If you have ever passed up a piece of โjunkโ at a sale or on the side of the road, this project will make you rethink it. I know I never regretted bringing this old piece home with me. Read on how I made this Americana Bench โ from sad to fab.
Everyone could use this Americana Bench in their yard, especially if you donโt have a place for a flag. No better way to show your love of the USA than to display the red, white, and blue. The corner of the yard had a fresh new look as well.
And, as the anniversary of the Fallen Five here in Chattanooga, and everything else going on, what a better time to do this and show your pride for the USA.
PLEASE NOTE โ pictures are not available of process as camera card had a mishap. Contact me directly if I can help you out.
Bought for $5 at a yard sale, I knew it would have to be reworked, but the frame was in good shape and worth the low price.
This was my sad little bench before. And the space gets a makeover too.
These are directions and sizes for this bench. Your bench may be different so measure and plan accordingly.
Supplies
8 โ 1โณ x 3โณ x 4โฒ boards HOME DEPOT will cut these for you if needed
10 โ 1 1/2โณ nuts and bolts
6 โ 1โณ screws
Red, White and Blue outdoor paint
Primer (outdoor)
Spray primer for metal
Spray paint for metal โ rust resistant
Star stamp
Roller and/or brushes
Make sure the nuts, bolts, and screws are rust resistant.
As with any projects, I try to make it as cheap as possible and use what I have on hand. Luckily I had all the paint I needed from previous projects.
FRAME
Give it a good pressure washing to remove any flaking paint and old grime. Let dry thoroughly. You could also use a wire brush to remove any old paint.
After drying, a coat of primer was sprayed and allowed to dry. Always follow directions on your paint as it can vary. My choice for this was Rustoleum Stops Rust, White in Semi-Gloss.
I did 3 light coats, allowing to dry between each coat as directed on paint can.
SEAT
Before painting, you need to decide what color or combination and in what order they will be placed.
Using some leftover Benjamin Moore outdoor primer, each slat was was given a good coat and allowed to dry.
I wanted a flag design.
The blue was 16โณ so this was taped off using Frog Tape for a crisp edge and painted navy.
Each board will probably require at least 2 coats of paint, but I did do 3 coats on the red for a deeper shade.
STARS
This can be a choice but I knew I wanted lots of little starts so I dug through my stash of Close to My Heart clear stamps and found this one.
Again I used my white outdoor paint. Anytime you are stamping, especially with paint, less is more. I put a small amount (less than a teaspoon) onto a styrofoam plate and spread it thin.
What I have always loved about CTMH clear stamps, you can see where you are stamping.
Stamp desired number of stars โ I wanted mine full, so Iโm not even sure how many there are.
Now the fun part โ putting it together. And this can vary by your own bench.
The lower slats used nuts and bolts but the upper slats were screwed in from the back.
Now would you call it this FAB?
Hints:
I used pine but you can always consider using a more durable wood, especially if you are staining it. Cedar would cost a bit more but could be used if you want a natural look without any paint.
Always drill pilot holes to prevent wood from splitting.
This is a great way to add a pop of color in your yard or garden.
Have fun and be artistic.
Make sure you always pin these ideas for later.
Need a little more red, white, and blue โ try out my Shabby Chic American Flag. Pin it for later too.
What about some fun treat ideas in red, white, and blue to enjoy?
Make a NAKED CAKE and trim with red and blue fruit
Iโve included affiliate links to Amazon for you to find some products easier. I may receive a small commission, but the price is the same for you. It just helps my blog out.
When most people think of Thanksgiving Dinner – it’s usually the Norman Rockwell picture of a huge family sitting around the table with Dad getting ready to carve the big bird. For many that just isn’t the case. If that isn’t your family, or you just don’t want the mess, you may want to consider…
Here’s a few ideas to combine food & fun – always a great combination for any summer time treat. Whether you are having a family picnic, a neighborhood block party, or maybe off to a community Fireworks around the 4th of July, here’s a couple of Kid Friendly 4th of July Treats ideas which aren’t…
It’s still pumpkin time in Tennessee, and elsewhere, so think about making this Pumpkin French Toast Casserole maybe for Thanksgiving morning. With using canned pumpkin, this could be made anytime of the year. Who likes breakfast for dinner? A great advantage to this Pumpkin French Toast Casserole is you can make it ahead of time….
How many times have you looked at something in your house and decided that you could make it much better than the way you purchased it? If you’re anything like me, this probably happens on a daily and weekly basis. There are so many items that are simple to make, but we all tend to…
No matter what time of year, it’s always a good time to have a picnic. Labor Day is this weekend and most think of it as the last official weekend of summer.approaching, why not start planning ahead to have a menu full of patriotic picnic foods that are perfect for sharing? The more that you…
Can you think of a more perfect setting for a Hallmark movie than The Biltmore House and especially a Christmas movie? โA Biltmore Christmasโ was filmed entirely at the Biltmore Estate earlier this year. Iโm especially anxious to see this as we just visited the Biltmore Estate a couple of weeks ago. It has been…
Cookies are used on My Home and Travels to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. These cookies provide feedback information to our analytics and advertisers. You can switch off these cookies at anytime. I AgreePrivacy policy