American Flag Anchor DIY Patriotic Decor

Okay, I’ve been talking about it recently, but I am so obsessed so I want to talk about it again. Have you seen the nautical line at Dollar Tree?? OMG! Some of that stuff is SO STINKING CUTE! I used the wooden anchor from the nautical line to create this American Flag Anchor DIY Patriotic Decor! 

This is such an easy DIY project, and it is just in time for the 4th of July! I am so excited to share the DIY details with you, and I just know you’re going to want to make this one! 

Watch the replay

I recorded the how-to steps during LIVE video on my Facebook page, so if you want to see the process, craft along, or just join in on the fun conversations, you can watch the replay! 

WATCH THE REPLAY

For this project, I will be using these items but you can substitute where you want.

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• Dollar Tree Anchor
• Dollar Tree Nautical rope
• Paint Sticks
• Craft Sticks
• Red/White Striped Scrapbook Paper (Hobby Lobby)
• Blue/White Starts Scrapbook Paper (Hobby Lobby)
• Jute Twine
• Apple Barrel Burnt Umber Acrylic Paint
• Apple Barrel White Acrylic Paint
• Mod Podge
• Hot Glue gun
• Glue Sticks

How to Make an American Flag Anchor DIY Patriotic Decor

Start this project by decoupaging the patriotic scrapbook papers onto the Dollar Tree anchor. Which, by the way, I am OBSESSED with the Dollar Tree nautical line! I was almost squealing like a little girl when I saw them on the shelves! 

One thing I know is that not all Dollar Trees are the same, and not all of my Crafty Crew has access to the nautical line that I do. So, I created a free template for several of the items on the new nautical line!

You can get the Nautical Coastal Free Template sent directly to your email address! The templates are super easy to use! Once you download them, print them out, and then trace them onto your surface. You can trace the template onto foam board and cut it out to replicate the actual nautical items. 

Or, you could trace it onto a sign or surface and paint the design onto the item.  You could even cut the shape out of fabric and decoupage it onto a surface. The possibilities are literally endless! 

Get the Nautical Coastal Free Template

Whether you have the actual Dollar Tree anchor or you use my free template on a piece of foam board, apply a coat of Mod Podge onto your surface. Place the blue starred scrapbook paper onto the top portion of the anchor. 

The red and white striped scrapbook paper that I used was angled. The stripes went diagonally across the paper instead of straight horizontally or vertically, so I had to cut one of the corners off to make it sit properly on the anchor. 

Press the striped scrapbook paper onto the Mod Podge below the blue starred scrapbook paper. You can go over the anchor with a rolling pin to smooth out any wrinkles or creases in the scrapbook paper. 

Once the scrapbook paper was secured to the anchor and the Mod Podge dried, I used an Exacto Knife to cut the excess paper from around the anchor. Then, go back over the edges with a sanding sponge to get a closer cut and smooth out the edges of the paper. 

Create the backing with paint sticks

I use paint sticks in my DIY decor projects a lot because they are GREAT for creating a backing! I used paint sticks for these two easy decor projects: 

• Easy DIY Chippy Rosette Home Decor
• DIY Hobby Lobby Window Makeover

Start by laying your paint sticks out and measuring to make sure that the anchor will fit onto them. Add or remove paint sticks as needed to make your backing the best size for your DIY project. 

Then, hot glue paint sticks across the back of them to secure the backing together. Once the backing is secured together, it is time to stain! If you’re using paint to stain the wood (that’s what I usually do), here is how to do it. 

Spray the paint sticks with water, pour brown paint (I used Apple Barrel Burnt Umber Acrylic Paint) onto the backing, and use wet wipes to spread the paint across the surface of the wood. 

The water will help the wood absorb the paint pigment and gives it the perfect stained finish. You can always use regular stain, but I find that it is too expensive for me!

Add in the details

Before I attached the decoupaged Dollar Tree anchor to the stained paint stick backing, I used jute twine to embellish the anchor. I wrapped the jute twine around the anchor in the three different spots and hot glued the twine in place. 

Then, I whitewashed the stained paint sticks with Apple Barrel White Acrylic Paint. Pour the white paint into a small bowl, then mix in some water to dilute it a bit. Use a chippy paintbrush to spread the paint/water mixture across the paint sticks in streaks. 

Let the paint sticks dry (I used my heat gun to speed up the drying process), then go over the surface with a sanding sponge to add a distressed finish. 

To make it easier to hot glue the anchor onto the paint stick backing, I hot glued small pieces of craft sticks on top of the jute twine on the back of the anchor. Then, I put hot glue on the craft stick pieces and pressed the anchor onto the paint stick backing. 

How to make a hanger

Finally, I used my Dollar Tree nautical rope to create the hanger for this adorable American Flag Anchor DIY Patriotic Decor! Measure the rope to decide how long you want your hanger to be and cut it to the right length. 

Then, hot glue both ends of the nautical rope to the back of the paint sticks. If you want to make sure the rope has a secure bond to the paint sticks, you can hot glue ribbon or fabric strips over the ends of the rope kind of like bandaids. 

Once the glue dries, you’re ready to decorate you’re home with this easy Dollar Tree patriotic DIY! 

I hope you enjoyed this American Flag Anchor DIY Patriotic Decor as I did and decide to make it for yourself! If you do, I would love to see how yours turns out!

You should totally join my FREE Facebook group called On A Budget Crafts! It is a judgment-free community for DIY crafters to show off their projects and ideas. 

If you loved this DIY you might also like these patriotic DIYs!

• Repurposed Tablecloth DIY Patriotic Decor
• DIY Red White and Blue Rag Wreath
• Dollar Tree Patriotic Door Hanger
• DIY Ribbon American Flag
• DIY 4th of July Shirt Idea
• Blue Jean American Flag
• DIY Dollar Tree American Flag Decor
• DIY Patriotic Dollar Tree Mason Jar

Thanks for stopping by! XOXO Amber

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