How to Make a Patriotic Rake Arrangement

The patriotic rake arrangement will add beauty to a porch, front door or the entryway in a home. It can be displayed as a decoration on the 4th of July, or display it all year long to show your patriotism. Its uniqueness and charm will welcome all those who come to visit. If you're using this arrangement for an outdoor decoration, it will need to be placed on a door or porch with some coverage because of the dried flowers.

Patriotic Rake Arrangement

Supplies:

Small bamboo leaf rake (approximately 36 inches)
Medium wooden heart
Medium wooden star
Medium blue acrylic paint
White acrylic paint
Red acrylic paint
Small paint brush
Medium paint brush
Small star stencil
1 yard of patriotic ribbon
Floral wire
Dried statice
Blue baby's breath
Silk vine of green leaves
Scissors
Masking tape
Glue gun and glue sticks

Directions:

1. Cover your work area with a small tarp or large plastic bag. The first part of making this patriotic arrangement is to paint the wooden pieces. These pieces will later be glued on the rake. Place the wooden star on the tarp. Pour a small amount of paint on an old plate. Paint the front of the star blue. Let dry. Repeat for the other side of the star.

2. Place a piece of masking tape across the center of the wooden heart. Pour a small amount of blue paint on an old plate. Paint the top half of the heart blue. Let dry. Remove tape. Pour a small amount of white paint on an old plate. Paint the bottom half of the heart white. Let dry.

3. This next step can be done with a stencil or painted freehand. Paint two rows of four white stars across the blue part of the heart. Let dry.

4. Pour a small amount of red paint on an old dish. Carefully paint red vertical stripes across the white part of the heart. Do this design so that it looks as if there are alternating red and white stripes. If it easier, you can place strips of masking tape evenly spaced across the white part of the heart. Then paint red stripes in between the pieces of masking tape. This will give you precise, even vertical stripes. Let dry. Remove the masking tape.

5. Make a bow from the patriotic ribbon.

6. Cut a 4 inch piece of floral wire. Twist the bottom ends together. With the front of the rake facing you, secure this loop to the back, top of the rake. This will be the hanger for the rake.

7. With the front of the rake facing you, glue the wooden star to the top of the rake fan.

8. Glue the wooden heart approximately 10 inches from the top, front of the rake.

9. Glue the patriotic bow in between the heart and the star.

10. Glue some white statice on the center of the bow. Make sure the statice arrangement is full. Glue the blue baby's breath evenly throughout the statice.

11. Glue the beginning of the vine to the top, back of the rake. Carefully wrap the vine around the rake handle, heart and bow with arrangement. Glue the end of the vine to the back of the rake.