Homemade Uncle Sam Greeter

by Mary
(Palm Coast FL USA)

Here's a very patriotic Uncle Sam that can hang on your door to greet your guests. Made from supplies you may have already around the house, he's very inexpensive to put together but has very charming results.


Materials

I used a thick piece of cardboard as the sign. It's fun to recycle! Here's the complete list of things you will need:

• cardboard for the sign
  
• red, white, blue and tan ribbon
  
• double back tape
  
• 2 wiggle eyes
  
• 1 wood star (or cut from cardboard)
  
• 1 black button and a handful of assorted white buttons

Instructions

Making template for Uncle Sam's head
Depending on how big you are making the sign, draw a circle which will be the face of Sam, onto heavy cardstock or thin cardboard. Using a ruler, draw a tall hat with brim onto the circle. See photo. Cut out all in one piece.

Decorating the sign with ribbon
Begin with the sign. Lay rows of tape across the cardboard until covered. Peel 2 or 3 rows of the tape backing off at a time. Lay white ribbon across, lining up straight with cardboard edge. Be sure to leave a little bit of ribbon hanging off each side of sign. Alternate rows between laying white and red ribbons until about 3/4 of the way up. Now fill in corner with shorter blue ribbon. Fill rest of sign with red and white. Glue little stick on stars or one large one onto the blue area.

Decorating Uncle Sam
To make Uncle Sam, use the same method. Make hat red and white, the rim blue and his face tan with ribbons. Glue white buttons on to make his beard. Glue wiggle eyes on. You can add things such as wood or chipboard letters to the sign.

--------

Check out more of Mary's fun craft ideas on her website www.craftingtales.com.

--------