by Noreen Doll.
A patriotic busy bag is nice to have on hand for holidays such as Memorial Day, Flag Day, the 4th of July and Labor Day.
It’s easy and inexpensive to make and small to store.
The contents can be used for more than making a U.S.A. flag. You can cut a large circle or bell shape, which can also be decorated with the red, white and blue decorations.
For artistic purposes I am only using 7 stripes and 12 buttons, because the small size of the flag would look odd with too many thin stripes. And it would be too difficult for very small children to manage.
For older kids, you could have them cut 7 red stripes and use 50 white buttons or stars to make a proper flag.
What You Need
For very young children, small pieces may look like a snack, so be sure to keep a close eye on them when they are using this.
Felt in Red, White, and Blue
Stars or Buttons in Red, White, and Blue
White Poster Board or Card Stock
Cardboard from a Cereal or Cracker Box
Tacky Glue
Ruler, Pencil, and Scissors
What You Do
1. Cut to size 5 1/2 inches x 8 inches:
1 piece of white felt
1 piece of white poster board or card stock
1 piece of cereal box cardboard
2. Glue the white poster board to the colored side of the cereal box cardboard, using tacky glue. Spread the glue thinly over the entire surface.
3. Glue the white felt to the white poster board using the tacky glue. Spread the glue thinly over the poster board.
Place the board between sheets of waxed paper under a heavy book until it is completely dry.
4. Cut stripes from the red felt. You need 2 that are 3/4 inch wide x 8 inches long.
You need 2 that are 3/4 inch wide x 4 1/4 inch long.
A piece of white chalk is helpful for marking your cut lines on dark colors.
5. Cut a rectangle from the blue felt that is 3 inches x 3 3/4 inches.
6. To make a flag, place the blue rectangle on the upper left corner of the white board.
Place the two short red stripes beside it, with a white stripe between the two red and a white stripe below the bottom red one.
Put the two longer stripes below the blue rectangle.
Add the white buttons to the blue rectangle.
Variations for the Patriotic Busy Bag
Form the white buttons in a circle on the blue field, similar to the Betsy Ross flag.
Cut a white circle, bell, or other shape and decorate with the red and blue stripes and buttons.
Make a Tic Tac Toe game with the red stripes and use red and blue buttons for the playing pieces. Or you can make the game on the circle instead.
Another fun variation would be to use miniature marshmallows and red licorice for the stars and stripes!
Tips
Craft foam also works well for this project, and may be easier for younger children to handle than felt.
Put the leftover scraps of felt or foam in the patriotic busy bag to be used for other patriotic decorating.
Cut other shapes from the red and blue felt for more play fun.
Noreen Doll
Greeting Card Gift Boxes
Thank you for participating in Show Your Stuff Blog Hop, You are invited to come back:
http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2012/06/show-your-stuff-27.html
This is a great idea and so cute. I might just use it for a craft idea for the kids to make their own flags with felt but I’m always looking for new busy bag ideas for me to make too. Thanks!
What a fabulous idea. I love it.
This is such a great idea!! So glad you linked up at the Summer Fun Party!!
Shannon@SewSweetCottage
Love the tictactoe
Great ideas!! I will have to do this with my little ones!
Thanks!
Awww, this is a really cute busy bag!
What a fun(and patriotic ) idea.
So clever and timely with the 4th just around the corner. Thanks for sharing this week on BeColorful.
p
This is such a fun craft for kids! I’m going to dig out my felt and let my daughter make this. Thanks so much for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays.
Rachel
adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com
Love it!
I would love for you to link this to my Flaunt It Friday link party! Also, follow my new blog Blissful Bucket List!
http://www.blissfulbucketlist.com/
Darling. i’d like to make one with my granddaughter… take care, Linda
What neat festive ideas! So glad you linked this to Things I’ve Done Thursday!
What a fun flexible idea! I love felt!
Lots of creative kid fun here! I love the different variations. Thanks for linking to Bloggy Olympics!
What a great idea! Busy bags are always a great idea and this one is so cute! Thanks for linking to.the bloggy Olympics!
SUPER CUTE! Crossing my fingers you share this at my party!!! Saturdays at Seven!
XO, Aimee
Perfect idea for the kids! Just right for the season, too: red white and blue
Thanks so much for linking up at I Gotta Create!
<3 Christina
easy peasy, my daughter would love to do this together.
This is great! I’d love for you to share this on Tuesday’s Tidbits @ Naptime Delights: http://naptimedelights.blogspot.ca/2012/06/tuesdays-tidbits-link-party-5.htmlThanks so much!
Sarah
{http://naptimedelights.blogspot.com}
What a great idea for little hands to keep busy!
thanks for sharing at tip toe thru tuesday!
Kim
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing on our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday”. Hope you come back next week. -The Sisters
This is so great! Looks like you had lots of fun creating all this!
Thanks so much for sharing at The DIY Dreamer… From Dream To Reality! I can’t wait to see what you link up this evening!
Such a cute idea for summer crafts. Thanks so much for stopping by Creative Thursday last week. I couldn’t do these parties without you. Can’t wait to see what you link up this week. Have a great week.
Michelle
Oh how fun! My daughter would have so much fun with this. Thanks for sharing at our Pinteresting Party.
wonderful idea! thanks so much for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Thank you for participating in Show Your Stuff Blog Hop, You are invited to come back:
http://juliejewels1.blogspot.com/2012/06/show-your-stuff-29-mini-cherry.html
Thanks for linking up at DIY Thrifty Thursday! I’m featuring you project on July 3rd in a special Independence Day spotlight! Stop by and check it out! http://www.thrifty101.blogspot.com
That is very patriotic indeed. I’m going to Google+ this post right now.
Thanks for linking up to Say G’day Saturday. This week’s post is now live so I hope that you can join in again this weekend!
Best wishes,
Natasha in Oz
What a great idea. I love that it gives a great opportunity to learn about the flag as well as keep them busy! My daughter would love this!
Just so you know, I featured you on today’s Show Off Saturday
http://www.mydecoupagedlife.com/2012/06/show-off-saturday-fourth-of-july.html
Thanks so much for sharing at Naptime Delights! I hope to see you again tomorrow!
Sarah
What a great project.
You’re a STAR today over at I Gotta Create! Your lovely July 4th project is in the Star-Spangled feature lineup. Thanks so much for linking up!
<3 Christina
http://igottacreate.blogspot.com/2012/07/star-spangled-spectacular-25-july-4th.html
Loving this! My boys would get a kick out of it, I might have to try to put one together today for them
Thanks for linking up at the Summer Fun Party, I wanted to let you know that as a Co-Hostess I featured you today on my blog. Head over and check it out, and be sure to grab your “I’ve Been Featured” button
http://www.justalittlecreativity.com/2012/07/patriotic-projects-inspiration-round-up.html
Have a great 4th of July!
-Molly