![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece.jpg\")
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![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-foam-base.jpg\")
Use a knife to gradually shave off the side corners of the foam.\u00a0 You want it to fit very snugly in the bucket and touch the bottom.\u00a0 It will be wider at the top than the bottom.\u00a0 Shave a little at a time and then check how it fits in the bucket.<\/p>\n
To create a hole in the center, push the blades of a closed pair of large scissors straight down into the center of the foam.\u00a0 Gently twist them around to create a hole.\u00a0 Press a wooden spoon into the opening – go all the way down to the bottom.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-handkerchief.jpg\")
Open the handkerchief and iron it flat.\u00a0 Put the bottom stem of the flowers in the center of the handkerchief.\u00a0 Wrap the handkerchief up around the base of the flowers.\u00a0 Hold it tightly in one hand up close to the flowers.<\/p>\n
The four corners stick out too much so pull on the lower handkerchief fabric so that less of the corners are sticking out.\u00a0 At this point it\u2019s better to have more of the handkerchief held in than out.\u00a0 Wrap a rubber band tightly around it where you\u2019ve been holding it.<\/p>\n
Press the flower stem straight down into the center of the foam until it touches the bottom.\u00a0 You may need to twist the handkerchief around the stem because it is bulky.\u00a0 You may also have to shave the inside hole a little bigger with the closed scissors.<\/p>\n
Situate the handkerchief corners and edges around the top of the foam so the foam is covered and it goes over the edges of the bucket.\u00a0 You may have to take it in and out of the foam to readjust it.<\/p>\n
Two of the corners of the handkerchief should fall to the sides of the chalkboard, not in front.\u00a0 Check that any tags or printing on the handkerchief is situated at the back.\u00a0 The wooden handle should be in the front.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ll need rocks to hold it down for an outdoor event add them now and check to see that the handkerchief still covers them and over the edges of the bucket.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-flowers.jpg\")
Once you\u2019re sure the handkerchief is covering the foam just right, take everything out of the bucket.\u00a0 Put hot glue in the bottom of the bucket and press in the foam.<\/p>\n
Put tacky glue in the hole in the foam and press in the handkerchief covered flower stem.\u00a0 Make sure the handkerchief lays how you want it. (Lay the rocks back on top of the foam.)<\/p>\n
Slide a few of the bottom leaves down on their stems to cover the gap between the handkerchief and the leaves. \u00a0I lifted my handle up and put a few leaves where they would help keep it propped up.\u00a0 (The skewers from the flag and bow will also keep it upright.)<\/p>\n
Bend the flowers out some and position them as you would like.\u00a0 Leaves can be moved up and down.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-bows.jpg\")
You\u2019ll make your blue ribbon just like the red burlap ribbon is made but smaller.\u00a0 Cut the blue ribbon into three strips that are 15\u201d long.\u00a0 Roll two of the ribbons into loops 5\u00bd\u201d long.<\/p>\n
In the center of each loop pinch them together like a folded fan.\u00a0 Do the same with the lower strip.\u00a0 Tightly hold all three pieces pinched together.<\/p>\n
Use the red metallic tie from the burlap bow to wrap it around where you\u2019re pinching the three pieces together.\u00a0 One end of the tie came from the top and one from the bottom.\u00a0\u00a0 I twisted them together in the back.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-bows-together.jpg\")
Trim the ends of the lower strip at a diagonal so that they end short of the red ones.\u00a0 Carefully dab tacky glue along the raw edges so they don\u2019t fray.\u00a0 Let them dry.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-wooden-skewer.jpg\")
Slide a wooden skewer through the tightly wound red tie on the back of the bow.\u00a0 The top of the skewer should barely stick up above the red bow and not be seen from the front.\u00a0 Wrap the tail of the tie around the skewer.<\/p>\n
Cover over the entire skewer with floral tape by wrapping and turning.\u00a0 The floral tape becomes sticky and adhesive when it\u2019s stretched.<\/p>\n
With the wooden bucket handle up, insert the skewer in the foam on the left side.\u00a0 I did not go through the handkerchief.\u00a0 After it was in the foam, I laid the handkerchief closely around it.<\/p>\n
Puff up the edges of the burlap bows and the loops on the blue bow.\u00a0 You want them to look 3D not flat.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-flag.jpg\")
Align the flag with a wood skewer so that the skewer is beside the lower half of the flag pole.\u00a0 Wrap floral tape around both sticks where they overlap and all the way down the skewer.<\/p>\n
Insert the flag in the foam the same way you did with the bow but on the right side.\u00a0 The flag should sit higher than the bow.<\/p>\n
![\"Patriotic](\"https:\/\/yesilovewalmart.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/patriotic-centerpiece-directions.jpg\")
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Write a patriotic message on the pail with the chalk.\u00a0 If you make a mistake, it is easily wiped off with a wet cotton swab or sponge.\u00a0 You may want to look for a cute font to copy.<\/p>\n
Ideas are:<\/p>\n
Yes I Love Walmart.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n