Older kids and tweens will delight in learning the simple secrets of creating this complicated-looking little flag book.
A great Americana project - great for Memorial Day, Pearl Harbor Day or 4th of July projects!
Instructions
STEP 1:
Create the covers by cutting two 4 ¼ x 5 ½ pieces of red cardstock. Set aside.
STEP 2:
Create the accordion binding by cutting a piece of blue cardstock to 8 x 5 ½. Fold the paper in half widthwise and reopen. Fold the ends, one at a time, to the middle line. Fold the ends back to the new folds. Make sure they align. Turn the paper over, keeping all folds in place. Align the folded ends with the middle fold, and crease. You will now have an accordion with alternating folds at every 1-inch mark.
STEP 3:
Face the accordion with the opening to the right. Adhere the covers to the inside of the first and last fold, so that the blue binding edge shows on each cover. (See project picture)
STEP 4:
Create flags by cutting three 1 ½ x 4 ¼ strips of each red, white, and blue cardstock.
STEP 5:
Open the book to reveal three accordion “peaks.”
STEP 6:
On each “peak,” adhere a red flag strip to the front of the peak, aligning it with the top of the book. Adhere a blue flag to the front of the peak, aligning it with the bottom. Adhere the white strip to the backside of the peak, in between the two other flags.
STEP 7:
Repeat Step 6 for the other two peaks, and decorate with star stickers.
STEP 8:
To make the front flag, cut white cardstock to 3 x 2 ½ and mat on a 3 ¼ x 2 ¾ piece of yellow cardstock. Decorate to resemble a flag with a 1 ¼-inch square of blue cardstock, three red strips measuring 1 ½ x ¼-inch, and two red strips measuring 2 ¾ x ¼-inch.