DIY Pallet Slat Flag

Hi Remodelaholics!!  It’s Karah here again from the space between and I’m excited to share one of my favorite (and a pretty simple) pallet projects from my upcoming book (available for preorder now here).  There’s not much I like more than simple upcycling ideas, taking something and using it in a new, hopefully more functional way.  And pallet wood is the perfect material to make all kinds of different things with from crafts to furniture … the topics in the book range from small and simple (yet will make you say “why didn’t I think of that?”) to more intricate designs.  This DIY pallet slat flag is perfect to hang out for the upcoming Labor Day holiday, or even all year round.

Build a DIY Pallet Slat Flag

To make this project you will need:

• 6 pallet slats about 44” long
• 1 support board cut 22” long (this is the thicker piece of wood on the pallet that holds the slats together)
• 1 1/8” screws
• tape measure
• red, white and blue paint
• craft paint brushes
• dark wax or poly (optional)
• saw – either a hand or miter saw work well
• screwdriver
• palm sander
• straight edge

Step 1 – lay the pallet slats side-by-side horizontally over the two support boards that are laid vertically and attach with 1 1/8” screws, you may need to play around with the layout a bit, some slats lay closer to some than others … and this is a great project to use one or two cracked or broken slats, the variation in shape just adds to the character of the project.

Step 2 – measure blue box part of the American Flag, there are many resources available online that give you the appropriate dimensions of the flag … we’re going with a loose interpretation.  🙂

A basic guide is that the width of the blue box is about ¾” of the measurement of the total height of the flag.  So since my flag is just over 23” high I measured 18” across the top (18 is about ¾ of 23).  And the height of the blue box is just over half of the total height of the whole flag.  Since my flag is six pallet slat tall I made the blue box slightly bigger the three slats tall.

Step 3 – paint the area for the blue box and then paint the remainder of the flag white, let dry … I started to run out of blue paint but adding a little bit of water did the trick to extend the paint enough to fill the blue square.

Step 4 – measure thirteen equal horizontal stripes, mark with the 4’ straight edge, paint every other stripe red starting with the top stripe, you will end up with seven red stripes and six white stripes

Step 5 – sand entire art piece with 100 grit sand paper

Step 6 – use white paint to add the stars in the blue box, I use a potato stamp in the book but you could use a stencil or free hand them if you’re super artsy!

Step 7 – apply dark wax (optional) to give the flag an aged, distressed look … a little tip here  – a little wax goes a looonnnng way so start with a small amount and build from there the more you add the more aged your flag will look.

Not hard at all, right?!?!  And I just love the rustic and patriotic feel of it.  No more flimsy flags blowing in the breeze that need to be replaced every year.

This is just one example of the ideas you’ll find in the book.  From holiday craft and gift ideas to a nightstand and a coffee table there is a little of something for everyone.

And if you’re infatuated with pallet projects like I am you can preorder your copy here!

As for what else I’ve been up to … there’s a little (read: not little at all) master bedroom, bathroom closet renovation going on.  I had a little vanity lighting dilemma,  I may have gotten a little carried away with all of the decisions that need to be made and to take a break from it all I made a reclaimed wood sign. That’s totally normal DIYer behavior, right?!?!  😉

What about you, what have you been up to?  Are you a fan of upcycling ideas?  Do pallet projects float your boat?

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Reclaimed wood and pallet wood are an excellent way to save money while building furniture and DIYing. See what else you can do with it:

1: Frame a Wall-Mount TV 
2: Reclaimed Wood Bed
3: Coffee Table with Hairpin Legs
4: Pallet Wood Accent Wall
5: Pallet Plank Backsplash
6: Barn Wood Chevron Headboard
7: Pallet Wood Ceiling
8: Pallet Slat Flag (above)
9: Pallet Deck
10: Reclaimed Wood Backsplash
11: Pallet Cabinet
12: Reclaimed Wood Headboard