Garden Flags for your Pollinator Garden

Spring can't get here quick enough for me.  I'm looking forward to getting in my garden and putting out a brand new Spring Garden Flag from Custom Flags and Gifts.

I've been learning a lot about Pollinator Gardens and the importance to putting out plants that attract pollinators.  Bees are dangerously on the decline and butterflies are struggling as their migration habitats shrink.  It is important for all of us do do what we can to help. There are lots of resources online with lists of pollinator plants and also check out your local events for Native Plant Sales.

You may also want to check into making or purchasing a Bee House.  Definitely do research though if you are interested.  Studies are showing more and more that proper steps of maintaining the houses must be taken to keep the house a healthy habitat for the bees.

I love watching the bees and butterflies work in my garden along with the Bee and Butterfly Yard Flags I display.  They emphasize their beauty and importance when ever I look at them.

This Butterfly Dance Flag has been a long time favorite and comes both as a Garden Flag and larger House Flag.

This Beehive Home Garden Flag is also a great choice for your garden or yard.

Flower Landing Applique Garden Flag is a a fun and unique flag shower a butterfly hovering over a flower.

Late Summer Garden Flags

As summer is winding down with shorter days and cooler nights the beach themed and flip flop garden flags in our front yards just don't seem as appropriate as they did a month or two ago.  It's still not time though, for fall garden flags with pumpkins or leaves of autumn colors.

There are lots of decorative flags that do suit this time of year.  Flags with late season flowers such as sunflowers and marigolds, neutral monogram flags and welcome flags. There are also a lot of bird flags that fit well with this time of year like this Heron Applique House Flag or the Birch Tree Songbirds Garden Flag.

Many flags with a country folk feel to them are also good for displaying in between seasons, like some of the pineapple flags and this Peace and Grace Applique Garden Flag that can also be made inot a personalized flag.  

So check your flag collection or browse the thousands of flags online for a new one to perk up your yard or garden.  We invite you to browse our selection at FlagsandGifts.com

Thank you for reading.

Marilee and Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts

Celebrating Birds with Decorative Yard Flags

We are well into spring now and as it slowly turns to summer, it is a busy time for our backyard birds.   It is a great time to show your love of birds by displaying one of the many great decorative bird flags that are available. 

We have so many birds nesting in our yard right now.  I enjoy watching the baby birds as they hop around clumsily so unaware and waiting for mom or dad to return with food. Thats why I love our Tweet Tweet Applique Bird Flag , which we carry as a garden flag or house flag.

This adorable applique yard flag depicts a family of birds in their nest after a baby has just hatched. 

Another of my favorite bird flags is the Squirrel Dilemma Garden Flag by Carson.  This is a humorous flag which depicts the constant battle at the birdfeeder of squirrel versus bird.  

 

The Cardinal Applique Spring Garden Flag is a heavy double applique flag.  It is beautifully sewn depicting a cardinal on the branch of a blooming dogwood branch.  This is a high quality flag that will hold up to the outside elements.    

These are just a sampling of the great decorative birds flags you can find.  Come see what we have to offer at Custom Flags and Gifts. 

Enjoy your birdwatching!  We sure will.

Thanks for reading.
Marilee & Josie



Pineapple Decorative Yard Flags

Pineapples, which have become a universal symbol for hospitality, are such a diverse element for decorations in both indoor and outdoor decor. They are perfect on garden flags and house flags as we most often use our decorative flags as a way to say welcome to friends, family and neighbors.  Pineapple flags come in a huge variety of themes. There are some that are designed for particular holidays or seasons and some are appropriate to display any day of the year.  A decorative yard flag or house flag ,that versatile ,is great to have around to fill in between special ocassions and holidays.

You can shop for decorative flags at FlagsandGifts.com where these and other pineapple flags are available.

Folk Pineapple Garden Flagheartfelt welcome pineapple garden flagwinter holiday pineapple house flag

Personalize your Easter Flag

Easter Sunday this year falls on April 20th.  To assure the best selection, the time is now to shop for your decorative Easter Flags.  There are so many designs available.  You may choose one with a religious theme or one a little more playful with Easter bunnies and baby chicks.  Even though there are lots of different designs for Easter Yard Flags, some designs seem to be more popular than others and its not unheard of to see the same flag in a neighborhood more than once.

One way to make sure your flag is always unique is to buy a personalized flag.  Many of the garden flags and house flags we offer at Custom Flags and Gifts can be personalized. Here are a couple of our Easter flags that can be personalized. 

We also offer a Custom Easter Flag that displays the scripture John 11:25

 

Thank you for reading and we hope you find your ideal Easter Flag to enhance your Easter decor.

 

Decorative flags for Everyday

Sometimes we get so involved in the holidays and all the special occasions in our lives and the decorative flags that go with them, that we forget about the wonderful everyday things that are really the base of our lives.  To enjoy and share those everyday things we have in between everyday garden flags and house flags that come in so many other themes than just the holidays.

There are so many monogram flags that can be displayed any time of year.  Our glitter monogram garden flag is one example.





There are also lots of decorative flags that say "Welcome" or "Home Sweet Home" . Many of these may have holiday themes, but there are many that do not. Like our "Warmth of Home" house flag or several of our pineapple flags.




Besides these, there are many other themes of  everyday yard flags including gardening, pets, and military flags to name a few.

Visit the wonderful world of decorative flags at our Custom Flags and Gifts web store and find a  perfect flag for every day.

Thanks for reading.
Josie and Marilee

Christmas Flags

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year.  I love all the decorations.  There are so many different themes and types from Nativity Scenes to Snowmen. Christmas Flags too, are just as versatile.  Holiday flags come in such a variety of designs from whimsical to those with a more traditional religious message.  These seasonal flags are great for adding to your outdoor holiday decor.  They can even be used as beautiful indoor wall art.

Through December you can save 10% on all our seasonal flags.  Thats savings on all our holiday yard flags including Christmas garden flags and house flags plus decorative winter flags. Visit us at www.FlagsandGifts.com to start shopping and save.  View your cart before checkout and apply the code "holiday" to see your savings.

We have a great collection of seasonal flags.  Here are a few:

 Happy Holiday Season
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts

National Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is Sunday September 8th.  Surprise them with a special gift of a personalized garden flag.

Grandparents Day was founded by Marian McQuade, a housewife in West Virginia.  Her main motive was to champion the lonely elderly in nursing homes and hoped to inspire grandchildren to develop more of a relationship with their grandparents and take advantage of their knowledge and wisdom.  In 1978, Jimmy Carter proclaimed National Grandparents Day would be celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day.

Custom Flags and Gifts has a great variety of decorative flags and custom flags that can be personalized to make great gifts for grandparents.  We also have photo gifts that would make keepsakes for years to come.  Any personalizations shown can easily be changed to suit the situation.  Grandma can be changed to Grandpa, Grandparents to Grandma, etc.

Grandma's Favorite Monster Decorative Photo Tile

Grandkids Loved Here Garden Flag

Grandkids Spoiled Here Garden Flag

Back to School Garden Flags

As Labor Day quickly approaches we are nearing the end of another summer.  In many parts of the country Back to School decorative flags are already displayed in front yards and children are back in the classroom.  We are among some of the more traditional areas that don't go back till after Labor Day so there is still time to purchase a garden flag or house flag to celebrate the milestone. 

We have some great flags available:



School Bus House Flag




Back to School Flag

School Time Applique Garden Flag

School Days Garden Flag

 

 



We want to thank you for reading our Custom Flags and Gifts Blog.  In appreciation, we are offering 10% off your entire order.  When viewing your shopping cart apply the coupon code "blog" to see your savings.

 

Josie and Marilee

www.FlagsandGifts.com



 

Are You Ready for some High School Football?

I don't know what it is about the summer months, but they also fly by.  Here it is the middle of the summmer already and the first half is just a blur.  As fall approaches here at Custom Flags and Gifts, we have started looking at ordering fall garden flags.  One thing that stands out about fall is the starting of high school football. 

There are plenty of decorative flags that root for Pro and college football or for the schools themselves, but we see only a handful of yard flags that can be purchased to show support for our own local schools and their sports teams.  So we are offering custom flags and pre-printed garden flags and house flags that can be personalized with your favorite school, complete with your choice of mascot, school colors and/or player number.

We also offer a fun Football Jersey Bottle Koozie in your school colors that displays your favorite players name & number and your school's initials.

Thank you for reading.
Marilee & Josie

Custom Flags and Gifts

Decorative Yard Flags - For the Birds

We had the privilege over the last few weeks of watching a pair of House Wrens in action.  From a window in our house we have a perfect up close view of one of our birdhouses.  Several weeks ago we watched as a pair of house wrens started busily bringing building materials , they worked tirelessly.  As time went on we assumed they had layed and were setting on eggs.  Eventually we starting hearing lots of little tweets that started out very small and weak and gradually grew stronger and louder.  Finally we were able to see their little eyes and beaks, but mostly beaks.

 You could look out into the birdhouse and see nothing but opened mouths. 



Hungry baby House Wren
 

Again the mom and dad worked long and hard all day long feeding what we finally figured were four mouths. 

Then the time came to leave home and again we were lucky enough to be able to witness them leaving the safety of there home to venture out in the dangerous and huge outside world. 







There are  many garden flags and house flags that display the wonderful world of birds.  By displaying these decorative yard flags you promote awareness of their beauty and remind people to help and protect these delicate yet resourceful creatures.

The Birch Tree Songbirds garden flag by Custom Decor shows many different breeds of birds in all there gloriour color.

Birch Tree Songbirds
 





The Squirrel Dilemma Flag  by Carson is a humourous flag that anyone who likes to feed birds can relate to.

 

 

This great applique flag comes in both the small mini flag size and the larger house flag so you can have a matching pair. 

Check out all our great bird flags we're sure you'll find something you love.

Thank you for reading.
Marilee & Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts



Decorative Yard Flags 101

When I first started working at a flag store a few years ago, I didn't know the first thing about decorative flags.  Not that its rocket science but just like with anything else there are a few basic things you need to learn just so you know what you are buying.

Decorative Flags can be two sided, those can be viewed equally from  either side, or one sided.  Depending on how the flag is going to be displayed, often the one sided flags work just fine.  Next, these yard flags are made in two basic ways.  They are either printed, usually through a process called sublimation or they are appliqued.   Applique Flags are pieces of fabric sewn together that create a design or scene.  A row of satin stitch is sewn around each piece to secure it and prevent fraying.  There are the heavy double sided applique and single applique.

There are two basic sizes of Decorative Flags. Garden flags or Mini flags are the smaller ones.  They usually measure 12-13 inches wide and 15-18 inches tall.  They can be displayed with a variety of flag stands that either go in the ground or some attach to a post or wall.  House flags or standard flags are the larger variety.  They usually measure 28-30 inches wide and 36-42 inches long.  These are usually displayed from a pole that slides into a bracket that is attached to the house.  There are some stands that will display house flags and go in the ground.

I hope I have helped to clear up any questions you may have had.  Please browse our site and see what we offer.  If you have any questions feel free to write us at info@flagsandgifts.com .
Thanks for reading and we look forward to hearing from you.

Marilee and Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts


Heavy Double Applique Ladybug Flag



Sea Turtle Printed Garden FLag

Backyard Makeover for the Love of a Toddler

Many things in my life have been changed and rearranged since the arrival of my grandson over two years ago.  I've had to ease up on my campaign against clutter as my sunroom and cupboards are cluttered with toys.  Dresser drawers once holding guest linens are full of tiny clothes and it doesn't stop there. The changes have slowly started taking place outside.

My back yard used to be adorned with all sorts of lawn ornaments including of course garden flags.  I had lots of small flower gardens dotting the expanse.  As soon as my grandson started walking it didn't take long to see he was an explorer.  He liked to investigate everything within his reach and needless to say typical yard decorations are not made for a toddler to play with. It also became quickly apparent, a flower bed is no different to him than the grassy areas as he tromps from one side of the yard to the other.  So I've made big changes over the last year or so. I've condensed my flower beds down to just a couple larger ones and tried to give them defined borders that he can learn to respect. Where other beds used to dot the yard we are now constructing a huge fort and swing set. 
I've kept my decorative flags that can be displayed within protected flower beds but other than that most of the yard ornaments have been removed .

I'm looking forward to this spring and summer playing with my grandson in my backyard and giving him a little more freedom to run.  Not having to constantly tell him "no" as he grabs on to things that could hurt him or break.  His "little years" will go by so fast I want to enjoy them.

When your child or grandchild goes in to your yard to play, wouldn't it be exciting for him to see his artwork proudly on display.  At Custom Flags and Gifts you can order a flag with your child's very own artwork on it.  What fun!  It also makes a great keepsake. 


Child's Artwork Cusstom Garden Flag
 

Please visit our website and see what other garden flags and house flags we have to adorn your landscape.

Thanks for reading.
Marilee and Josie
Custom Flags and Gifts

Make your own Flag Stand

When I was taking a walk in my daughter's neighborhood one day, I saw in someone's yard a decorative house flag hanging from a very inventive flag holder made from PVC poles.  It was a very simple design yet very functional.  Considering the cost of some flag holders especially for larger flags the whole concept of making your own from inexpensive materials seemed like a great option.  I also realized probably lots of people had come up with similar clever ideas, so I decided to do some research and sure enough there they were.

I found one such flag pole with a tutorial on how to make it at www.JustBuildStuff.com  a great little blog with great ideas.



The one I saw on my walk was different than this with a second verticle pole at the opposite end.  I wasn't able to see up close much detail.  But it had more of an upside down "U" shape to it.

Someone mentioned to me a very simple idea for a garden flag stand out of wood.  Just take two small wooden planks maybe 3 or 4 inches wide and drill 3/4 inch holes near the top of each .  Secure the boards in the ground about 14 inches apart use cement if desired .  Cut a 5/8 in dowel about  16 inches long slip the dowel in the first hole slide on your garden flag and then continue to slip the dowel through the hole of the opposite plank. Large rubber washers could be slipped over the ends of the dowels to keep it from slipping out of the holes.

With all the creative minds out there, I am sure there are lots of other ideas and we would love to hear them.  Please post them here or here on our Facebook page. 

Thanks for reading.
Josie and Marilee
Custom Flags and Gifts
www.flagsandgifts.com

Caring for Decorative Garden Flags

Decorative garden flags are not made to last forever, but with a little care can stay looking their best for sometime.  One key ingredient in how long a flag will last is where it is hung.  The sun is probably your garden flags' worse enemy.  It will break down the material faster than anything.  Constant winds are also a factor.  So if at all possible, choose a place to hang your flag where it is somewhat protected from the elements, in the shade of a tree or up close to the house.  

I am not a fan of hand washing things....so when it comes to washing a soiled flag, I just throw it in the washer on a gentle cycle and then into the dryer on LOW for just a few minutes to get some of the moisture out and then I hang it to dry.  If the flag has been hanging outside for quite sometime , and you would really like to preserve the flag for a while longer, you would probably want to hand wash it and DO NOT put it in the dryer.  Depending on how much exposure the flag has already had there is a good chance the fabric has started to break down some and the agitation of the washer and heat from the dryer could cause some tears and yes some "tears" also.  It is very important if you are going to store your flags to be sure they are completely dry.  Putting them away damp will cause them to mildew and also create creases that are next to impossible to get out.

The most important thing is to enjoy your flag to the fullest.  If where you really want to hang your flag to display it the best is out in the blaring sun and wind then go for it.  As I said, they are not made to last forever and there are more where that one came from.  Most of the fun of decorative house and garden flags is buying new ones anyway.  So visit www.CustomFLagsandGifts.com and replace your worn out flags.

Thanks for reading.

Marilee & Josie

Custom Flags and Gifts

Personalized Dog Flags

One of the most popular subjects for garden flags is dogs. People love buying yard flags that show an image of their favorite dog breed.  There are so many out there.  Some come from photographs and some from paintings.  When I worked at the garden flags store, people would get so excited when they saw a house flag or garden flag with their breed of choice, saying "It looks JUST like him/her" .  They would get even more excited when they found out they could have their dog's name added to the flag.  Check out what we offer.  We carry the Best of Breed brand of dog flags in many different breeds and the pet's name can be added.  These make a great gift.  We also have personalized collars, leashes and decorative tiles.  Visit our store at www.CustomFlagsandGifts.com

Both of us at Custom Flags and Gifts would like to thank you for reading our blog.  Have a blessed day!

Winter garden flags

The holidays are nearing to an end.  All the Christmas decorations and garden flags will soon be taken down and put away till next year.  It is sort of a melancholy task putting things back to "normal" and fearing after the flurry of holiday activities, things might seem a bit dull.  I always plan lots of projects to keep me busy during those slow dreary winter months.  There is always a room in my house that needs painted and a new item I want to work on for the store and will look ahead at what new decorative flags we will be buying for the coming holidays and seasons.  We also need to pick out a winter garden flag to replace the Santa flag in the front lawn.  There are many to choose from.  See some of the great winter garden flags and house flags we have to offer.  If you like personalized flags we have many to offer.  You can visit us at www.CustomFlagsandGifts.com   All our Christmas Flags are 30% off until January 15th.

Happy New Year from Custom Flags and Gifts