Fourth of July Inspiration

I am thrilled to share some fun news today!  A few months back, I worked with Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores on a project and it is finally time to share it.  The Jo-Ann Summer 2014 Trends and Ideas booklet is live and I had the privilege of contributing four projects to the book.  I am really proud of these projects and will be sharing them each in more detail over the next couple weeks.  There are just a whole collection of really great ideas for crafting this summer and I hope you’ll go check out the book!  Click here for the lookbook.

With Independence Day nearly upon us, I thought today would be the perfect time to share some extra photos and details about one of my projects from the lookbook.  The trend, of course, is “Patriotic,” and I put together a most patriotic party table including color coordinated paper products, old soda bottles, easy-sew table linens (project instructions on joann.com, click here), and a totally awesome patriotic cake!

I set up this photo shoot in a brand new location – you’ll never guess where….my parents back yard.  They live about a mile up the road from me and I’m over there nearly every day of the week, but for some reason I never noticed what a perfect backdrop their old barn makes. It turned out so great!  Just goes to show you that you don’t always have to travel far to find the perfect backdrop for your photos; sometimes, it’s right in front of you!!  (I’ve since taken these photos in the same location.)

The cake was a lot of fun to make.  I used the same decorating technique as I did for the Ocean Waves Ombre Cake, here, but used two different shades of rustic red for the bottom tier.  The top tier was just quickly frosted with blue and then I added white sugar pearls for the “stars” on the flag.  A quick white border around the top using Tip #1M and you’re done.  Fun and not too complicated!