Handmade 4th of July Dress for Miss S. from McCall's M6912

Miss S's first 4th of July is just around the corner so like any new mom I wanted to get or make a cute little dress or something for her to wear to show off her USA spirit. Especially since we will be on our great road-trip adventure to the Grand Canyon and Colorado!

 McCalls M6912 - Baby Sewing Pattern

I found this fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics.  I fell in love with the owls and Miss S's name is represented by Owls so that is pretty cool too.  I have a thing for "big-eyed" things and dolls so it was really no surprise when this ended up in our cart.

The pattern was very simple to make and pretty quick too.  It has no snaps, buttons or zippers so I think this pattern is perfect for a beginner.  I opted to add some heat set rhinestones and rick-rac trim.

The gems just add a little kick and sparkle.  They are easy to apply with the heat wand.

All finished and ready for Poopsie and our 4th of July celebrations!

She LOVES the bloomers.

I have already started on a second one..... this dress will be

for cousin Tuckers outer-space themed 2nd Birthday Party.

Make this: Recycled Jar Candle Holder for the 4th of July!

Old jars get painted and podged to make festive candle holders.

What you need:

FolkArt Acrylic Paint - Brilliant Blue

Recycled Jar

Alcohol & Paper towel

Medium paintbrush

 FolkArt Enamels – Calypso

FolkArt Enamels – Flow Medium

 Scissors

Old book pages

Mod Podge Gloss

Wood stars

Ribbon

Hot glue 

 Hot Glue Gun Helpers

What you do: 

Remove the label from the jar. Wipe the jar clean with rubbing alcohol. Blend equal parts of calypso sky and flow medium.  Paint the jar with the mixture.  Allow to dry and paint a second coat.

Cut random sized stars from old book pages.  Working on the outside of the jar, apply a coat of Mod Podge to the jar, position the stars onto the jar, top-coat with a layer of Mod Podge.  Add stars until the jar is covered.  Allow to dry.

Paint a star with brilliant blue paint. Using hot glue attach a ribbon around the jar and glue stars to the ribbon.

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Dollar Store Makeover: Chip Bowl for the 4th of July!

You can use this plastic bowl for keeping cold-ones cold, chips or for salad.  All the work is done on the outside so it is food safe.  Look for clear bowls with smooth sides.  This bowl we picked up at the dollar store...for 1 buck!  Chip Bowl Instructions

Chip Bowl Instructions

 

 

 

Chip Bowl Instructions

make it: 4th of July Table Runner w/ recycled jeans

Recycled Denim - 4th of July Table Runner

In under 2 hours you can whip up this project! All you need is some scraps of red, white & blue fabric, old pair of jeans, some folk art fabric paint and a sewing machine. This is an easy breezy quilting project that is perfect for beginners.

The table runner can be customized to any table size and with different fabric choices, this project could be for any holiday or everyday.

Supplies:
FolkArt Fabric Paint - Brush On - Pearl White
Star foam stamp
Foam paintbrush
Denim Jeans
Various Red White & Blue printed fabrics (at least 18" wide)

Steps:

1. Cut the leg portion off a pair of jeans. Slice up the side seam and place the leg flat. Use a ruler to square the leg to 18" on one side. The other side can be as long as you wish. For the design I made, the leg piece measured 18" x 18".


2. Apply the fabric paint to the foam stamp with a foam paintbrush and stamp all over the denim. Reload with paint as needed. Allow the paint to dry and heat set with an iron.

3. Cut the printed fabrics into strips that are 18 wide and as long as you wish. For added interest, make each piece a different length.

4. Sew the printed pieces and the painted denim together to form a long strip. You will be sewing them right-sides to right-sides.

5. Press the seams flat.

6. Continue sewing until you have formed a piece that is 18" wide and as long as you wish.

Sew a backer for the runner in the same fashion as step 2. Next, place the backer piece (right side down) on top of the runner. Sew around the edge leaving a small opening for turning. Trim the corners on an angle. Turn the runner right side out and press. Topstitch around the outer edge.

Fourth of July Recipes !

click the pic to enlarge

Here is some delicious recipes to tempt your taste buds......

Spiked Lavender Lemonade
5 c. water
1-1/2 c. sugar
6-12 stems of fresh lavender
2-1/4 c. freshly squeezed lemon juice
2-qt. saucepan
strainer
optional: 1 c. vodka

1. Bring 2-1/2 cups of water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add the sugar, stirring until dissolved, to create a simple syrup. Add the lavender stems and remove the saucepan from the heat.

2. Cover the pot and allow the mixture to cool about 10 minutes. This step allows the lavender to infuse into the syrup. Remove the lavender from the syrup and strain to remove any small pieces.

3. Combine the remaining water, lemon juice and lavender syrup and stir well. Serve over crushed ice and garnish with lemons and/or lavender sprigs.

Optional: Add 1 cup of vodka to make spiked lemonade for the adults.

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grilled salmon
fresh mango salsa
4 - salmon fillets - 5 ounce
olive oil
kosher salt an pepper
2 cups cooked rice
heavy duty foil - 4 pieces

1. Place 1/2 cup of cooked rice in the center of each foil. Top with salmon. Rub the top of salmon with a drizzle of olive oil, add salt and pepper.

2. Fold foil packet to the center and crease, fold the sides and grill on a preheated grill (450), grill lid down for 15ish minutes. No need to turn! Remove from grill, allow to cool, and top with fresh mango salsa.

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Basil and Lime Grilled Corn
Fresh Corn
1 Stick Butter - Salted
Large Bunch of Basil
3 Limes
Garlic
Foil

1. Add the juice of 3 limes, 1 healthy palm-full of fresh chopped basil and 2 heads of chopped garlic to 1 stick of softened butter. Blend well. Spread over corn.

2. Wrap corn with foil and grill over indirect heat for 20-30 until done.

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Cherry Cheesecake Pie
2 eggs
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/2 c. sour cream
2 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened and cut in pieces
2 tbsp. melted butter
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

Crust ingredients:
1 c. graham cracker crumbs (approximately 15 crackers)
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. melted butter

1. Combine crust ingredients. Press into a 9" pie pan. Bake at 400 degrees for 6 minutes. Cool before filling.

2. Prepare cheesecake pie filling by beating together eggs, sugar, vanilla and sour cream. Gradually add cream cheese, beating until thoroughly mixed. Beat in melted butter. Pour cheese mixture into the baked graham cracker crust.

3. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes, or until set in center. Chill in the refrigerator; the pie will firm up as it cools. Top with cherry pie filling; chill thoroughly before serving.

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Smores On a Stick
1 bag large marshmallows
1 bag chocolate chips
1 package graham crackers
sprinkles
lollipop sticks (found in the candymaking section of craft stores)
waxed paper

1. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or microwave, stirring often until smooth.

2. Crush graham crackers in a large zippered plastic bag; roll with a rolling pin or crush with the back of a spoon until the crackers are the consistency of breadcrumbs. Place crumbs in a bowl, add sprinkles and mix together.

3. Place a lollipop stick in a marshmallow, immerse the marshmallow in chocolate and then halfway into the crumbs.

make it: 4th of July Party Banner

4th of July Party Banner

This banner is perfect to string across your front porch, patio or picnic table. The soft sparkles from the extreme glitter are sure to please and shine in the summer sun.

Materials:

Folkart paint – 436 Fire Engine Red
Extreme Glitter – Red
Folkart paint – 643 Azure Blue
Extreme Glitter - Turquoise
Extreme Glitter – Silver
9 large wood circles
Foam paintbrush
Felt Stars – red,white and blue
Hot glue
Chipboard letters – BOOM BANG
Wood Star
Tulle – red, white and blue 1/3 yard each
Scissors
Red, white and blue ribbon – 6 yards
9 small wood disks
Scrap ribbons

Steps:

1. Paint 8 of the wood circles with the red paint and 1 of the circles with the blue paint. Allow to dry. Paint each circle with 2 or 3 coats of Extreme Glitter. Use the red over the red circles and the turquoise over the blue circle. Allow for dry time in between coats. Paint the wood star with the same technique using either red or turquoise.

2. Topcoat the chipboard letters with silver Extreme Glitter.

3. Hot glue a felt star to the center of each wood circle. Next, hot glue a chipboard letter to the center of the star. (For this project I spelled Boom and Bang, but you could spell anything related to the 4th of July.)For the blue circle, hot glue the wood star in the center.

4. Cut the tulle into 5 X 5 squares and layer the tulle by color. Got glue a stack of 6 layers of tulle behind each wood circle. Trim the tulle to a semi round shape and slice around the circle to create a fringed effect.

5. Line up the tulled wood circles across the red, white and blue ribbon. Place the “star” circle in the center to separate the words “BOOM” and “BANG”. Hot glue the circles to the ribbon (it is best to glue towards the top of the circle). Hot glue a small wood disk over the glued section for extra security.

Make it: 4th of July Crafts and Recipes

July 4th recipes!

Mango Salmon, Grilled Corn & Spiked Lemonade
Smores on a Stick & Cherry Cheesecake Pie

Star Painted and Stitched Napkins& Cookie Cutter Napkin Rings

These are so easy to make. The cookie cutters were Mod Podged with fabric scrap strips to give them a little extra pop. I picked the napkins up from Target and jazzed them up with a little Folkart fabric paint and embroidery floss. Click for complete instructions.

Recycled Denim Table Runner

This is the perfect project for recycling an old pair of jean and for using up scrap fabrics. Click for complete instructions.

Quilted Star - Made with fabric and Mod Podge!

I picked up the star from a shop call Big Lots, a discount store that always has seasonal merchandise. The star was painted with a "not so hot" stars and stripes design - so I painted over it and Mod Podged some quilting fabrics to the points. Click for complete instructions.

New babies will want to join in the celebration! Jazz up some $dollar store items with a little fabric paint.

Firecracker Bean Bag Toss

Build your own backyard carnival game with old coffee cans and a piece of plywood. Kids will love playing this classic game of toss.

Fourth of July Craft Project !

"Firecracker" Bean Bag Toss

Step right up for a classic bit of carnival fun: the beanbag toss! The homemade version of this famous game is easy to make and a blast to play.

Materials:
2’x4’ sheet of plywood
small and large coffee cans
metal spray paint
No-Prep Metal Paint
small paintbrushes
primer
latex semigloss paint
Folkart Red Craft Paint
Folkart Yellow Craft Paint
2" paintbrushes
Gorilla Glue
vinyl gloves
sponge and water
heavy books or other weights
felt squares
sewing machine
dry beans
pinking shears
sewing pins

1. Prime and paint the plywood with latex semigloss paint. Lay out the coffee cans and draw a pencil outline where they will be placed along with their point value. Smaller cans placed farther from the thrower should have higher point values, and larger cans placed closer to the thrower should have lower points.

2. Remove any labels from the cans; spray-paint the cans inside and outside with paint designed for metal. Pencil the point values for each can on its inside edge. Use DecoArt metal paints and a small paintbrush to paint the point values and to add details, such as flames.

3. With 2" paintbrushes, dry-brush red and yellow craft paint flames around each plywood pencil circle. Let the paint dry, then add lettering, such as "kapow!" and "boom!"

4. Wearing gloves, wet the can bottoms with a wet sponge. Apply Gorilla Glue to the bottoms of the cans and place each can on the appropriate plywood outline. Place the cans with the point values facing the bottom of the board where the thrower will stand. Weigh each can down with a heavy book or other weight until the glue has dried.

5. Using pinking shears, cut six 3"x3" felt squares (to make 3 beanbags).

6. Pin two felt squares together and stitch around the outer edge, leaving an opening on one side for filling. Fill the beanbag with beans and stitch closed.