Keep Calm and Carry On – 8×10 Freebie

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I’d like to introduce ‘Merry Monday’ here on the Simply Fresh Designs blog. You’d be expecting Freebie Friday… but we need something to make Mondays a bit more fun… So – Merry Monday it is… with a freebie.

Perhaps you’ve heard the quote… Keep Calm and Carry On.

I think the history makes this quote significant:

In the Spring of 1939, with war against Germany all but inevitable, the British Government’s Ministry of Information commissioned a series of propaganda posters to be distributed throughout the country at the onset of hostilities. … The posters were intended to offer the public reassurance in the dark days which lay ahead.

The intent of the poster was to convey a message from the King to his people, to assure them that ‘all necessary measures to defend the nation were being taken’, and to stress an ‘attitude of mind’ rather than a specific aim.

At the end of August 1939 three designs went into production… The first poster, of which over a million were printed, carried a slogan suggested by a civil servant named Waterfield. Using the crowns of George VI as the only graphic device, the stark red and white poster read ‘Your Courage, Your Cheerfulness, Your Resolution will Bring Us Victory’. … The third design, of which over 2.5 million posters were printed, simply read ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’.

… The ‘Keep Calm’ posters were held in reserve, intended for use only in times of crisis or invasion. Although some may have found there way onto Government office walls, the poster was never officially issued and so remained virtually unseen by the public – unseen, that is, until a copy turned up more than fifty years later (2001) in a box of dusty old books bought in auction. (Barter Books)

The ‘Keep Calm Carry On’ image is in the public domain according to Wikipedia. So I figured I’d swap out the colors, resize to 8×10 for easy printing, and post a few options here.

Here’s a sampling of the download:

Free download:

Keep Calm and Carry On – 8×10 Freebie


Print the images just as you would a photo using a photo lab such as Costco, Sams Club, Walmart, Target, or print on your home printer. The images are 8×10 in size. Matte and frame and you’ll have a positive reminder in your home to keep a goin’ calmly!

Look out soon for more prints similar to these in the Simply Fresh Designs Shop under ‘Other Prints’.

Terms of use: Prints are for personal use only. They are not to be resold for any type of profit.

Source for Image and text: Wikipedia

Edited by Heather. If you have any questions, please contact me at simplyfreshdesigns@gmail.com

30 replies
  3. Roberta
    Roberta says:

    Thanks so much for setting this all up for us to enjoy for our personal use. Right now my entire family needs this saying with all the stresses of the holidays and the economy. Best wishes, Roberta

  4. Bonnie
    Bonnie says:

    This saying has gone viral all over the craft world. There are many variations of it and I could not figure out where it came from. THANK you so much for sharing this. It makes all the new variations so much more fun!

  5. Nelda
    Nelda says:

    Thanks for sharing your talents with us to use and enjoy. Really like the free downloads for the Quiet books too.

  8. Jedda
    Jedda says:

    I had never heard of the history behind that quote-thanks! I’m giving some of these as baby gifts. Great for a first-time Mom!! Thank you soooooo much!

  12. Megan Walker
    Megan Walker says:

    Thank you! Despite being from England, I’ve only ever seen the duck-egg blue version in New York and have wanted it ever since :0]

  14. Rose
    Rose says:

    Thank you!!! I have been searching for this! I can’t wait to get to work with the projects I have in mind!

  16. Liz
    Liz says:

    What a blessing this is… they are what I have been looking for forever!! Thanks so much for the background info that was very helpful.
    I shall keep your website as one of my favorites , Liz

  25. BCA
    BCA says:

    I have been looking for something with this quote that I could use on a project. Thank you for your generosity.

  30. Mara Kurtz
    Mara Kurtz says:

    Thanks so much for all of these downloads.
    Just what I was hoping to find tonight.
    Very thoughtful!
    Happy New Year.
    Mara Kurtz

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