Patriotic Napkin Rings

via Martha Stewart Living, July 2007

Add a splash of patriotism to Independence Day place settings with our red, white, and blue napkin rings. The intricate accessories are simple to create.

All you need is colorful grosgrain ribbon, a handful of  buttons, fabric glue, and some covered elastic. 

To make the rings stand out, loop them around solid-colored napkins, such as the cobalt-blue linen ones we selected.

Napkin Ring How-To

You will need a 15-inch-long piece of 1/2-inch-wide grosgrain ribbon for each napkin ring. To begin, make a series of 1/2-inch accordion folds in the ribbon, holding them in place as you go. Push a threaded needle with a 1-inch tail through the gathered folds, along the bottom edge. Holding on to both ends of the thread, carefully slide the folds into the shape of a circle. Before closing the circle, tie the ends of the thread into a knot, snipping off any excess. Glue the ends of the ribbon together with fabric glue to create a full circle with a small hole in the middle. Thread 4 inches of covered elastic through 2 holes of a button, and tie the ends into a knot. Glue the button to the center of the bottom side of the burst.

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Happy Flag Day

Happya FlagaDay

I am the flag of the United States of America. I was born on June 14, 1777, in Philadelphia.There the Continental Congress adopted my stars and stripes as the national flag.

My thirteen stripes alternating red and white, with a union of thirteen white stars in a field of blue, represented a new constellation, a new nation dedicated to the personal and religious liberty of mankind.

Today fifty stars signal from my union, one for each of the fifty sovereign states in the greatest constitutional republic the world has ever known.

My colors symbolize the patriotic ideals and spiritual qualities of the citizens of my country.
My red stripes proclaim the fearless courage and integrity of American men and boys and the self-sacrifice and devotion of American mothers and daughters.
My white stripes stand for liberty and equality for all.
My blue is the blue of heaven, loyalty, and faith.

I represent these eternal principles: liberty, justice, and humanity.

I embody American freedom: freedom of speech, religion, assembly, the press, and the sanctity of the home.

I typify that indomitable spirit of determination brought to my land by Christopher Columbus and by all my forefathers - the Pilgrims, Puritans, settlers at James town and Plymouth.

I am as old as my nation.

I am a living symbol of my nation's law: the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights.

I voice Abraham Lincoln's philosophy: "A government of the people, by the people, for the people."
I stand guard over my nation's schools, the seedbed of good citizenship and true patriotism.

I am displayed in every schoolroom throughout my nation; every schoolyard has a flag pole for my display.

Daily thousands upon thousands of boys and girls pledge their allegiance to me and my country.

I have my own law—Public Law 829, "The Flag Code" - which definitely states my correct use and display for all occasions and situations.

I have my special day, Flag Day. June 14 is set aside to honor my birth.
Americans, I am the sacred emblem of your country. I symbolize your birthright, your heritage of liberty purchased with blood and sorrow.
I am your title deed of freedom, which is yours to enjoy and hold in trust for posterity.

If you fail to keep this sacred trust inviolate, if I am nullified and destroyed, you and your children will become slaves to dictators and despots.

Eternal vigilance is your price of freedom.

As you see me silhouetted against the peaceful skies of my country, remind yourself that I am the flag of your country, that I stand for what you are - no more, no less.
Guard me well, lest your freedom perish from the earth.
Dedicate your lives to those principles for which I stand: "One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I was created in freedom. I made my first appearance in a battle for human liberty.
God grant that I may spend eternity in my "land of the free and the home of the brave" and that I shall ever be known as "Old Glory," the flag of the United States of America.
                                                                    ~written by Melanie

Fly your Flag!

********************************

The American Flag:

source

Continental Colours
(Top left)

This 1776 flag reflects the sentiments of our forefathers: The British Union Jack acknowledged the colonies' origins; the stripes, their emerging independence.
Stars and Stripes
(Top right)
The Flag Resolution of 1777 specified that there should be one star for each state but did not specify configuration. Each flagmaker arranged the stars to his or her liking.

Star-Spangled Banner
(Bottom left)
Two stars and stripes were added in 1795 in recognition of Vermont and Kentucky. This version inspired the Francis Scott Key poem that became our national anthem.
Grand Old Flag
(Bottom right)
In 1912, President William Taft approved the first detailed standards for flag proportions. This flag, with 48 stars, was official until 1959 -- the longest-flying version.

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Tuesday Tip

New Uses for Nail Polish

1.    Seal an envelope by swiping some clear nail polish along the part you’d usually lick!

via Oh Happy Day

2.    To prevent rust rings in the shower, you can apply clear nail polish to the bottom of the shaving cream can.

3.    Keep ribbons from fraying by painting the ends with clear nail polish. This works for shoelaces and ropes too.

4.    Gives screws extra durability by painting with a coat of polish and allowing to dry before using

5.    A tiny bit of clear nail polish can touch up small dents and scratches on hardwood floors and can help prevent further damage to the area.

6.    Dip the end of a piece of thread into a bottle of clear nail polish for easy needle threading.

via Anne Weaver

7.    Reset loose stones in inexpensive costume jewelry with a coat or two of clear nail polish. This also gives the jewels a little extra sparkle.

8.    Prevent ink from running down your labels by covering with a coat of clear nail polish.

9.    Rustproof your metals by covering them with a clear coat.

10. Prevent jewelry from tarnishing or turning your skin green by painting over it with a clear coat.

11. Get ride of warts. To eliminate warts, cover with clear nail polish. After a week, they’ll be gone. Remember to throw away the polish you have used afterwards to prevent the virus from spreading.

12. Give a glow-in-the-dark effect for remote control buttons.  Dab some glow-in-the-dark nail polish on the buttons. You’ll never have to worry about pressing the wrong button when it’s dark again.

13. Waterproof your matches. To make sure your matches will work even when they become damp, dip the flammable head in clear nail polish. You’ll be assured to light a cozy campfire.

14.  Fix window screens or shades. A little tear in your window shade will become worse as time passes. Prevent it by sealing the hole with a dab of nail polish. 

15. Smooth splinters and rough areas on old vintage wood hangers.
16. Quick fix for most of your adhesive needs! Use it to secure loose glasses screws, reset jewelry stones, or repair small wood chips in furniture or hardwood floors.
17. Keep small dings or chips in your car from rusting or getting worse by dabbing a small amount of clear nail polish to the affected area.
    
    
18. Secure buttons by putting a dollop of clear polish in the center. This will keep them from ever coming unsewn.

    

    via leesie bella

19. Make finding the right key a breeze. Never know which key is which?  Paint a strip or dot with nail polish to color code them.
20. Keep buttons shiney. If you have a vintage coat or dress with pearl buttons, paint them with a coat of clear polish.

Hope you enjoy this weeks tip♥

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