4th of July Themes with a Twist

by Sue Zelickson, Tastemaker in Residence

What other holiday has more proud SPIRIT than the fourth of July? We are proud of our country and how and why it began. We see red, white and blue flags, stars and stripes, formations and creations of them everywhere we look. 

Just as many have done with the red and green of Christmas décor, try using off shoot colors maroon and lime, purple and teal, pink and light green, or hot pink and shocking green on the table décor. 

Keep the flag theme in red, white and blue for your table cloth and napkins and use the number four-4… in your décor. Create place mats by copying the month of July image from your favorite calendars; scan it or on a copy machine and circle the date.   

Go to a party supply store and find the various shades of red and green; you will find a myriad of ideas to create these off the grid ideas as well as gather the red white and blue items that are everywhere for the 4th celebrations.
   
Remember crepe paper? There are still rolls of it around and they can add an expensive, fun look to any table. (Just a tip, you can’t spill on them or they will bleed.) So use in a dry food area. 

Becca Matheson, Tastemaker in Residence provides the perfect- Patriotic Parfait 

For vittles on the fourth, the internet or your favorite cookbooks will come to the rescue for recipes of flag cakes or cupcakes topped with whipping cream, strawberries and blue berries for the Stars and Stripes. Even a pan of brownies or individual cookies can be frosted to look like a flag and great for a picnic which is usually on the agenda for this warm weather holiday. A large fruit bowl with blueberries, strawberries, pitted cherries and bananas topped with whipping cream fits the bill for the red white and blue theme as well. 

Let your imagination flow and have fun celebrating the spirit of the fourth on your spirited table.