Making a poppy project is a great way to commemorate Memorial Day and one we at Lars have had so much fun embracing (Remember this fun background?) Not only are they a sweet sign of summertime and come in some of the most striking colors, but they are also a symbol of hope and remembrance! Did you know that they are used all over the world to help honor fallen soldiers and servicemembers?
Today we’re showing you how you can create your own paper poppy pin to incorporate these sweet flowers into your Memorial Day celebrations! Keep reading for a beautiful and unique way to show your support for the many women and men, both past and present, who have sacrificed their lives for their country.
How to celebrate Memorial Day
What are some of your Memorial Day traditions? Here at Lars, our holiday plans usually include hot dogs. After that, maybe a dip in the pool, and lots of time with family! We are also sure to take the opportunity to remember the sacrifices people have made out of love for their country.
In addition to roasting up some hot dogs this Monday, consider adding this paper poppy pin to your list of family activities! Not only are these paper poppies super easy to make, but the pin is so sweet you’ll want to wear it all summer long! We love the way these turned out and can’t wait for you to make your own paper poppies!
Poppy Symbolism
Since the end of WWI, the red poppy has come to symbolize remembrance, hope, and peace. Its symbolism came about when the bright red flowers began blooming during the spring of 1915 through a battle-scarred land across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium). A Canadian doctor named Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae saw these bright red poppies amidst the battlefield’s chaos and bloodshed and was so moved that he wrote his now-famous poem, “In Flanders Fields.”
Inspired by McCrae’s poem, scholar and humanitarian Moina Michael decided to make and sell silk poppy pins in order to help raise money for veterans who were returning home from war. Our girl Moina eventually campaigned to make the poppy the official symbol of remembrance in the United States and worked with various countries and governments around the world to help people recognize this special flower’s significance. Moina eventually came to be known as the “Poppy Lady” (a title we LOVE) and spent the rest of her life championing the poppy!
Nearly a century after WWI ended, millions of people across the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand wear the red poppy every November 11, known as Remembrance Day or Armistice Day, to commemorate the anniversary of the 1918 armistice. In the U.S., the tradition is slightly different because we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th to honor all living veterans and Memorial Day on the last Monday of May to commemorate all those who died fighting for their country. This cute DIY paper poppy pin is a fun and easy way to bring the red poppy to your Memorial Day celebrations!
How to make a paper poppy pin for Memorial Day
Supplies needed:
All supplies are linked on Amazon Prime so you can make your pin in time for Memorial Day!
Instructions:
- First, download and print the paper poppy pin templates
- Cut out three “petals” from the red” template.
- Cut out a circle from the black using your template. This is your stamen. Make tiny incisions into the circle as close to each other as possible all the way around the perimeter. Curl the edges of the stamen with a pencil and cup them so that they are as vertical as possible.
- Make the center that goes inside the stamen by gluing the four corners together. Also, glue the bottom to the inside of the stamen.
- Add embroidery stitches to the inside of the petals and to the leaves.
- Glue the petals together so that they evenly overlap each other.
- Glue the center onto the top petal.
- Add the leaves to the underside.
- Finally, add a pin backing to the back.
- Start a new tradition and wear your poppy pin this Monday!
Other poppy projects
As self-proclaimed “poppy ladies,” we think poppies fit in ANYWHERE. As cake toppers, in a summery flower garland, or even covering an entire wall! You can make paper poppies as intricate and life-like as you choose. To use the poppy emblem for your own remembrance this Memorial Day, click on any of the projects above to find the perfect one for you! Some are simple enough for the entire family to help with, like these, and some look real enough to add to a bouquet. You can also teach your kids about the sacrifices we honor on Memorial Day with the help of this poppy coloring page.
If you make any of these poppy projects we would love to see them! Tag us with #LarsMakes. Happy crafting!
Comments