How to Make a Hand Print American Flag With Your Troop

September 6, 2018

Time to read 4 min

Calling All Creative Troops! Craft a Troop American Flag!

I am always on the lookout for engaging art projects that involve the whole troop? Today I will share the creation of your Troop American Flag!

This isn't your ordinary art project. It's a chance for your girls to work together, have a little messy fun, and create a stunning piece that shows your troops spirit and American pride.

Imagine this:

Your very own American flag, proudly displayed at your meeting place.
It becomes the eye-catching centerpiece of your troop's parade float.
It serves as a unique and memorable backdrop for photos at special events, like the one below that shows my troop at World Thinking Day.

Today, I'm excited to share the how-to behind our troop's American flag creation, along with some inspiring ideas for using your finished masterpiece!

All the Supplies You'll Need for Your Troop American Flag

A Large Canvas: Unleash your artistic vision on a white twin-size sheet. This will be your flag base.
Painting Power: Stock up on red, white, and blue washable paint to bring your flag to life.
Planning Makes Perfect: Grab a pen or pencil to sketch out the blue square and red stripe guidelines for your flag. A yardstick will come in handy for creating straight lines.
Painting Prep: Paper plates are perfect for holding paint and keeping things mess-free.
Clean Up Crew: Paper towels and wipes will be your best friends for any paint spills or messy hands.
Stripes and Stars: A wide paintbrush will help you tackle the blue square, while the girls can use their creativity for the red stripes and white stars.

Step-by-Step Guide to Crafting Your Troop Flag

Step #1 - Laying the Foundation
Spread out your white sheet. Use the yardstick and pencil to lightly sketch the blue square that represents the canton (top left corner) of the flag. Don't forget to draw guidelines for the red stripes – 13 stripes for a truly realistic flag, or fewer for a more symbolic representation.

Step #2 - Painting the Blue Square
Time to add a splash of color! You can either have the girls paint the blue square together, or pre-paint it before your meeting to save time and allow it to dry completely.

Step #3 - Red Handprints
Now comes the fun part: transforming little hands into patriotic stripes! Pour red paint onto paper plates for easy access. One by one, each girl can leave their handprint mark along the pre-drawn red stripe guidelines. Depending on your troop size, some girls might need to do multiple handprints. The leaders can join in on the fun too! After everyone has participated, make sure the girls clean up their hands with paper towels and wipes before moving on.

Step #4 - Star Power with Thumbprints (or Handprints)
The American flag wouldn't be complete without its iconic stars! Here's where you can get creative. If your girls have small hands, thumbprints can represent the 50 stars. However, handprints can also work if they fit comfortably within the blue square. Let your troop decide and have fun creating a starry masterpiece!

With these steps and a sprinkle of teamwork, your troop will be well on their way to crafting a beautiful and meaningful American flag masterpiece!

The Troop American Flag & Beyond!

Get Messy, Get Creative: Host a Painting Party!

We all know girls love getting their hands dirty! Turn flag-making into a full-blown Painting Party.

Earning the Celebrating Community badge

This could be a great addition to the activities you are doing to earn the Celebrating Community badge. If you need more ideas for this badge here are some ideas along with a complete activity booklet to help you earn it.

Earning the Painting badge

This could be a great addition to the activities you are doing to earn the Painting badge. If you need more ideas for this badge here are some ideas along with a complete activity booklet to help you earn it.

World Thinking Day

Imagine your amazing troop picture at World Thinking Day with your very own American flag as the backdrop! It's a beautiful symbol of your troop spirit and a great conversation starter when connecting with Girl Scouts from around the world.

If you need help planning your World Thinking Day event here are a number of great ideas.

Flag Ceremony Fun: Learning & Respect!

After making the large flag as a craft, now teach your girls how to do a proper flag ceremony.

If you do not have a flag for your troop yet here is a good one that I feel like is a perfect size even for our littlest girls to hold.

As a Girl Scout it is important to learn how to do a proper flag ceremony. If you have never done one or need a few ideas. Here is a post I share exactly how to do a simple flag ceremony.

Let’s not forget about fun patches

After making a amazing American Flag and doing a flag ceremony send your girls home with a fun patch to wear proudly on the back of their vest. Here is one that is perfect for the occasion and come with a free PDF with even more ideas related to putting on a Flag Ceremony.

Patch and program come from Makingfriends.com

Get Fun Patch

Share the Inspiration: Spotlight Your Troop!

We'd love to see your amazing troop flags! Snap a picture and send it to leaderconnectingleaders@gmail.com. Your flag will be featured in a future post, inspiring other troops across the nation!

Remember, this project goes beyond crafting. It's about fostering creativity, teamwork, and a deeper appreciation for American pride. So have fun and happy crafting!