Last week I shared my Simple 4th of July Mantel. I featured a few items that I created including my USA Map Sign on my mantel. Today I’m sharing a step by step tutorial for how to create your own DIY map sign.

Step 1: Grab some wood and paint it your base coat. In this instance I used some smooth plywood and white paint.

Step 2: Put down Frog Tape to create the stripes. I used two strips of Frog Tape to create one stripe.

Step 3: Paint in between the tape with red craft paint to create the red stripes.

Step 4: Once the red paint is dry, remove the tape and reveal your crisp lines.

Step 5: Cut out a vinyl stencil. I used my Silhouette to cut our an image of the US and used the “negative” part of the vinyl (Meaning I discarded the image of the US and kept the outline of the image).

Step 6: Use Mod Podge to go around the edge of where the vinyl meets the wood. This will help with any paint bleeding from the blue paint.

Step 7: Paint inside the vinyl stencil with blue paint to create the image of the US.

Step 8: Remove the vinyl once the blue paint is dry to reveal your beautiful sign.

I did end up giving the whole sign some distressing, not a lot but just enough to weather it a bit.

I really love the way that the sign turned out. I also love that when I get an idea of home decor that I want to have I don’t have to search and search for it….I can just create it myself! I think that’s one of the best parts of being crafty!

The USA Map Sign looks awesome up on my mantel for the 4th of July. I also think this project could be adjusted to show off any state or country. So for those of you like me who are transplants or military nomads….having this up in your home would be a great way to honor your home state.

Do you like to decorate for the 4th of July? Why not create a USA Map Sign for your home?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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You can check out the post about my Simple 4th of July Mantel to see all the details!

This is our first year in our new home and as the seasons come around my holiday mantels have been changing. It just seems like the previous holiday mantels that I had on my last little shelf mantle just aren’t fit for my now huge mantel. So I’ve been switching things up and my 4th of July Mantel was next on the list.

I started rummaging around my garage for items that I could use. The first thing I pulled out was this big 9 pane window. It’s big, it’s chippy, and it makes the perfect backdrop on the mantel. Then it was time to start creating some goodies for my new 4th of July Mantel.

See that USA Map Sign up there? A tutorial is coming to the blog soon!

I happened to have some cut wood blocks hanging out so I grabbed a couple and got to work. I created both of the block signs with my Silhouette. The image on the red block is a file I purchased in the sil store and the one on the blue block is my creation.

That star you see is an old plastic star from the 99cent store. I painted it off white and placed it on top of the blue block. Easy peasy right?

My 4th of July Mantel may be simple but I love it.

Have you decorated for the 4th of July yet?

Linking up to these great link parties!!!

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Look for some more red, white, and blue projects?  Here is my 4th of July Round Up from last year…..