and use your 3/16 hole punch to tie the thread through, Frey the ends for looks. The stars are also a layer of three each and inked with vintage photo. The rusted star was one I had but have found that factorydirectcraft.com has quite a few rusted and wonderful craft supplies at a fair price.

Well that is my rustic flag and I hope you love it as much as I do. I could not get a good photo of how much the stars light in the dark, but it is quite nice.  I would love to see a picture if you decide to make one, you can post it on my  Facebook page Shara's Paper Creations. Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my blog. I have more rustic Americana ideas to share with you so stay tuned, and Happy Craftin' Y'all!
Blessings, Sharalyn

SVG Kits used:
Caramel Apple Pie SVG Kit
Stars and Stripes SVG Kit

Supplies Used:
Bazzill Card Stock: Admiral, Ruby Slipper
American Craft Card Stock: Vanilla
Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Ink
Stampin Up Card Stock Vellum
Stampin Up Linen Thread
2.5 in. Burlap ribbon
Ribbon from Stash
wooden button
Rusted Star
Hot Glue
Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive
One Battery Operated Tea light
Silhouette Cameo