Flags are fun and easy-to-make crafts for kids that can be made from a variety of materials in your home. All you need is some craft tools and a little imagination! This article will show you how to make a flag from either paper or fabric, which you can then decorate to celebrate different countries around the world, or to support a sports team in your neighborhood. You can also learn to make flag banners, which can make great decorations for parties and classrooms.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Making Paper Flags
Step 1. Prepare six sheets of paper
You can use plain white paper (or cardboard if you prefer) which you can then decorate with the colors of the flag using cardboard, colored pencils, markers, or paint. Alternatively, you can use paper with the same base color as your flag. For example, if you are making a British flag, you can use blue paper, or if you are making a Canadian flag, you can use red paper.
Step 2. Roll two sheets of paper into a tube
You will use this tube as a flagpole. Be sure to roll up the paper tightly, applying tape to keep it in shape. If you don't want to use paper, you can use thin sticks as your flagpole.
Step 3. Glue the two tubes together so that they are elongated
Take both rolls of paper and thread them from one end to the other to form a long tube. Keep the shape with masking tape.
Step 4. Take the remaining four sheets of paper and make a rectangle
Lay the four sheets of paper flat on the table, and arrange them so that they form a rectangle. Use duct tape (you can color later) to glue the four papers together. Glue the two sides together to strengthen the shape.
Step 5. Glue the rectangle with a long tube
Use regular tape to glue the rectangle to the tube. Make sure to stick them tightly so they don't come off when you fly them.
Step 6. Decorate your flag
Now you can decorate your flag with the colors of any country or team you like. Use your favorite coloring or paint kit, add glitter stickers or decorations, or write a slogan on one or both sides of your flag. You can also make other shapes, such as a star or moon, out of leftover colored sheets of paper and attach them to your flag.
Method 2 of 3: Making a Fabric Flag
Step 1. Prepare a piece of nylon or cotton cloth
Choose the fabric as the base for the flag you want to make. If you want to make a United States flag, for example, you can choose white fabric. To make a large flag, try using 1.5 m by 0.9 m of fabric. If you want to make a smaller flag, a smaller piece of fabric (or even a pillowcase) can work.
Step 2. Find a sheet of fabric in any other color you need
You can use any type of fabric, nylon or cotton like flag base, or felt, silk, polyester, verlor - whatever fabric you find at home! Old clothes or tablecloths are also perfect.
Step 3. Define the flag handle
For flags you make yourself, the handles can be made of whatever you choose - it could be a tree trunk, or an old broom handle - as long as it's strong enough to hold your flag.
Step 4. Make a pocket for the flag handle
Before you attach the flag to the handle, you will need to make a pocket to insert the handle into the flag. To make it, place your flag on the table and place the handle on the short vertical side, on the right hand grip.
- Fold the edge of the fabric through the handle and pin the pin to hold it in place.
- Take out the flag handle, then you can use a sewing machine or fabric glue to glue the fabric in place.
- Sew or glue the tops of the pouches together, so the flag handles don't slide off after insertion. Thus, the flag can be placed at the top of the handle.
Step 5. Decorate your flag
Now is the fun part! Use a marker, ruler, and stencil to draw patterns on colored fabric, which you can cut with sharp scissors. Once the entire pattern is cut out, you can glue it with fabric glue to your flag.
- If you're making the flag of the United States, for example, you'll need to cut a small rectangle out of a piece of blue fabric, seven long stripes of the same width from a red fabric, and lots of five-pointed stars from a white sheet.
- If you want to write something like "Go Team!", then you can make a letter pattern and cut it out of a sheet of white, black, or other color paper.
Step 6. Paste the flag
Once you're done decorating, you can put the flag handles into the pouch you made earlier. If the pocket feels loose, you can tighten it with a little glue, or add a few more stitches to keep the base of the flag in position. Now you can fly your flag however you want!
Method 3 of 3: Making the Flag Banner
Step 1. Prepare several sheets of patterned cloth or decorative paper
These flag banners are very easy to make, so you can use any material you like. Just pick some pretty patterns and bright colors to make your flag banner stand out even more! Setting up about five different kinds of flags is good enough to start with.
Step 2. Cut the flag
Before you start cutting, you'll need to determine how big each triangular flag should be - remember that these triangles must be isosceles with two long sides and a short base.
- Once you've determined your measurements, cut out the flag outline and use it to cut out another triangle -- the number you need will depend on how long you want the flag banner to be.
- If you want to add embellishments to your flag banner, try cutting out your triangles with serrated scissors. This will make the sides of your triangle rounded and not just straight!
Step 3. Attach the flag to the string
How to attach the flag to the string depends on the material you are using, whether cloth or paper. If you're using paper, you can make 3-4 holes in the top of the flag and pass thread, ribbon, or string through the flag to hang it. If you're using fabric, you can sew the top of the flag onto a piece of ribbon or string (which takes a lot of time) or you can use fabric glue to glue the threads together, to make it easier.
Step 4. Hang the flag banner
Hang your flag banner by tying the end of the string to a nail on the wall, or use tacks to attach it. A flag banner would look great hanging in front of a fireplace, as an outdoor party decoration, or a cute decoration in the classroom or children's room.
