Patriotic "LIBERTY" Banner

I decided a while ago that I would try to have wreath and banner for every holiday and occasion.   I always see such lovely ideas out there, that I am determined to have some of my own.  So about a month ago I decided to get my butt in gear and make me a 4th of July banner.  I knew that if I didn't do it waaaay ahead of time, I wouldn't get it done in time and it would have to wait until the following year. 

Procrastination. How I loathe thee.

*sigh*

Anyhow~  I succeeded in getting my 4th of July banner done.

Hooray!

 The stars are an old sheet music copy of "The Star Spangled Banner".

 I love these vintage cards!

The edges of the  pinwheels and letters are glittered with Martha Stewart Glitter in azurite and garnet.

 For those of you in the Phoenix area, the paper came from ETC. (formerly Scrapbooks ETC.)

 I sewed the top of the banners with a zigzag stitch on my new sewing machine. (The only thing I've used it for so far! :)

 I tied it all together with red, white, and blue tulle.

 The writing at the top of the banners is an excerpt from the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

 

It makes my ♥ smile. :)

Up next, my 4th of July wreath!

Have you been working on any 4th of July projects?

  

I'm linking up, yo!

           
 
                                                      
           

April Package Pals

 

Remember how I told you about the April Package Pals swap that I was participating in over at C.R.A.F.T?  Well, I'm ready to tell ya all about it! 

 I had so much fun swapping packages with Michaela over at Covered In Mod Podge.  She has such a fun blog and the cutest little girl!  Makes me miss having a baby around, but not enough to have another one.... yet.

I was all ready to post about what I sent to her over a week ago, but when I went to post pictures I found that the Little Monkey got a hold of my camera and decided to have a little fun deleting my pictures and adding some of his own. Unfortunately, the package was already in the mail and I was unable to take any more pictures. :( 

Next time I'll make sure my camera is out of reach of little hands...

Lesson learned.

 LUCKILY~  Michaela was good enough to send me some pictures that she had taken, and now I can finally share with you!

So, I started with a wood box I got from Joanne's and painted it.  This was my first experience using Annie Sloan chalk paint.  It was so easy!  I think I'm ready to try a bigger piece.

 I used my Silhouette to stencil the damask onto the box.

 

I filled it with these goodies.  Michaela said she was digging on Washi tape and baker's twine, so I was sure to put some of that into the box.  She told me she does a lot of sewing, so I put in a cute pin cushion (that came with a pair of little scissors),  some different ric racs, and these adorable little felt buttons that I found.   The little box labeled "For Fun" contained 2 little stain glass charms that I made for her and her daughter (not shown).  

Then I packaged it all up and sent it off to her in Texas!

I hope she has fun with her little treasures!

A couple days after I sent off her package, I received mine!  

Oh the joy!  ♥  

Here's what she sent to me:

~There was a card making kit, which is perfect because I am trying to be better about 

sending cards

~A hand painted "create" sign that will look great in my craft room (that is under construction...pictures to come soon!)

~Adorable little flower clothespins

~Some pretty Washi tape

~A chalkboard label and chalk (this will be fun for leaving little notes for my kids!)

Thank you Michaela for the lovely gifts!

And thank you to Jamie @ C.R.A.F.T. for hosting the fun!

I had a blast with this exchange, and I will definitely be taking part in the next one!