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Country living, DIY, & a Dash of Fun!

DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag

DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag lit up and in daylight.

 

DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag

 

Flag Day is almost here and I’m getting excited!  Do you know why ?  Because Flag Day, June 14th, is not only the birth of our U.S. flag, it is also MY birthday! Happy birthday to us!!  Yay!

I’ve always loved those cool, old-looking pallet wooden flags that you see on people’s front porches.  This pallet flag is no different, except for one thing…

It lights up!

Not only does it look great during the day, but at night the shining stars gives it that extra dazzle!

DIY Light Up Pallet Flag lit up at night.

 

Isn’t this fun and festive!! If you would like to make one like this, be sure to check out my full tutorial below!  

Close up of DIY Light Up Pallet Flag at night lit up.

 

DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag – Tutorial

 

Tools:

  • Miter Saw
  • Nail Gun or hammer with box of 1 1/4in long finishing nails
  • Hot glue gun (to secure lights in stars) and hot glue sticks
  • My DIY Easy Wood Stain (to make wood look old)

Supplies:

  1. (2) 1x2s at 3ft 4in long
  2. (8) 1x3s at 3ft 4in long
  3. (2) 1x2s at 1ft 5 1/4in long
  4. Red, white, and blue paint (I used acrylic paint from the craft store)
  5. Small star stencil (mine was approx. 2in tall)
  6. Paint brush
  7. Stencil Sponge
  8. Painters tape
  9. (1) String of fairy lights with the mini bulbs.  You’ll need as many lights on your string as you have stars on your flag (Since I had 20 stars, I used a 20 bulb string)  You can order a string like mine HERE

Images of Supplies:

  1. (2) 1x2s at 3ft 4in long
  2. (8) 1x3s at 3ft 4in long
  3. (2) 1x2s at 1ft 5 1/4in long

Lumber cut to size for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

 

     4. Red, white, and blue paint (I used acrylic paint from the craft store)

     5. Small star stencil (mine was approx. 2in tall)

     6. Paint brush

     7. Stencil Sponge

     8. Painters tape

Acrylic paint, stencil, brushes and tape supplies for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag

 

      9. (1) String of fairy lights with the mini bulbs.  You’ll need as many lights on your string as you have stars on your flag (Since I had 20 stars, I used a 20 bulb string)  You can order a string like              mine HERE

String of fairy lights for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag

 

Note: 

Battery powered lights vs. Plug-in lights:   Since I prefer having both options of either using batteries to run my lights, or having a cord that plugs into a socket (which will save my batteries), I ordered myself a SWITCH IT plug in (shown in below pic).  This way I can use my batteries for times when my sign is on display where there’s no electric plug-in socket.  If there IS an electric socket nearby, I simply take my batteries out, put in the ‘fake’ batteries (that are attached to my SWITCH IT plug), then plug it into the socket!  (It’s so easy, I just love this thing!)  You can order one HERE.

Plug in option for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

Let’s get started!

DIY Light Up Pallet Flag – Directions:

Nailing Wood:

First, push the 1x3s together, then nail on the 1x2s along the edges, making a frame (I made sure to put two nails into each end of the 1x3s to make everything sturdy).

Building wood frame shown underneath.

Flip it over.

Building top constructed for flag.

Stain Wood:

Slap on some of my DIY easy wood stain to make the wood look old.

Using my DIY Easy Wood Stain.

Now let it dry.

Letting stain dry.

Preparing to Paint:

I started taping off where I wanted the blue square to be on my flag.  I counted down 4 strips of wood and started my taped line there.

Taping star area for painting.

Then, where I wanted the stripes, I taped off the edges of every other board, leaving only the boards exposed that I would paint only the red stripes, as shown below.

Taping stripes for flag.

Painting:

Painting was easy as I simply dry-brushed the colors on as described below….

Plate with brush and red paint ready to paint.

First, dip the tip of the brush into the paint and dab off most of the the excess.

Loading brush for dry brush technique.

Then, run the tip of the brush along the surface of the wood.  Go with the grain of the wood, making sure NOT to fill in all of the cracks, and to leave some unpainted wood showing through.

Dry brushing red stripes.

Peel off the tape where you just painted the stripes.  Let dry.

Showing all red stripes painted.

Next, tape off the edges of the red stripes, leaving only the boards exposed that will be painted white.

Taping over red stripes.

Dry-brush on the white stripes.

Painting white stripes.

Remove all of the tape and let dry.

Showing all white stripes painted and removing all tape.

Now tape off the outer edges of where your blue square will be.

Taping off blue area of flag.

Dry-brush on the blue paint.

Painting blue area for flag.

Remove the tape and let dry.

All tape removed showing blue area painted.

Stenciling the Stars:

Time to paint on the white stars.  Be sure to dab most of the excess paint off of the stencil sponge before dabbing on the paint, so that the stars will also have an old ‘worn’ look

Loading foam brush with white paint.

Stenciling stars on flag.

(As a side note, make sure you paint your stars close enough together so that the lights will reach each one…you’ll want a little extra slack of wire in-between stars, as shown below).

Making sure lights will fit on stars for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

Done with the painting!

Showing stars all finished on DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

Spray Finish:

Spray on a clear finish (I did not want my flag to have a glossy finish, so I used satin (or matte) coat.

Can of Krylon Clear sealer.

Adding Lights:

First, find a drill bit that’s the same diameter as the mini light bulbs.

Finding correct size drill bit for light holes.

Drill a hole in the center of each star.

Drilling holes into center of stars.

Next, stick the lights through the holes from the back, as shown below.

Lights all inserted into stars for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

After you have your lights in place, on the back of your flag, dab a little hot glue over each hole to secure each light.

Hot Gluing wires to back of flag for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

Next, I used a piece of sticky-backed Velcro to mount the battery box to the back. I hot glued each piece of Velcro (on the sticky side), one to the board and the other, to the plastic battery box. It is very important that one needs to have the “Loops” (the wood) and the other (the box), has the “Hooks” in order for the Velcro to stick.

Adding velcro to back of flag and fairy light case for DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag.

Now you are finished!

 

Here’s the flag not lit up yet…looks great in the day light! 

Finsihed DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag shown in daylight against rustic backdrop.

..and here it is with the stars all lit up! It looks spectacular and very sparkly!  

DIY Light-Up Pallet Flag shown at night with all stars lit up.

Happy birthday to the flag, to our country and to me!   🙂   Enjoy!


DIY Rustic Light Up Pallet Flag

Sharing at these great link parties:

Busy Monday.  Inspire Me Tuesday.  The Hearth & Soul.  Metamorphosis Monday.  All About Home.  Follow the Yellow Brick Home.   You’re the Star.  Unlimited Monthly Link Party.  Inspire Me Monday.  Fabulous Party.  Inspire Me Monday.  Wonderful Wednesday.  Beautifully Made.  Creative Muster PartyWow Me Wednesday.  Your Whims Wednesday.  Tuesday Turn About.  Tuesdays with a Twist.  Wonderful Wednesday.  Creative Crafts.  Share Your Style.  To Grandma’s House We Go.  Centerpiece Wednesday.  Vintage Charm Party.

More great link parties I’m sharing at:

Thinking Out Loud Thursday.  Homestead Blog Hop.  Party in Your PJs.  Artsy Fartsy Party.   Thursday Favorite Things.  Grace at Home.  Keep in TouchEncouraging Hearts and Home.  Celebrate Your Story.  Funtastic FridayFlaunt it Friday.  Friday Favorites.  Farmhouse Friday.  Funky Junk’s Funky Party.  Happy Pink Saturday.  Home Matters.  Friday With Friends.  Dare to Share.  Saturday Sparks.  Create, Bake, Grow & GatherA Morning Cup of Joe!  Farmhouse Friday.  Happiness is Homemade.  Inspire Me Monday.  Love Your Creativity.  Sundays on Silverado.

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56 Comments

  1. What an awesome project. Man, I sure am glad I found your website.

  2. Oh my goodness, I love this! Pinned ♥ If you’re not aware, I have a new UNLIMITED Monthly Link Party! I’d like to invite you to bring this post and more over and linkup with everyone.

  3. Oh I absolutely love the idea of the lights! I recently made a large pallet into a flag and used it for part of the railing of my office porch! I was using glow in the dark stars but now I think I will switch to lights! Thanks for the great idea and thanks for sharing on the Farm Fresh Blog Hop!

  4. The lights are the perfect touch! Great project 🙂 I’d love it if you would share this at our weekly blogger link party https://handmadeweekly.com/handmade-otherwise-link-party-week-3/ I hope that you stop by.

  5. Hi Tiffany!
    Your pallet flag is such a cute patriotic project! I love how you made the stars to light-up! And I love how your boards look stained instead of painted. Great job! Thanks for sharing at Homestyle Gathering! I hope to see you at the next party!

    >>> Kim

  6. I love the light feature! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm–pinned!

  7. Julie Briones

    So patriotic and smart, Tiffany! Love this! Those lights just ‘make’ the sign! Love having you at Tuesday Turn About!

  8. What a cool patriotic decoration, Tiffany, and I love that it lights up! Pinning. Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Hope to see you again this week!

  9. love it have seen many pallet flags but none so far with lights love the added idea thanks for sharing
    come see what we shared at http://shopannies.blogspot.com

  10. This is so pretty! I love that you installed the little lights 🙂

    Thanks so much for sharing on Farm Fresh Tuesdays! Can’t wait to see what you share this week!

  11. Hi Tiffany!
    Just stopping back by to let you know that your one of my features at this week’s Homestyle Gathering. Thanks again for sharing! HG went this morning – I hope to see ya there. 🙂

    >>> Kim

  12. Thanks so much! Pinned ♥

  13. This is very cute! The lights just add to the charm!

  14. I love rustic decor and I also love anything patriotic. Great looking project! Thanks for linking up for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week.

  15. I like this flag a lot! Nice Job!

    Liberty @ B4andAfters.com

  16. Great pallet flag! I love that the stars light up! Awesome idea!

  17. I love the dazzle of the lights. I need to make this, it would look so pretty in my flowers. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.

  18. Congrats! Your post is FEATURED at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2!

  19. This project is a definite WOW!

  20. I remember this post and I really like the flag, especially when lit up!! I must have missed the switch it plug when I visited earlier, great idea!! Thanks so much for linking up with me at the Unlimited Link Party 28. Pinned!

  21. Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at A Themed Linkup 62 for All Things American and Patriotic. Pinned again!

  22. WOW, I totally LOVE this Tiffany, the lights really bump this up to fabulous! Featuring this post on AAH Monday evening! thanks so much for joining in each week!

  23. Ann

    Great project, Tee, and I love that it lights up! Thank you for sharing at Party In Your PJ’s.

  24. First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I hope you had a wonderful day! Second of all, how cute is that flag?! I love the lights! Thank you for sharing at Tuesdays with a Twist -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures

    • Tee

      Thank you, Marci! I did have a wonderful birthday! Thank you for your kind words regarding my light-up Pallet flag! I’m glad you like it!

  25. Thanks for sharing with us at the To Grandma’s house we go link party – You’re being featured this week!

  26. Hello, this is one of my personal favorites for last week’s Encouraging Hearts and Home. I hope you stop by and say hello, this post has also been pinned to the Encouraging Hearts and Home board! Thank you for being a part of Encouraging Hearts and Home, we appreciate all that you share. Have a great week ahead!

    • Tee

      Thank you, Melynda, for your kind words and for the feature! I do appreciate it! 🙂

  27. Belated birthday wishes Tee. I love the rustic wood flag and the fact you made it light up! Just like a flag birthday cake 🙂
    Thanks for sharing it at the FWF link party.
    RR

  28. CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at A Themed Linkup 63 for Home Décor Printables from my previous linkup for All Things American and Patriotic!

  29. Happy belated birthday to you! I really like this project and have some extra pieces of wood leftover from our recent construction project to try a similar project. Thanks for sharing it with us and all the detailed instructions. #HomeMattersParty

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