Independence Day is coming this week, and it is a great time to shop your house for special tables, put out flags, cookout on the grill, and celebrate. Hit the dollar store this week for some red, white and blue accessories like these star sprays. I’ve had these for years, they were a great inexpensive purchase that adds a touch of celebration to several patriotic holidays through the year. Pair them with my Tri-Recs Patriotic Table Runner (link to tutorial), plates and linens, and you have a festive table in no time.

Here’s another year using the same runner, with the napkins rolled up like firecrackers.

Independence day is the perfect time for a Safelight project. This is the one I did a few years back, giving the residents an Independence Celebration bag with a card and a few other goodies. See the whole project on Safelight Project for July 4. I plan to do something similar this year, but it will depend on what I can find at the store with a Celebrate Freedom theme.

I’ll be making my grocery list today with an eye toward something wonderful on the grill. Have you grilled vegetables with your meals? It is easy with a grill basket. We like our asparagus that way.

Maybe it will be steaks with grilled yellow squash.

Perhaps a cedar plank grilled fish would hit the spot. Just soak the planks for a short time so they smoke but won’t catch on fire, then put the delicate fish on top. Find Cedar Grilling Planks on Amazon.

Or it may be that it isn’t a summer holiday cookout without burgers and hot dogs, or in our case, brats.

Baked beans is a great side dish cooked in a cast iron skillet on the grill.

I love corn on the cob cooked on the grill. But when all I have is frozen or canned, putting it in a cast iron skillet with a bit of butter helps it to have a bit of smoky flavor.

This is one of those times that a Hot Handle Pad comes in handy. See the post Sew Day for a complete tutorial.

While you are sewing, pull out a favorite pattern, like my To The Nines, and make it up in patriotic colors.

Or, maybe a smaller project would be good. Here is my Patriotic Mini Quilt that I displayed with a table topper size Scrap Dance Tango in patriotic colors.

Use your Patriotic Tango topper on a fun tablescape with mason jars holding silk flowers.

Add some flags to your potted plants for instant Independence Day charm.

Maybe you’ll have nice enough weather to eat outside. A festive table is within easy reach when you use paper napkins for color. The melamine star plates came from Dollar Tree.

I hope you have a wonderful day! Share your tablescape, decor and project photos in our Facebook Friends group. What are your plans for the week?