Everyone knows what to do with bandannas. You drape them babushka-style over your head on painting day, tie them around the dog's neck, and spot them in old Westerns. But none of these applications captures the bandanna's beauty. Look closely at its bitty stars and wavy flourishes, flashy as fireworks, and you'll see the spark of an all-American party.

Invitation Cards
Classic bandanna motifs are the inspiration behind this lively redo of plain stationery, left. Rubber stamps in a slew of shapes -- stars, floral patterns, and other doodads -- do most of the work. For dots, use a regular black-ink pen and/or a white-paint one. Some tricks to keep in mind: To mimic the look of an actual bandanna, create a repeating pattern. If using two stamp-ink colors, always let the first color dry before applying the second.