I bought a whole forest of these trees at HOB LOB
about 4 years ago and when one burns out
I go (OK really my HUBBY goes) to the attic to get a new one
this tree is 8ft and the old one
(that ran out of SpArkLe...aka lights burned out)
was 7ft
you would think one foot no big deal BUT
yes it is... ONE foot requires MORE...
so here we go...


You start with a pre-lit tree
do you see what I got it for
$9.99
that's like $1.25ish per foot!!!!
also have one more 8ft and 3 more 5 feet ones
stored away MUAH HA HA...
NOW back to decorating it...


I add the big ribbon first and then go from there...

TO BE HONEST...

I got these letters at Target and was going to hang them somewhere...

BINGO CARDS????

I had smaller BINGO cards and just placed them throughout the tree too

This sock monkey was a gift to my son...

and he stays on the tree...

ALWAYS!!!

you can see the little ribbon ties I added to the BINGO card clips

and

how I added just scraps of red and blue ribbon to the branches

I just drape it and go...

no fuss

***WARNING***
when looking at the next pic

REMEMBER...

it is my tree

OK ~ any questions????

come on the little liberty girl is too cute... 2 for a dollar at HOB LOB

OHHHH the goose.... I like to think of it as a duck????

well this year we have a momma duck...

who made a nest in our neighbor's LARGE bush...and

she brings her 12 baby ducks to visit us everyday!!!

we feed them everyday and we even bought them

a pink swimming pool to swim in

(FYI~ we are about 6 BIG blocks away from the nearest pond)

we even put little feeder fish in the pool everyday

so they can practice catching fish :)
SO the ducks are important to us this JULY 4th :)

will they be on the tree next JULY 4th...depends if Momma Duck comes back

If I was Momma Duck I would.... private pool (cleaned daily), daily buffet of fresh fish and duck food, little 21 month old that loves you dearly!!!

(CROSSING FINGERS SHE COMES BACK)

want to see some pics of our ducks go

HERE

AND here it is... all done

it is our 4th of JULY tree...

we love it!!! I keep this tree up all year!!!!

ok it was the old 7ft tree but now it will be this big momma
i decorate it according to the season...

check out other pics by clicking on *Everyday Tree* up by my header...

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED my post...

to see more RED WHITE AND BLUE ideas go HERE

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY 4th of JULY

look at the pic below...
and now imagine your dad-oh is washing your foot off with the hose
because you stepped in duck poop
your first foot went fine...
BUT...
the second foot...
when your Dad-oh picked it up to wash it off...
you lost your balance and went
HEAD first into the duck pool...
you got out OK
and told your Dad-OH
what Happened???
thank goodness Dad-OH just cleaned the duck pool or
MOMMA would have pushed him in too!!!


here are some pics of our growing ducks

even wet...drew loves to feed the babies

he is very demanding when he wants the food

see his hand open ready for some bread

this is Momma Duck...

DREW'S FAVORITE...

he has to feed her everyday!!!

and he talkes to her too...

good morning Momma Duck

hi Momma Duck

where are you Momma Duck

HEEEERRRRREEEEE momma Duck

OK and after we fed the baby ducks...

Drew got to play in his spalsh pool...

he was already wet so why not???
DUCKS were not invited (Drew's pool is in the back yard duck pool in front yard)

BUT

Dori and Itty Bitty were

THEY LOVE DREW!!!

Dori giving me her BEST SMILE!!!

she loves when Drew comes out to play with her!!!

and he loves to watch her run...

he will cheer for her...

GOOOOOOO DOE Ray

DOE RAY GOOOOO

READY SET RUN DOE RAY!!!!

Hope your summer days are filled with Joy and Happiness!!!

This week in I ♥ Faces it is all about pets!!!

MAX

Max we LOVE you!!!

I would love some comments!!! & If you want to enter your pictures go to I ♥ Faces. It is really fun!!! & don't forget to check out the other entries as well!!!

I have been playing around with my new Photo shop...
I am by no means an expert at this but...
playing around is fun.
& slightly addicting!!!
Now I'll take you through some of the pics I Photo shopped!!!


Remember this cutie..
yes it is Drew...
who else did you expect???
But the original pic looked like this...
with a fence...
a real fence
AND now I have this...
I added a texture layer behind him in the fence to look like...
an old advertisement brick wall...
I think it is pretty good!!!???

This is Max...
my in-laws' box head lab...
he is very sweet and love able...
Max has not been feeling good lately...
and has been taken off all his insulin and meds...
we are enjoying the time we have left with him...
I absolutely LOVE this picture...
before...
AND NOW...
I PUFFY HEART IT!!!
I added a textured frame and some vintage action to the original...
isn't he the best looking lab ever???

OK OK this is NOT a Pageant queen...
this is my good friends' daughter...
she tried on this crown in Santa Fe and I took a pic...
after photoshop....
i got this...
I KNOW I KNOW... you need sunglasses for her teeth I will work on that...
BUT... look at her smooth skin..
and the shine of the crown!!!
and the eyes really POP!!!
not too bad for one of my first?!?

and then I have my favorite family pic from Santa Fe...
and i tweaked it with a fab black and white action
added a vignette and
POOF*~*
I got this...

the first pic is a close up of Drew...
imagine that...
it is the original...
the next one is after I applied Baby Powder Room action
and then the next is with a black and white ...
i like them...
do you???


the last one...
here is bubby with a textured layer applied behind him..
I like how it looks like early morning dew or something...

well that's it...

I really got addicted to this photoshop thing...

and since it takes a good amount of time and with an almost 2 yr old...

you have no time...

I was doing these late late late...

like 3AM people...

i enjoy it

and I hope with a little more practice I can get better!!!

Let me know what you think!!!

This is me taking a picture of me...
I never thought I would be able to use this pic...
especially in another blog...
BUT while I was up Blog Stalking...
I came across this wonderful blog named...
Simplicity...
& guess what she wants to see....
YEP!!!
self portraits...
so here it is...

...chin down - check
...neck out- check
...wide eyes- check
...SuPeR ChEEsEy grin- check