Stars and Stripes Party!
June 29, 2010
Greetings everyone, welcome to the Stars & Stripes Party !
Don’t you just love the Fourth of July ?
I do! It’s truly one of my favorite holidays. There’s something about the traditions of barbeques and fireworks, and all that red, white, and blue that gets me in the mood to celebrate the land of the free and home of the brave.
This year, we’ve invited many of our friends over to our home for an evening BBQ. Since all of the guests come right through the front door, and since we watch the city fireworks from our front yard, I thought I’d give our guests an extra special welcome by dolling up the porch with some patriotic pom poms, and my latest creation, this ticking stripe banner.
I hung it up this morning, and I’ve just gotta share . . we live on a somewhat busy street, and I’ve noticed all the neighbors are all slowing down to read it, and then smiling. I love that !
Here’s the quick tutorial on the Ticking Stripe Fabric Banner:
Supplies: 1.5 yards red ticking stripe; 1.5 yards navy ticking stripe; 2 yards cotton canvas lining (optional); rope or twine; 4 yards of ribbon; iron on transfers; sewing machine or stitch witchery.
Cut enough pieces of fabric in size 10” x 12” to create your individual banner flags. Next, format your iron on letters on your computer, then print them in reverse (mirror). Cut out the reverse letters with scissors, close to the edge of the bold font.
Iron on your letters to your individual 10” x 12” swatches of fabric. Once they are completely cool, carefully remove your iron on backing.
Next, if you want to line the back of your flags, sew them inside out. Fold over your individual flags over the rope and sew together.
Tie ribbons in between the flags to keep them in place.
Total time for this double banner: 3.5 hours.
Obviously a single banner will take much less time !
I think the red ticking stripe would make a fantastic ‘peppermint’ themed banner at Christmas time, don’t you ?
Don’t forget Old Glory, proudly blowing in the breeze . . .
Festive tissue paper pom poms are incredibly easy to make . . . I simply followed Martha’s tutorial.
Fireworks Pom Poms:
How do you make the blue paper’s edges white to look like fireworks ?
Simple !
Dip your edges in a bleach solution (one half water, one half chlorine bleach) up to an inch, and then let the edges dry for 24 hours.
Then follow the same tissue paper pom pom tutorial on Martha’s site.
Beware, it doesn’t work on the red tissue, I tried it, and the edges turned a very strange orange color.
But I bet you could achieve the same effect with the white tissue, and turn the edges any bright color you want with some Rit dye.
I even made this linen backed grain sack pillow out of a creative source from my local hardware store.
So there’s my oh-so-festive patriotic porch all decked out for the Fourth !
If you want a closer peek at the red, white, and blue plants and my other ticking stripe pillows on our porch, hop over to this Patriotic Porch post from a few weeks ago.
Now it’s your turn !!
What inspires you this Fourth of July?
Anything related to the red, white, and blue will do !
Do you have a special craft, some fab decorations, or a scrumptious summer recipe?
Even your inspiration posts will work, and you blog veterans feel free to post something from last year. Go ahead, link up and share!
Please link up with your theme specific post, not your general blog address.
Also, please be so kind as to copy and paste this image to the right into your post, and link back to this party. Much obliged!
The link party will be active until 9 p.m. PST (midnight EST) through Thursday July 1st.
Now let’s party peeps.
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Tags: banner, fourth of july, porch
Your porch is fantastic-what a welcome! Happy 4th!
I love those pom poms, they look amazing! If you don’t mind, I’ve featured them on my blog. They are just too cute to not share! http://www.diynewlyweds.com/2010/07/diy-4th-of-july-decorations.html
The place looks lovely. How nice that your neighbors get to enjoy your talents too!
Your porch looks amazing – lucky neighbors!
Kate, your porch is to die for!!! I LOVE it! Next year, I’m getting my act together and using your porch as my inspiration piece. Gorg girlfriend!
thanks for hosting this great party.
your porch looks amazing. whoops. that’s what nancy above said, but it’s true!. your porch is beautiful & inviting.
I’m so excited to have discovered your blog today! I love your America banner, I love your porch, and I love your blog, so now I’m a follower! I’ve linked up to your Stars and Stripes Party. Can’t wait to visit everyone else, and look through your blog some more!
Happy 4th!
Carol~~Old Glory Cottage
Wow I would slow down and look too! I am very impressed. I never even thought to decorate my porch. I love the pom poms.
Hello there!
I linked over from Anything Goes Here…what a gorgeous blog and your banner is fabulous! I have joined your party and posted a link to my blog…featuring some vintage 4th of July finds.
Happy 4th!
Pam
Beautiful Kate, just gorgeous!
I LOVE your front porch! So festive and happy! Definitely inspiring!!
Recently became a new follower and so glad I found your lovely blog (: I look forward to coming back for future posts!
These look wonderful and really are simple. Great suggestion!
Michele
XOXO
Kate, thanks for hosting this party and for visiting my humble blog! Happy Fourth of July!
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So fabulous! Will be linking on Saturday!
Love your banner and porch! thanks for hosting such a fun party…so many creative gals out there!
[...] Join the “Stars & Stripes Party:” Centsational Girl. [...]
Thank you so much for hosting this event! I have been searching all over the internet for fun stuff to make for the Fourth of July and I just hit the jackpot. I can’t wait to start going to everyone’s site. (I’m doing a happy dance!)
Oh my gosh, you are AMAZING!!!! Your banner on your crisp white house and all of its folliage is simply spectacular!
So you got placemats for the pillow at the hardware store? I must know because I want to make one! LOVE IT
I adore your banner. And, I was totally thinking that the red ticking would be perfect for Christmas. I need to start on Christmas now to get to all the great ideas I’m finding. ;)