Happy Flag Day Greetings with Carta Bella God Bless America
Hello, Friends! Happy Flag Day to all my American followers. This is the day when Americans celebrate the Stars & Stripes. I was thinking about this yesterday morning, and decided to pop in the studio to make a quick card to share with all of you today.
Flag Day and My Childhood
Growing up in the 50’s and 60’s in rural Vermont, Flag Day was a true holiday. Everyone flew the flag in one way or another.
Since our elementary school didn’t start summer recess until the last week of June, we were still in class. If Flag Day fell on a week day, we observed it with some lovely traditions.
Preparations were made well in advance of the day. We made American Flags from red, white and blue construction paper. We learned about Betsy Ross, and knew that we celebrated Flag Day because the Stars and Stripes became our official national flag on June 14, 1777. The meaning behind the colors was always reviewed (red for courage, blue for vigilance and justice, and white for purity.)
We practiced “bringing in the colors” with small American flags on sticks. Some lucky child was picked to lead the rest of the class in the Pledge of Allegiance. And we always sang our favorite patriotic songs like the chorus to You’re a Grand Old Flag, This is My Country, There Are Many Flags of Many Lands, God Bless America, and My Country ‘Tis of Thee, The grand finale was always The Star Spangled Banner. We knew all the verses, and we sang them all, too!
The portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln smiled down on our enthusiastic renditions of these tunes, our little hearts swelled with pride in our nation, and we all felt like one big happy family.
I miss those days. How about you? Every nation should have a day that celebrates their country’s colors and history in such a meaningful way.
About the Card
This is a simple layered 5 1/2″ square top fold card. Here’s how it came together:
- Begin with a 5 1/2″ x 11″ panel of navy cardstock. Score it in half at 5 1/2″ to make a to fold card base.
- Next, center a 5 1/4″ square panel of white cardstock over the navy blue and adhere.
- Now mat a 4 7/8″ square of the blue floral paper on a slighlty larger square of navy blue.
- Then mat this on a 5 1/8″ square of red cardstock.
- Now mat a 2 1/2″ x 4 3/4″ panel of the plaid paper on navy blue cardstock and adhere on the left hand side of the card.
- Next, mat the 3″ x 4″ image on slightly larger pieces of navy blue and red cardstock. Center and adhere as seen in the photo.
- Next, adhere banner flags from the ephemera pack under a pinwheel and attach to the image.
- Finally add a bow and flowers in the corner. Tuck glitter stars in between the flowers to finish.
A Peek Inside
Here’s a peek at the inside. I almost printed out the words to the Pledge of Allegiance and added them on the top. But then I thought a sentiment panel was a better idea.
Thanks for letting me share my childhood memories of Flag Day with you today. I’d love to hear about yours in the comment section below.
Happy Flag Day, my friends!
Cheerio,
kathy
SUPPLY LIST
- Carta Bella God Bless America
- 12×12 papers
- 6×6 pad
- ephemera
- Little Birdie Pinwheels and Glitter Stars
- Light Navy Delicate Stitched Satin Ribbon
- Gold Metallic String
- Little Birdie Flowers
