Flamingo Marquee Light DIY

It’s the year of the flamingo! There are so many ways to let your flamingo flag fly, from pool floats to themed parties to home decor. Why not add just one more DIY to the ‘mingo mania?

Materials: 

• foam core
• large scrap paper 
• illustration board
• string lights
• spray paint (primer and paint)

Tools: 

• pencil
• ruler
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• cutting mat
• X-ACTO knife
• screwdriver

Instructions: 

1. On a large scrap of paper (about 18 x 24 inches) draw the outline of a flamingo. Start with an S shape for the flamingo body and sketch away! Cut it out with scissors. 
2. Trace the paper outline on your sheet of foam core. 
3. Use an X-ACTO knife to cut the flamingo outline out of the foam core. 
4. Optional: Use sandpaper to clean up the edges. 
5. With a ruler, measure the distance between the string lights (mine were two inches apart). 
6. On the flamingo board, draw a dot where you want the lights to go — remember to leave two inches between the dots. 
7. Using a screwdriver, pierce the foam core where you marked the dots. 
8. Cut strips of illustration board 1 1/2 inches in width. Use a hot glue gun to attach it to the sides of the flamingo. 
9. In a well-ventilated area, spray the flamingo first with primer and then hot pink spray paint.
10. Once dry, poke the string lights through the holes in the flamingo and turn it on.

Pro-tip: When you’re cutting the flamingo outline out of foam core, lightly score or drag the X-ACTO knife along the lines a few times before you apply more pressure. This will make a cleaner cut.