How to Make a Patriotic Flag Place Mat for Summer

Summertime is coming and entertaining your children may be high on your priority list. This fun and simple craft project teaches children about the American flag while creating a durable place mat to last all summer!

Note: These place mats are not dishwasher friendly. However, you can quickly clean them up with a wipe or damp cloth.

Make multiple patriotic flag place mats for a summer birthday party or any outdoor celebration.

Supplies Needed for a Patriotic Flag Place Mat

Red construction paper
Blue construction paper
White construction paper
White cardstock paper (11 x 14 inches is a good size)
Star paper punch
Scissors
Glue
Glitter
Contact or Self-Laminating Paper
Paper towel or wax paper to protect your working surface

Step-by-Step Instructions to Make a Patriotic Flag Place Mat

1. Place the white cardstock paper on your protected surface. This paper will become a sturdy background for your flag place mat as well as becoming the white stripes.

2. Cut a rectangle from the blue construction paper so that it will fit in the upper left hand corner of the white cardstock. You can opt to leave a narrow white border all around your flag design.

3. Glue the blue rectangle to the upper left hand corner of the white cardstock.

4. Cut narrow strips from the red construction paper. You'll need 7 total red strips with 4 short strips and 3 long strips.There will a total of 13 stripes (7 red and 6 white) to represent the 13 original colonies. To determine your strip width, divide the width of your paper by 13.

5. Punch 50 stars out of the white construction paper.

6. Add glue dots to your blue paper, one row at a time. The rows should have staggered stars with 6 on the first row, 5 on the second row, 6 on the third row, 5 on the fourth row, 6 on the fifth row, 5 on the sixth row, 6 on the seventh row, 5 on the eighth row, and 6 on the ninth row. Your total number of glue dots should be 50.

7. Apply the stars to the glue dots.

8. Add glue to the white cardstock for the red stripes. Remember to leave a space in between each red stripe for the white to show. Glue 4 red strips in the space to the right of the blue star block. Glue 3 long stripes under the blue star block. Tip: You can pencil in the red stripe placement before adding glue.

9. Let the place mat dry completely!

10. Cut 2 pieces of the self-laminating contact paper so that they are slightly larger than your flag design.

11. Remove the paper backing from one piece and place it on your table so the sticky side faces upwards.

12. Press the flag design firmly onto the sticky contact paper.

13. Remove the paper backing from the other piece and place the sticky side down onto the flag design.

14. Press all 3 pieces firmly to remove bubbles or any wrinkles.

15. Trim any excess materials and enjoy!