(sponsored post)
Labor Day is upon us. Many of us will be grilling out on Labor Day so why not look cute while doing it! Today, I’m sharing a fun, easy, DIY craft one can make to wear on Labor Day, give as a gift to the host if you are visiting a friend or family members house for a BBQ, or just a fun craft activity to do on Labor Day. As a Walmart Mom, I was given the opportunity to share a Labor Day craft with products I found at Walmart. Since many will be using the grill this holiday I thought it would be fun to share how to make a patriotic grilling apron. So with the giftcard provided, I went to my local Walmart and picked up the supplies I needed to complete this craft.
To make the apron, first gather the following supplies.
Supplies Needed:
(prices found at Walmart)
- Tulip Slick Dimensional Fabric Paint in both Deep Red and Royal Blue ($3.37 each)
- X-Acto Knife ($2.97)
- Classic Apron ($5.47)
- Craft Sponges ($3.47 multi-pack)
- Freezer Paper
- Scissors
- Printed picture of a simple star
- Pencil for Tracing
- Old Newspaper
- Paper or Old Plate (something to squeeze paint onto)
With your supplies gathered, prep the area you will be crafting at with newspaper since we are working with paint. Next, lay out your “canvas”, a plain white apron. I was so happy to find this single apron at Walmart in the embroidery section of the craft department.
Trace, Cut, Iron: Freezer Paper Stenciled Stars & Stripes
Next, grab your freezer paper. Freezer paper is found in the same section of Walmart as aluminum foil and plastic wrap. I already had some in my kitchen for this craft. Tear off a big piece of freezer paper to work with making your stars. I printed out a simple star shape on my computer and used that as my template. I put the freezer paper on top of the printed star and traced it using a pencil. In total, I traced out about 29 stars to use on the top of my apron. Then, cut out each star and ironed them onto the top part of your apron however you would like. Please be careful when using an iron as they are extremely hot. I had mine set to the cotton setting. Also, note that freezer paper has one paper side and the other side is plastic coated. You want the plastic coated side facing down. This is what makes the freezer paper stick to your fabric making a temporary stencil that will be peeled away once we are done painting.
Once all of my stars were traced, cut, and ironed onto my fabric it was time to begin painting. Since we are painting a flag design onto our apron, I needed a place to stop on my apron so I also cut out a long thin strip of freezer paper and ironed it about a third of the way down my apron to act as a border between where the stars ended and the stripes began.
I used Tulip Slick Fabric Paint in Deep Red and Royal Blue for my paint. I used an old bowl to hold the paint I was going to be working with. First, I dampened my craft sponge, wringing out as much water as possible, dipped it into the paint and sponged it randomly all over the section that I was painting blue. Since the freezer paper stars are ironed onto our fabric I don’t have to worry about messing up any lines. Once the area I was painting was completely covered (I like the splotchy look but you could make it solid if you’d like), I allowed it to dry before continuing onto the next part.
Once the top section is dry, it is onto the making the stripes. Since I’m not great at cutting a straight line, this part I used a yard stick and an X-Acto craft knife. I measured and cut 2 inch strips of freezer paper that were just a little bit longer than the striped section of our apron. Then I ironed them onto my apron starting at the bottom of the blue stars section all the way down to the bottom of the apron. Once all of the strips of freezer paper were ironed on, it was onto painting. Just like before I used an old bowl, Tulip Slick Fabric Paint in Deep Red, and craft sponges I found in the craft section of Walmart. With a dampened sponge I blotted the stripes being careful to connect the blue and red together without applying too much paint into the blue section. Again, you can either paint a solid stripe or keep it splotchy like I chose to do. Then I allowed it all to dry completely before proceeding to the last step.
The last step is the fun step for me, it is sort of like a “big reveal” where you finally get to see the finished product. Carefully peel away all of the freezer paper that you ironed onto your fabric before you began painting which should be fairly easy to do. Now your all ready to start grilling in your DIY Patriotic Grilling Apron!
I hope everyone has a safe and happy Labor Day.
Happy Grilling & Happy Crafting!
Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I’ve received compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post as well as given a giftcard to purchase the products mentioned in this post to create this craft. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
