Memorial Day Ideas

These are just a few ideas to celebrate Memorial Day!

This is a simple idea to make Patriotic Poppies.  You will need red crepe paper, green chenille stems, scissors, and large needle. Many veterans’ organizations sell poppies to earn money for disabled vets. To make each poppy, cut out three 4 inch circles with the crepe paper.  Lay the circles on top of each other, using a needle to make two holes next to each other in the center. Put the end of the chenille stem through one of the holes, bend the stem and bring the end down through the other hole. Twist the end around the long part of the chenille stem to secure it.   Pull the crepe paper petals slightly away from each other to form the poppy.

Since my dad was a Navy guy I really liked this idea. To honor the dead, Navy personnel places wreaths and flower arrangements at sea. This idea of “Flower Boats” is close to that idea.  You will need a paper plate, waterproof markers, pencil, round balloon, small fresh flowers, and glue. Using the markers draw colorful flowers on the paper plate. When you have all the flowers you want, poke a hole in the center of the plate with a pencil. Through the hole feed the balloon. Blow up the balloon from the back of the plate until full. Knot the balloon. You can glue fresh flowers on the balloon and plate. Then set them free in your pool or anywhere they would not be harmful to wildlife. 

While little ones are quite familiar with these comic-book characters, they may not know the existence of the bonafide heroes in their own family tree.  Take this chance to talk about what you believe are the characteristics of a hero and how your family member fulfilled that role.

HERO MEDAL

Materials:

• 1 12” x 12” x ½” Flora Craft Styrofoam sheet
• Heart-shaped cookie cutter
• Table knife
• Rolling pin
• Wax paper
• Acrylic paint, gold
• Wedge sponges
• Glitter glue, gold and blue
• Hole puncher
• Embroidery thread, red
• 6" strip of ribbon, red, white, and blue
• Low-temperature glue gun or white craft glue
• Double-stick tape
• Adhesive-backed pin

Directions:

1. Cut a heart shape out of the foam sheet using the cookie cutter.
2. Using the table knife, cut a rectangle 3" x 1” from the foam.
3. Flatten and compress both foam shapes using the rolling pin.
4. Using a piece of wax paper as a palette, squirt out a quarter-size dollop of gold paint.
5. With the wedge sponge, paint the two shapes and allow them to dry.
6. Decorate with glitter glue accents, as shown. Allow the shapes to dry for 24 hours to make sure the glitter glue won’t smear.
7. Fold the ribbon in half to define the center.
8. Create a point with ribbon, as pictured, and adhere in place with the glue.
9. Punch a hole in the heart foam and put embroidery thread through the hole.
10. Glue embroidery thread from the heart to the back of the ribbon so that the heart hangs slightly below the point of the ribbon.
11. Add the rectangle shape to the top of the ribbon, as shown.
12. Adhere with glue.
13. To wear the pin, younger children can use double-stick tape. Older children can use an adhesive-backed pin found in the jewelry sections of craft stores.

Memorial Day 2012 Craft Projects: Easy Paper Lanterns

Most Memorial Day 2012 craft projects make great decorations. These paper lanterns are no exception. They look fancy when they are hung on a clothesline or placed on tables as centerpieces; yet, they are very easy to make. You won't need much more than a sheet of paper to get started. Adult supervision required.

 

Materials:  A sheet of paper, Safety scissors, A pencil, A ruler, Markers, A stapler, Staples, Bounty paper towels for cleanup, A battery-operated tea light.

Directions:

1. Begin with the sheet of paper laid in front of you so that the longest sides are at the top and bottom.
2. Measure 1" in from the left side. Mark a vertical line from top to bottom with the ruler and pencil.
3. Use the scissors to cut along the line you created. Later, this will become the lantern's handle.
4. Turn the sheet of paper so that the shortest sides are now at the top and bottom.
5. Fold the sheet of paper in half from left to right.
6. Measure and draw a new line 1" in from the right side.
7. Use the scissors to make several horizontal slits in the paper, starting from the center and ending at the line you drew in step 6. Try to space each slit about one inch apart.
8. Now, unfold the sheet of paper so that the side with the line is facing down.
9. Decorate the paper any way you like using the markers. I think Memorial Day 2012 craft projects look nice with lots of red and blue stars.
10. Roll the paper so that it forms a tube. The shortest edges will now become the ends of the tube.
11. Make sure the paper keeps this shape by securing each end with a staple or two.
12. Stand your lantern up and attach the handle to the top with two more staples.
13. Remember that these lanterns are made out of paper and therefore should never be used with any form of flame. However, you can light up your paper lantern by setting it over a battery-operated tea light.

Thank you to all those individuals who are serving or have severed in the Armed Forces. A special thanks to the families who endure having their family members away. 

 

Share your ideas on this or anything on the blog either here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net  I look forward to hearing from you!

Sandi