Fireworks wordart freebie

Ok, now that I have filled your word art baskets perhaps I need to get to scrapping my own huh. Funny how that is...Well I am hoping to scrap 3 pages this week. It's not much I know but if I set a goal I know I will accomplish it. That is always easier for me than leaving it wide open. I have lots of pictures to do so breaking it down bit by bit helps to get the job done. How are you coming on your pages? I would love to see them. I enjoy working with templates and I don't add a lot of embellishments. I want the pages to still look a bit like paper scrapping. Plus I am kinda slow. Adding lots of embellishments takes time and takes away from my pictures so I just add a few. Works for me. One day I will get caught up again. I did pretty well staying caught up until boy #4 came, now I am behind but managing to not get too far (only a couple of years) behind. Any tips on how to keep caught up? I guess it's the story of a moms life right. Awww but it is wonderful to watch my boys look through their books and reminisce about the photos. That is what it is all about. 

Remember, click on the photo to download.

Independence Day word art freebie

I love the 4th of July! I love the spirit of patriotism. I love the reminder of the spirit of our forefathers. They were men of inspiration. Men who sought divine guidance as they lead our new nation. America is still the land of the free. It is still the promised land sought by many seeking refuge and peace. I am so thankful for great leaders; for freedom. I am thankful to have safety and security for my family.

I have been working on several projects and can't wait to share them with you. Hopefully I will get to it this weekend, iIn between holding my newest niece. She was born last week but has been in the NICU. After a rough start she is doing well. I can't wait to see her and my sister. Thankfully we are only a few hours away rather than days. Maybe I will do up some fun word art in her honor! We are going to try going north again this weekend. This time sans camper.

For now here is something to add to your parade pages! Just click the picture to download.

Enjoy!

America

I have been a cub scout leader in various ways for the past 8 years. My 8 year old was serious when he said he had waited his who life to be a cub scout. He has grown up being part of cubs but not really yet. 

One of the great things of scouting is the lessons of patriotism. There is something about starting each meeting with a flag ceremony; pledging allegiance to this great nation. Sometimes that flag ceremony is simply the boys forming a color guard and presenting the colors of our nation. Sometimes though, I like to instill a little spirit in the meeting. One of my favorite flag ceremonies is to turn off all the lights and have the flag in spotlight. Then I play this by Red Skelton.

Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance

Think about how you say the Pledge. How do you feel about our nation? How do the words move you? How do we teach our teach our children to respect the flag and the Pledge of Allegiance? Do your children recite the Pledge in school?

My children still do for which I am grateful!

Land of the Free word art freebie

I hope you had a wonderful 4th of July.

We had a grand adventure this past weekend. Although not one we hope to ever repeat. 

We had planned to visit family in Idaho. Plans changed several times before we were finally able to leave town. On the way out we ran into a road block. They were letting some cars through but not others, confusing!! The car in front of me went through but when I proceeded through the officer waved both arms in every direction and gave a quite a tongue lashing. I apologized saying the other car went through and I couldn't tell which way he wanted me to go. "Oh, FINE JUST GO THEN!" Holy Cow! So we went on our way. (There was an over sized load that had broken through the trailer hauling it. Yikes)

Then 10 minutes down the road we blew a tire on our popup trailer. UGH! These were newish tires too. After changing tires we stopped for gas...now the card reader wouldn't read our card! 

Not getting the hint, we managed to work through that as well and continued on our way. 

30 minutes later we cross a bridge on the freeway with quite a dip after it. Our trailer bounced hard enough to come unhinged. (We discovered later my son and I had not locked it completely on the ball joint.) It started to fishtail worse than a trout pulled from the Snake River! The cars behind us instantly pulled back and away. I slowed as quickly as I dared but the trailer still hit the cement barrier. I think this jolted it enough for the safety chains to come off. The result was a trailer spinning toward the gutter. It took out the fence, shredded the wiring, snapped the propane connection and sent the battery flying!

Thankfully no one was hurt, including the cars following us. I was shaking like a leave. As a nurse I can handle stress but by the time we stopped I was on the verge of tears. My dear 5 year old thought it was grand adventure. He couldn't understand why he couldn't get out on the road too!

We called for help, lead the tow truck to our house, and unloaded our poor trailer. 

7 hours later were back home climbing into bed. OK!! We got the hint!!

We stayed home the rest of the weekend.
It turned out to be a good weekend just relaxing and taking it easy; BBQ with friends, parade and our own fireworks display. 

As for our camper....no more camping this year. Hopefully, we can get it fixed. As long as the lift system didn't get damaged we should be ok.

I am so thankful for this wonderful land and my family. I hope you had a memorial and safe weekend.
I love America! So to celebrate I am sharing some word art each day this week. Come back to check it out. They will be perfect for your 4th of July memories!

Pasta and Bean Mosaics

I had to work the night of the 4th so we kept things a bit low key around the house. We enjoyed the parade then went home for activities with just the boys and their dad. I got to help plan the activities then take a nap while dad spend valuable time with his boys.
We picked items off our 100 Activities of Summer list. There were so many choices to chose from!

Dad was excited to see the pasta and bean mosaic idea.

Take a few white beans, red beans, and black beans....add some bowtie pasta, elbow pasta and rigatoni pasta.....

And VOILA!

You'd be amazed at what you can create.

We are not big artists at our house but I was impressed when the older 2 boys came up with this portrat of our puppy.

Not too bad if you ask me.

They had great fun! The best part was just quiet 1 on 1 time with dad!

Americana Burlap Wreath

My sweet friend mentioned she wanted a wreath for her front door...ok she actually mentioned it several times. We had pinned a Patriotic Wreath we both really liked. After a bit of thought, the cogs started to turn....I wonder?! Yep, I've got a wreath. Ohh, and we can use this star. And finally something to redo this garland with. Here's just enough burlap left. This flag was losing some of it stick anyway, not to mention looking a bit weather worn- just perfect for our next project.

I LOVE it! We wrapped the burlap around then the garland. Now some way to keep the star in place....how about some jute twine. I soaked the flag in tea (black tea works better but I only had herbal) to turn it a bit yellow.

VOILA!
One amazing wreath made with supplies already on hand. 

Hmmmm, I wonder if I should have kept it for myself?

Looks wonderful huh!

Yep, Ms. Kaylyn loved it too. She didn't even put up too much of a fight when I told her to hang it on HER door. Yeah, it was a sure fire give away she was head over heels in love with this little project.

It looks perfect on her front door. Warm, inviting, and patriotic. You just can't get more American than a little boy in blue heading home.

Burlap Americana Banner

I saw this pattern at my sisters house, loved it, then loved it more when I realized I had everything waiting for me at home. 

 The burlap was for some other project long forgotten. Now I had new life to give it. Thanks to my cricut I cut vinyl stars then used painters tape for the stripes.

Then we headed out to the driveway to spray paint.

I happen to have metallic blue, it was perfect. Just a hint of sparkle for the stars.

Red stripes with the soft brown burlap showing through.

In the end....It was a great hit. I love it. My front door decor is coming together. I have a hard time with garlands around the door although I absolutely love them.

Burlap and the old Red, white and blue....classic Americana.

Americana Porch Decor.....

I have been working to finish some projects. You know, all the great ideas you start but never get a chance to finish. This is one of my projects that I wanted to finish for the 4th of July but will get to enjoy it for Labor Day.

I used some leftover bead board to paint my stripes. After taping off I painted the blue square. Then I used my cricuit to cut a star template. I didn't get all 13 stars on but still love how it turned out. When I finished painting I added a brown glaze to antique it. Now I can't decide whether to hang it or let it stand in the corner by my front door.

I think I will ponder it until Memorial day. Soon I will be redoing my porch decor and putting fall up. Horray! I love the fall colors. Fall baking. Cool nights and warm days. Spicey apple scents. Yep, fall is my favorite season. Just before my favorite holiday- Christmas!

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Patriotic banner....

I love the half circle banners. I'm not sure what they are officially called. I tried searching for some homemade ones and couldn't find anything like I had in mind. So I set out to make my own. 

Now, I am a visually oriented person so not having something to look at was a bit of a challenge. I wouldn't say my project turned out perfect but it's enough to give me an idea of what to do better and change next time. Hopefully a true seamstress will come along and offer me some advice as well.....

 I think it is actually too small for this window but I'm gonna leave it up until I have something to replace it with.

 I also need another hook, dear hubby will rescue me when he gets home. I just used Christmas light hooks. I had found a couple of stragglers to use but need one more.....

 So here is how I did it. I wanted to use some scraps so I just sewed 4" strips together. I don't like to measure and with needing to gather it I wasn't sure how long to make it. I just winged it. I think these were 45" wide to begin with then I seamed two sections together....My next one will be longer and each strip will be a couple of inches longer than the previous. When I'm done I should have more of a triangle shape which will gather to a fan more easily, I hope. I think I will make it taller as well buy adding more strips of each color........

 After sewing my colors together I did a baste stitch so I could gather it. This would give me my fan shape...

Then I sewed the center strip in on itself. Now my rectangle of colors was starting to take shape. It took a lot of time to gather each strip but it worked....

I finished it with a solid backing and sewed along each strip to hold the gathers in place. I had to add a couple of tucks in the blue section, it is just so puffy. I think added a couple inches to each strip next time will help this as well. Plus the very center maybe try to make a half circle instead of folding it on itself.

I love this star pattern my machine has. Then I used grommets to hang the hooks.

 Voila! I am excited but now I wanna make another.

Not perfect but I'll take it.

If you have any tips that would help PLEASE let me know! I have another window to do!!
Linking up....

Another Patriotic Craft....

 I have been wanting something like these for a while but had forgotten about them. So glad to have found them on Poppies at Play.

Easy, Peasy!

Another craft where I have the supplies!

Who's gonna join me?

Flag Decor....

 OH MY HECK!

I am SOO making this this week. 

Anyone wanna join me? 

I have left over bead board from Keegan's room.

Easy and yet what a statement!!

Love It!