Every Memorial Day is seen as another day of rest, whether it’s from school or work. But Memorial Day, or also known as Decoration Day, is a day to remember and honor those who have given their lives while serving our country. Originally, the day was dedicated to commemorating the soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War, but has expanded over the years to include all military personnel. To honor this coming Memorial Day, Artitudes would like to share with you a few historical facts about the American flag. 

• George Washington flew the Grand Union Flag at his base in Prospect Hill on January 1, 1776 New Year’s Day. At that time, the flag consisted of 13 red and white stripes and had the symbol of the British Union Jack in its upper left corner.
• Betsy Ross sewed the first flag in May 1776.
• On June 14, 1777 the Continental Congress passed the Flag Act which declared that there should be thirteen white stars in a blue box to represent the union and to mimic a star constellation, and 13 alternating red and white stripes. From 1777 up until 1960, Congress passed several more acts that allowed new stars and stripes to be added onto the flag according to admission of each new state.
•  The national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner,” was written by Francis Scott Key in 1812 after viewing a sight of the flag waving and flying in the night over Fort McHenry and after a British attack.  The same flag that inspired the song still remains today in the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
• The U.S. flag was nicknamed Old Glory in 1831 by the sea captain William Driver.
• In 2008, the Smithsonian spent $18 million on a project to begin the restoration of the historic flag. The flag is 30 X 34 feet and is 42 feet long, three stories high.

The flag we know today has 50 white stars for each state in the U.S. and 13 red and white horizontal stripes to represent the thirteen original colonies. The color red symbolizes valor and hardiness. The color blue represents justice, perseverance, and justice. Lastly, the color white means purity and innocence.

All of us at Artitudes Design wish everyone a wonderful Memorial Day and weekend, and especially wish to thank those who currently serve in the United States Armed Forces for their sacrifice. You make us proud.

Is there anyone you are honoring or would like to honor this coming Memorial Day?

For more info visit:

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/history.shtml

http://www.cnn.com/US/9905/30/flag.restoration/index.html?_s=PM:US

Flag picture source: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/photos/?c=y&articleID=30705879

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Will the smartphone market continue to remain unchanged and stagnant for new companies trying to enter the scene? Or will the power-play shift as consumers explore new options for the devices they love?

Leave your thoughts and comments below! What is your favorite phone and why?

For more info and the full articles go to:

http://www.ibtimes.com/android-ios-power-over-92-all-smartphones-shipped-q1-2013-windows-phone-surpasses-blackberry-os

http://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/16/android-and-ios-continue-to-dominate-smartphone-market-as-windows-phone-shows-signs-of-life/

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For DIY gifts:

1)      Customized Solid Perfume- Made from chopped melted beeswax and poured into a small tiny metal container or tin.

You need:

Beeswax or beeswax candles (which you can buy from your local craft or drug store), any kind of perfume, jojoba oil (sold at craft stores), and a small metal container or tin (you can use an old mint container or go buy an empty one from your local craft store), and a glass container to melt beeswax pieces (if you choose not to use candles). 

Steps:

Before you start, if you are using an old candy tin, clean the container thoroughly to make sure there are no traces of melted candy or any remaining traces of mint scent or mint on the container. The residue will interfere with the melted wax solidifying and the scent of the  perfume. Candles are easier to melt than in a glass container over a boiler and won’t leave a waxy mess. If you are using candles, tip the candle when lighted so the wax residue is poured into the container. Fill the container three-fourths of the way with the melted wax and quickly squirt 25 or more squirts of perfume into the mixture and stir. Then add three drops of jojoba oil into the mixture, don’t stir, and set aside for it to cool. Once set, you can rub the perfume anywhere you please.

2)      Handmade Cards- Although it might seem cheesy or cliché to make your own card for your mother for Mother’s Day, it is a classic and easy gift to make and give, and one she will always like.

3)      Mug/Cup Coasters- Create your own personal coaster for mugs and cup. This customable gift is convenient and will prevent watermarks on the table.

You will need:

White square tiles (4×4 size, available at Home Depot)

Black felt fabric (craft store)

Scrapbook or decorative paper

Hot glue gun

A small sponge brush (available at the craft store)

Decoupage (available at the craft store)

Scissors

Ruler

Water resistant spray/Clear Acrylic spray (available at the craft store)

Pen or pencil

Steps:

Take your scrapbook paper and measure it into 4×4 squares, marking it with a pen or pencil. Cut out the squares of paper and set them aside. Take the felt and measure and cut it into 4 ¼ by 4 ¼ square pieces to match the same size as the tile. Next, use the glue gun and glue the felt squares to the bottom of the tiles. Let the tiles dry leaving the felt side up.

After the tiles are dry, pour the decoupage into a bowl and using the small sponge brush, apply a layer of the decoupage onto the top of the tile (not felt side). Place a piece of square scrapbook paper onto the top of the tile, centering it. Apply another layer of the decoupage onto the tile top and over the paper. You can remove air bubbles with a credit card or anything else that’s flat. Let these dry. Once they are dry you can apply another layer of decoupage just to have a final glossy finish, or you can finish by spraying the top of the tiles with the Clear Acrylic spray.

These lovely coasters are now ready to use!

4)      Personal Bookmarks – For the mom who loves to read.

Make your own bookmark, whether it is pressed flowers between two laminated sheets, or out of paper, making a bookmark for the mom who loves to read is a way for her to think of you even while reading her favorite novel.

5)      Customized Candleholders – Brighten any room on Mother’s Day.

You need:

Pen or thin Sharpie

Different fabric material

Glue

Cup or bowl

Paintbrush (preferably around medium size)

Scissors

Glass jar(s) (size may vary depending on the size of the candle)

Candle or battery tea candle

Steps:

Have your different fabrics laid out and ready to use. Measure your jar or determine what size strips of fabric you should cut. Have the width of each strip be 1cm and the length of the strips to be the height of the jar. Cut enough strips to cover that whole inside of the jar. Mix glue and water together in the cup or bowl. You don’t need to put a lot of glue for the mixture to be sticky. You can eyeball the ratio of glue to water so long as the mixture consists of at least 25% glue.

Take a strip of fabric and dip it in the glue mixture. Remove all excess mixture you’re your fingers so that the strip isn’t dripping with the glue water. Make sure your strip of fabric has the pattern facing the jar so you can view it from the outside of the jar. Use the paintbrush to paint the strips onto the inside of the jar with glue water. Remove any air bubbles formed with the brush. You can overlap the sides of your strips or have them with the sides touching.  Repeat this step for the remaining strips until you cover the whole inside of the jar.

Let the jar dry overnight before lighting a candle inside. Be aware that the fabric is still flammable and you should consider the size of the jar by the size of the candle being placed inside. Just make sure that the candle has enough circumference room and space between it and the sides of the jar covered in fabric. Let the jar completely dry before you use a candle inside!

6)      Framed Scrapbook Page – Make memories for mom.

Decorate a piece of scrapbook paper with quotes from your family members about why you love and appreciate your mother. You can include pictures, stickers, and anything else to personalize the page with “Mom” on it. Have the paper framed and give it to your mom so she will always cherish how much you and your family love and appreciate her.

Other ideas:

1)      Tea Party!

Have tea time with your mother! Brew a pot of your mother’s favorite type of tea and bring out the fine china. Set up plates of small delectable snacks such as finger food, tiny cut sandwiches, slices of cake, hand cut fruit, tarts, and assorted cookies. Include her favorite dessert or treat on a plate just for her to make her feel special. To make the occasion more memorable, have everyone attending dress up, even if it’s a tea party for just the two of you.

2)      Favor Coupons or Gift Cards

Design your own coupon book on the computer and give it to her on Mother’s Day. This whimsical gift allows her to pick a chore or task for you to complete of her choosing. It can be anything from washing the dishes, walking the dog, mowing the lawn, folding the laundry, washing her car, and anything to help your mom out and make her day easier. Give her a gift card to her favorite store, whether it’s a clothing, craft, or beauty store. A gift card is an easy way to show those indecisive or choosy moms that you are still being thoughtful and getting her something she would enjoy.

Here are some complimentary coupons we made that you can personally use on Mother’s Day: Mothers_Day_Coupons

3)      Treat Your Mom

Take your mom out to a spa, to get her nails done, or prepare your own spa kit for her. Buy essential bath salts or scrubs or any other soothing bath item she can use to relax. 

4)      Home-Cooked Meal

The morning of Mother’s Day make her a tasty breakfast with her favorite treats and dishes. You can also make her lunch, dinner, or even dessert! Preparing a dish just for her will make her feel special and remembered. Who doesn’t love food?

Hopefully these ideas have inspired you or helped you decide what to give to your mother! The most important thing is to just spend time with her and show her how much you love and appreciate her. Good luck and have fun on this upcoming Mother’s Day!

The post Mother’s Day is Coming Up! appeared first on The Art of Wow!.

 First is creating a flowchart for your infographic. This helps to simplify the drawing process of the skeleton for your infographic and enables you to easily connect the different pieces of your information. Second, is having a color scheme throughout your infographic. The color scheme should include color codes to help viewers categorize aspects of the information you are trying to convey. Color helps viewers organize the flow of their thoughts. Third, you want to make sure your infographic has a main visual as the focus. Having a theme graphic allows the reader to know at a glance what your infographic is about. Reference graphics aren’t essential, but having icons gives viewers visual pointers about the data. Fourth, your data should be thoroughly researched and your facts well established. Your data should be condensed and relevant, conveying your message to your viewers.  Fifth, your overall infographic shouldn’t confuse the viewer. A good infographic will allow viewers to induce their own deductions of the infographic’s content and receive your message.

Here is an example of one of our own infographics: EmployeeEngagement_Infographic_FINAL

Where do you mostly see infographics and what companies utilize them?

For all of the information and details go to: http://spyrestudios.com/the-anatomy-of-an-infographic-5-steps-to-create-a-powerful-visual/

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Steve- The Master of GO

Steve hadn’t painted in over 25 years since college when he took an art class. “I was kind of scared to paint. I mostly did graphic design not paint.” Besides studying graphic design, he had also studied Japanese. Steve’s painting is of the last move in a game of GO from Kawabata’s short story The Master of Go. The short story is written by a Japanese reporter who covered the story of the famous GO game between an elderly GO master and a young up-and-coming player. In Japan, it was of the highest honor to be a GO master.  The master having lost to the younger player, died shortly afterward.  Steve chose to paint the final move the younger man’s play to defeat the master. “The move he chose was depicted as cowardly, but it was still a legal move.”

Robin- Aztecan Ouroboros

An Ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a serpent or dragon eating its own tail. It signifies eternal return or re-creation, the recycling of its own life. It took Robin a weekend to paint the piece using an oil paint kit her mom gave her. She hadn’t painted in over 12 years. “I’m glad Steve asked me to do this. It was good to get back into painting and it’s for a good cause.”  Robin had read a story about the Ouroboros and was inspired to paint an Aztec version of the serpent as a challenge to herself. She wanted to step outside her comfort zone and not just paint something safe, like “a portrait of someone or an animal.” Robin was inspired by a goal she set for herself. “My New Year’s resolution for 2013 was to create art every weekend. There’s a tiny canvas that came inside the kit. Now that I finally used the paints, I think I’m going to stick with it.”

 Kate- Bad Boy

Kate hadn’t touched her oil paints in over 15 years. “It was nice to paint again,” she said. The painting depicts the silhouette of Kate’s cat, Bad Boy. She chose to paint her cat because people enjoyed pictures of animals and “people like cats.”  Kate wanted to capture the featureless figure of Bad Boy and also draw in the viewer’s focus onto his bright yellow eyes, which she described as “vicious and hateful.” Bad Boy looks like a naughty kitty, for sure!

Amy- Puddles

Amy was born in Colorado but lived in Seattle for close to 20 years. She loves the rain and as a child would always put on rain boots and jump in puddles when it was raining. In Colorado, her favorite events over the summertime would be the daily thunderstorms that occurred at 2pm. Her painting depicts the nostalgic feel and moment of when she would jump in the rain as a child to escape her worries. “I like being a child at heart. I think that sometimes it’s good for adults to be child-like.”

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