Holidays & Entertaining Fourth of July/Memorial Day Star-Spangled Welcome Mat Follow this tutorial to dress up a plain entry rug for Independence Day with easy handmade star stencils! By Sarah Martens Sarah Martens Instagram Sarah Martens is the Senior Editor overseeing food at Better Homes & Gardens digital. She has been with the BHG brand for over 8 years. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on May 10, 2018 Share Tweet Pin Email Project Overview Working Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 2 hours Skill Level: Kid-friendly Intro: Use stencil plastic (or leftover contact paper!) and our free template to make a set of perfectly-shaped star stencils. Pick a pretty and inexpensive rug, and paint over the stencils to transfer the pattern. We love the way the red stars pop against our blue and white striped rug! What You'll Need Materials 1 Stencil plastic 1 Crafts knife 1 Repositionable spray adhesive 1 Woven or low-pile rug 1 Latex paint 1 Stencil brush Instructions Prepare stencils Use our free star template to cut star shapes from stencil plastic or contact paper. Since you'll be using the negative of the stencil, it's helpful to leave a few inches around the star—this will make it easier to paint later. If you're using stencil plastic, use a spray adhesive to secure the stencil to the rug. If you cut the shapes from contact paper, peel the top layer off and attach the adhesive side to the rug. Paint rug Adjust the stencils to create the perfect star pattern for your rug. Use a stencil brush and carefully paint latex paint (or outdoor acrylic paint) over the cut-out area of each stencil—be careful not to go over the stencil's edge. You may need to apply more than one coat to get the look you want; when you're done painting, let the rug dry completely before removing the stencils. Use a smaller brush and the same paint to do any touch-ups, and let the rug dry again before placing it on the front porch as a warm welcome for summer guests.