Paint a Patriotic Monogram With Red Chevrons and White Stars

Guest project by Jacque of The DIY Village.

Our family gets together for a cookout and fireworks on the Fourth of July, and I like making something new for the occasion. After the previous year’s Fourth of July decorations, I brought this project indoors: a cardboard K with red chevrons, a blue corner, and white stars.

Supplies

• A monogram letter in cardboard or wood; mine was cardboard
• Red, white, and blue craft paint
• A paintbrush
• A chevron stencil
• White star stickers, or stars cut from vinyl
• Tape to mark off the blue area

Build the design over a white base

Paint the entire letter white. I used three coats to get the bright background I wanted, rather than trying to cover it in one thick coat.

Decide where the blue flag area will sit and tape off that section as a reminder of where to stop the red stripes.

Line up the chevron stencil at the bottom and begin painting the red stripes. I started with the bottoms of both legs of the K so the pattern ran across them, then worked up the long leg and connected the other sections.

The bottom of my K wasn’t level, so the chevrons didn’t line up perfectly. I adjusted the pattern where needed; the small difference was less noticeable once the whole letter was finished.

After the red paint dries, paint the upper-left section blue. Let that dry before adding the white stars.

The project took me about an hour and a half, including drying time for the three white coats and the other colors. My finished letter was an indoor decoration. A clear coat and ribbon for hanging it on the front door were ideas I was considering, rather than steps I’d tested for outdoor use.