Taps-Flag Retirement Part 1

We're back from vacation and I can't wait to get scrapping those beach pics! But first I need to get them off the camera and over to Sam's photo center. That's always quite a task as it usually involves a bit of editing before they're ready to be printed. Meanwhile, I'd like to share a patriotic page in honor of the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

The Boy Scout's flag retirement ceremony was pretty dramatic, held just at dusk in the schoolyard of St. Ann's. Luckily I noticed the bugle lying atop the old flags and snapped a photo before the rendition of Taps opened the event. The still life of flags and bugle in the fading light of day was such a serene scene.

There were seven flags retired on this evening...flags that had flown in front of homes and even over the Capitol in Washington, D. C.  My parents had donated one of the flags, a tattered cloth that had flown outside their house. It was pretty ragged and worn, ready for a proper disposal. 

That wonderful background sheet from Pink Paislee with the cool "airmail" stripe running around the perimeter seemed the perfect start for my page. Next I pulled out all my red and blue scraps, arranging some on either side and underneath a strip of BasicGrey doilie die-cut paper.

Corrugated letters were used to spell out a simple title, and additional pieces of kraft corrugated cardstock help unify the page. I love that I found places for the little bird button,

and the blue soldier button, items I've held onto for quite some time.

 

I wanted this layout to remain somewhat simple and uncluttered (as best I could!) so as not to detract from the still-life photo and I even left a little white space on there. ;) Actually, I'll probably add a bit of journaling in that spot. Additional pictures from the ceremony will be finding their way onto another scrapbook page.

In case I don't get that layout posted in time for the holiday, have a save and happy 4th everyone!