Drapeau Français - Paint Stick French Flag

Whether you want to show respect and honor to the French Nation or you just want to display your French heritage, this festive paint stick flag will add color to your front door or wall!

Designed by: Dawn Barrett
Time: About 1 hour (without dry time)
Level: Intermediate

Here is how to make "Drapeau Français".

Here's what you need:

• Glue Dots® Advanced Strength
• 3 lengths of 25" hemp string
• 10- 12" paint sticks
• Americana acrylic paint in Ultramarine Blue, Brilliant Red, Snow (Titanium) White
• Americana DECOR Ultra-Matte Varinish
• Drill and drill bit
• Metal ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Painters tape
• Sponge brush
• Paint palette
• Hand saw
• Fine grained sand paper

Here's what you do:

Using a pencil and ruler, mark off 7 7/8" on three of the paint sticks. Use a hand saw to cut them to size and lay them aside. Use a drill to drill a small hole, 3 inches from each side of one paint stick. The holes should be centered from the top to bottom of the stick as well. Lightly sand the 7 full length paint sticks. Brush off any grit.

Line up the 7 sticks with the handle on the left side. Using a ruler and pencil, draw vertical lines down either side at 4" and 8". This will divide your flag into 3 equal parts. Then, use blue painter's tape to mark off the lines. Be sure to keep the tape on the outside of the pencil line. 

Use Americana's Snow (Titanium) White Acrylic Paint to paint in the 4 inch center section of all 7 sticks. Apply paint to the front and sides of the stick. Do not paint the back side. Apply a second coat when dry.

Remove the painters tape. Retape to mask the white center area when the sticks are completely dry. Apply two coats of Americana Ultramarine Blue on the left side and two coats of Americana Brilliant Red on the right side. Allow drying time for each layer. Remember to paint the top and sides only. Remove tape and apply two coats Ultra-Matte Varnish from Americana DECOR to seal the top and sides of the paint sticks.

Horizontally, line up the 7 painted sticks faced down on your work area. Apply Advanced Strength along the back on each stick at 1", 6", and 11". Lay the three cut sticks vertically across the glue dots. Press firmly for a strong secure bond.

Thread the three pieces of the hemp through one of the holes. On the back side of the flag, tie a knot. Braid. Thread the end through the second hole and knot it in the back.

Tips: When applying painter's tape, press down the edges in order to help keep paint from seeping under the mask. Apply paint in thin layers and swipe the brush away from the tape. Be sure that the plain, non printed side of the paint stick faces toward the front when adding the vertical sticks. To line up the sticks and keep them in place, use Removable Glue Dots to temporarily hold the vertical sticks down on your work space. Then, place the horizontal sticks on top of the unfinished short sticks.

~Dawn