Happy Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of JULY to you all. The above Strawberry Pie is no longer with us....it was finished off very quickly, nothing like a homemade strawberry pie!! So different than the store bought ones w/that artificial glaze stuff.... sorry to tempt you all. Made that the other week. We enjoyed some time w/family at a picnic today. Woke up to clouds and light drizzle and it finally cleared up enough for many hours to visit and eat and the kids to play. It began to rain steady when we were about ready to go home, around 7:00PM. We were determined to make the best of it either way as you cannot control the weather but you can control your outlook! Sounds like we are in for more rain this weekend (another picnic tomorrow in MD) hope your part of the world is sunny and you are enjoying the holiday. DH usually gets us some little fireworks and sparklers etc..from one of the many stands that they put up but w/the weather we did not get any yet. Maybe they will be half price tomorrow night.

I am still behind w/posting of photos for the other swaps I have completed lately. Here is what I made for my partner in the "cowgirl swap". I seem to do more of these wall hangings. I outlined the letters (cowgirl moon) w/glitter and embossed them so they sparkled really nice (I have to practice more w/embossing tho'). I made the stars sparkle w/glass glitter and the vintage-map paper worked out great for a background.

I have begun most of my work like this w/a sketch and then scan it (w/help of DH) and work from the image. On this cowgirl I wanted to try some painting as well as layering some of my scrapbook papers that I love for her clothes and tried to antique them w/the chalks as well as add some shadows. I drew in the lines for the rope then painted that. I also included some stamping w/decorative stamps.

In the end I added polka dot ribbon trim all around. I like to get to experiment each time with the different challenges that come w/the various craft swaps. The feeling of completing something from start to finish in a short amount of time is indescribable for someone like me. Without the deadlines I would never get stuff done. How wonderful to get stuff DONE.

We are all off schedule w/the summer but enjoying time w/the girls.
And this girl....just became an official "teenager" yesterday...Happy Birthday!!

Her 2 younger sisters made their own cards and we have tried to let them have what they choose for dinner. Anticipating this, dd8 wrote the following in her card:

"Happy Birthday teanageer Maddie I love you Maddie.
for teanager Maddy
Have a happy birthday Maddie and a good teanager B day and for diner we mite go to Chicken felay (a fast food restaurant)
are you exscidid to go

I love you so much"

In her own spelling of course.
Priceless!! Good night all and God Bless. Have a safe and happy holiday!