We are having a quiet and simple Fourth of July. We usually head up to our place in the small mountain town of Frisco, Colorado. It's a tiny little place that celebrates the Fourth with pancake breakfasts, a parade - the highlight of which is the 100s of kids who ride by on their decorated bikes, a fishing derby, and, at dusk, everybody comes out their front door and walks down to the marina for a big fireworks display over the lake. Small town charm! But virtually every fireworks display in Colorado has been cancelled. We decided to just stay home and relax. Our big celebration will be paying homage to our missed pancake breakfast by having pancakes for dinner with RED strawberries, BLUE blueberries and a lot of WHITE whipped cream.
Here's my creation for the day. I pulled out a set that is absolutely charming, but for some reason I never think of it. I did this card for today's One Layer Wednesday challenge to use at least one stripe and one star. 
Just a couple of fun things to point out. I have been having fun cutting up my tan embossing pads - the ones you use to emboss a Spellbinders die cut after you cut it. You can use the mat in a slightly different sandwich - instead of putting an embossing folder between two Cuttlebug B plates, put it between a Cuttlebug C plate and the tan mat. I cut one mat long and skinny, so when I emboss with it, I just get a strip. For the above card, I cut one edge wavy so when I emboss, the pattern just seems to fade out randomly.
The other thing to point out is going to sound so small but is actually so wonderful. I am on a perpetual quest to find bling that adheres well. The cards in our church card racks get a lot of abuse as people look at them and shove them back. Stampin' Up gems work very well - but they don't have a teeny, tiny gem. I recently re-discovered Close To My Heart through Allisa and on my first CTMH order, I got a package of Bitty Sparkles. They are perfect!! Teeny tiny with lots of sparkle (way more than the photo shows). I'm going to put a dozen packages in my next order!!
FIRE UPDATE - HEARTWARMING STORIES
After my difficult fire posts last week: looking ominous, destruction and aftermath, I promised you some positive stories about the fires in Colorado. Just so you know, there are still major fires out there, but the massive, destructive ones are calming down. (Having said, the air today is HEAVY with smoke. I am so hoping that reminds people that there is a fireworks ban!) If you didn't read those posts, I am not directly affected - I am 60 miles from the nearest fire - but everybody in Colorado sees the smoke and the red skies and we all know someone who has feared for their home.
In the midst of all of that destruction, there were amazing stories...
Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp is our families favorite place on earth. We have been going their since the kids were teeny...Bible camps, confirmation camps, photography workshops, work weekends, and just plain camping.
The camp was about 20 miles from the fire when youth from our church headed up there for Confirmation camp. The camp was assured that it was OK to continue operations. But within a few days, firefighters decided they had to have the road into the camp as an access point to the fire. They were given a time that they had to be out and they were preparing, but the emergency workers came early. The staff feverishly got the campers packed up - but they themselves had to leave everything behind.
Eighty campers descended on a church in Fort Collins with virtually no notice. Yet they were fed and housed.
Donations came pouring in for the staff - clothes, toothbrushes, cell phone access, temporary computers, the list goes on and on. This all from a town that was dealing with the fear of this massive fire.
Another camp, Highlands Presbyterian, opened up their doors to the campers and continued finding space for each week of new campers throughout the three weeks that Sky Ranch wasn't allowed back.
A large retail store, REI, called up our staff of their own accord and offered any outdoor equipment or backpacking supplies that were needed.
A charming little girl stayed up all night baking and held a bake sale to raise money for the camp which she had attended last year. She raised $600!!
Our campers who went through this say that they wouldn't have had it any other way. The theme for the week was "grace" and they got a hands-on, real life lesson in God's grace that they will NEVER forget.
Sky Ranch staff was allowed back in just a few days ago. You won't believe what they found! Bears, displaced by the fire, had taken up residence INSIDE the buildings. Check out the news story here and then head to the next blog post to see photos of the damage. (Yes, the mess on the floor, other than all of the ripped open cans, is bear scat.)
Like any other church camp, Sky Ranch operates on a shoe-string and all these extra costs are devastating. If you are touched by what you are reading, head over the Sky Ranch website...there is a Donate button along the header...they could use our help.
Hope my U.S. readers are having a relaxed, safe, and happy holiday, and for those of you on the east coast without power, I hope you have found a way to stay cool!
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