July Fourth in Review

As I've written each year, I particularly like the Fourth of July. Usually it's a day lazily confronted; we barbecue and eat out of doors on an old floral-lattice sheet turned tablecloth. And most years we make it to the fireworks at Terrace Park or drive to a high point in town and watch them in the distance. This year I decided to enjoy the holiday a little less passively and plan ahead for a barbecue with my family and Brett's.I created a set of paper goods in Illustrator that included food trays, two banners, ice cream cone wrappers, sandwich pick flags, and a few other things.
I also broke out the sewing machine to make fabric bunting in shades to match.The paper trays were the starting point for everything, I printed them on heavy paper, and lined them with red and white wax paper (from Martha Stewart Crafts Holiday, found at a bargain store recently).
A coordinating "Happy July Fourth" banner hung from three tiers of red ribbon above the gate in the backyard.Sparklers were placed in a sand-filled pail along with a sign that includes a favorite quote I encountered in one of my readings for school last year: "It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with ...Bonfire and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more." John Adams to Abigail, July 3, 1776Store bought cups were embellished with stars - also made in Illustrator, printed, cut out and adhered.I filled a metal tub with ice and classic bottled Coca-Cola ; two dowels with eye hooks support a banner. Ice cream cone wrappers read "Sweet land of liberty" - taken from the song "My County, 'Tis of Thee." Lastly, additional details included striped straws left over from this project, simple white paper lanterns and red cutlery.