Patriotic Pop Up Card

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, INC. and The Coca-Cola Company. All opinions are mine alone. #USOCarePacks #CollectiveBias

Want to share some love with the servicemen or women in your life this summer?  Make this easy Patriotic Pop Up Card and share the love with our troops!

Our family is fascinated by researching family history. In our family, generations of men have served in the military in some way or another. One great-great-great grandfather even died (many years after the fact) from a bullet he received as a Confederate soldier in the Battle of Chickamauga. 

My dad was the last of our immediate family to serve in the military.  He was in the Navy as a young man.  Now, our tradition of military service is carried on by my brother-in-law, who is serving in the US Army.  We are proud of him and thankful for the service he and each our of our servicemen and women give for our country.

One of the ways you and I can show our support for the troops is by buying Coca-Cola™ products at your local Sam's Club!  Look for the cans with the custom patriotic packaging!  My Sam's Club didn't stock these special cans but they are available in most Sam's Club locations.

When you purchase Coca-Cola products at Sam's Club this summer, you'll be helping to provide care packages to the troops overseas!  Sam's Club is partnering with the USO and is hoping to provide 3000-5000 care packages this summer.

If you can't make it to the club anytime soon, or if you're like me and your club doesn't carry the special products, you can order Coca-Cola products with the special USO packaging online, or you can simply donate to the USO for care packages here.

I can't think of an easier way to give back to our troops this summer.

To make it extra special, I've put together a tutorial for an easy patriotic pop up card you can include with a care package or give to your favorite serviceman or woman.

I was inspired by this tutorial for a pop up card, but I know a lot of people don't have fancy cutting machines.  So, I figured out a way to make a similar card with just paper, scissors, and glue!

Patriotic Pop-Up Card

You will need the following supplies:
2 pieces 12x 12 solid Cardstock- different colors.  
1-2 pieces of coordinating patterned paper 
Glue dots 
Tape runner
Scissors
Xacto knife.
Template for stars (download here)

Instructions:
1. Cut a 4.75x12 inch strip of solid cardstock. Fold in half at the center. Using my template, trace and cut with Xacto knife, two stars evenly spaced from the center of the strip, leaving the feet closest to the center attached.
(my Xacto knife was so dull!  It took some work to cover those rough edges up.)

Glue stars together at the center tips.

2. Cut 2 4x4 inch squares to back the star cutouts. (solid contrasting paper)
Use a tape runner or other adhesive and glue to the front and back of your card.

You should see the contrasting paper through star shaped holes.

3.  Cut a 4x8 piece of patterned paper.  Trace and cut two stars evenly spaced from center of the strip, again leaving the feet closest to the center attached.  Glue stars at center tips.

4.  Cut these stars out at the feet, making sure they stay connected.  There should be a hexagon at the bottom.

5. Add strong tape to the bottom of hexagon. Cut up the fold to remove the hexagon, leaving the taped feet of the stars.

6. Push the fold of the patterned stars right up against the feet of the solid stars.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 for the other side of the card.

8. Use leftover patterned scraps as embellishments for the card. You can add embellishments as desired.  You can cut small stars and swirls to glue to the card.  Use glue dots.  Smaller stars layered in different colors make even more interest.

Trace and cut label frames for a greeting.  I actually printed out the phrase I wanted in a cute font and traced it onto my label :)

This patriotic pop-up card and a Coca-Cola care package are sure to brighten anyone's day this summer!  How are you going to celebrate the 4th of July?

Patriotic Round-up!

I hope you all are about to have a wonderful weekend of celebrating our country and spending time with friends and family! I get to spend it with my immediate family tonight, and then head up to see my mom, brother and Valerie! Yay! I don't get to see Valerie very often so any chance I get is awesome. If you have some time off of work it may just be the perfect time to throw together a last minute craft.  A lot of the patriotic supplies are on sale so it's a great time to get your craft on! You could do this easy burlap star banner to complete your mantle!

Try this patriotic wreath with necklaces from the dollar store!

Wooden blocks always open up the possibilities for great decorations.

Do you have one of these stars on your house? Here's a way to spruce it up!

Whatever your plans are this weekend, be safe and make memories! Connect with us! You can find us here:

Memorial Day Round Up

Memorial Day is coming up soon, and I know you're dying to deck your halls patriotic-style.  Or maybe that's just me.  Anyway, I've put together a few ideas, both from our blog and from some of our crafty friends.

First, you can't go wrong with a simple Star Banner.
  
You can also make a patriotic-themed Scrapbook Paper-Covered Star.

This Patriotic Wooden Block is simple to make and perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Of course, don't forget to check out Laura's Patriotic Wreath if you missed it this week.

And there's my Land of Liberty Framed Vinyl and Free Printable.

I love these party printables from Homespun With Love.  They really help you remember the purpose of Memorial Day.  

I love ribbon topiaries and this one from Bug Lover Cards is just beautiful!  Now I want to make another one!

Are you feeling inspired to create yet?  I know I am!  Pretty much I am just excited for Memorial Day because school will be out, and I can spend it with my kids without worrying about getting ready for school the next day.  How are you celebrating Memorial Day?  

Connect with us! You can find us here:

Land of Liberty Framed Vinyl

In light of the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon, I'm grateful to live in a country where such things are NOT common.  When they do happen, we pull together as a country in support of each other-- at least for a little while :).  I know it's a little early, but I'm feeling patriotic.  And of course, we have both Memorial Day and the 4th of July coming up over the summer.  So, you will have plenty of time to make this Vinyl Land of Liberty Sign.

I used Silhoutte's Premium Vinyl in Navy Blue, along with some red I had in my stash, for this project.  I love the premium vinyl- it adheres so well to whatever project I'm using.

Here's a quick and easy tutorial:

1.  If desired paint your frame.  I loved the distressed look of this frame.  The tan one cost $9.99, and the white cost $19.99.  What?!?  I bought the tan and added some white paint, rubbed on with a paper towel, then sanded smooth.  That's an easy $10 savings!  (Plus I used a 40% off coupon to save even more.)

2.  Cut your vinyl.   You can download the .studio file here if you so choose :)

2.  Apply your transfer tape and place your vinyl on the glass of the frame.  Be careful-- I HAVE broken glass this way.

3.  Scrape it firmly to adhere to your surface.  Then remove transfer tape, leaving the vinyl behind.  Don't mind the green folder- I just put it there so you could see the design on the glass.

4.  If you are layering two colors like me, just keep your transfer tape trimmed tight to the shape so you don't have to deal with unnecessary sticking.

5.  Put the glass back into your frame and place a white piece of paper behind it.  Replace the back and

that's it-- easy peasy!  Laura thinks this is minimalist but I kind of like it that way.  Feel free to embellish however you'd like.

If you don't want to make this in vinyl, you can download it as a free printable.  Right click the image to open it in a new tab or window and save it to your computer.  Or click here to download the file.

Connect with us! You can find us here:

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day everyone!  I'm taking the day off to spend time with family and friends.  I hope you are too!  Hubby's playing golf, I'm hitting Hobby Lobby, then we're off to swimming and BBQ.  What are you doing today?

Of course, I want to say a special thank you to our troops, particularly those who have lost their lives in service to our country.  Words are not enough.....but it's all I have today, so if you are a part of a military family, I honor you today!

And of course, a last minute idea for that BBQ- Patriotic Strawberries.

Simply dip halfway in white candy melts or almond bark, then the tips in blue sugar.
** Update**- This picture has been pinned a lot, and when I originally wrote the post, I was new to the whole "Pinterest" thing and didn't source it properly.  I found the picture via Pinterest, which linked me to here.  So, thanks to All Recipes for the inspiration!

 I found this via my new obsession, Pinterest.   It's invitation only- and I have a few to offer.  If you're interested in trying out Pinterest, leave me a comment or email me, and I'll send one to you until I run out!

Have a great day, everyone!