4th of July Fruit Tarts

I'm always looking for something a little different to serve up...something a little more unique than party goers have seen in year's past. Sometimes all it takes is mixing up the presentation to keep things fresh and new, but sometimes you can try a whole new idea or recipe!

This year why not try a patriotic dessert with a different twist on the traditional flag cake

~ and so simple to make!

via Food Network

Fruit-Tart Flag

Courtesy of Food Network Magazine

Prep Time:

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Inactive Prep Time:

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Cook Time:

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Level:

Easy

Serves:

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Fill premade miniature tart shells or phyllo cups with sweet mascarpone cream (recipe below), then arrange on a tray and top with blueberries and halved strawberry slices to create stars and stripes.

Mascarpone Cream:

Beat an 8-ounce container of mascarpone cheese and 3 tablespoonsconfectioners' sugar with a mixer until smooth. Gently fold in 1/2 cup freshly whipped cream.

Photographs by Tara Donne

4th of July FREE DIY Printables from Twig & Thistle

THANK YOU to Twig & Thistle for these FREE beautiful DIY 4th of July party printables!

You'll find everything you need to make your own sparkler cards, matchbook wrappers, and straw tags, including DIY templates and instructions!

Be sure to head over to Twig & Thistle for lots of great party inspiration!

What You’ll Need:

8.5 x 11″ 80lb white card stock
8.5 x 11″ 80lb white text paper
Color Printer
Paper Cutter
Double Sided Tape
Ruler
Standard Hole Punch
Sparklers
Straws
Matchbooks (found at any local grocery store)

Instructions:

1. Download the Matchbook and Straw Tags Template and print onto white text paper. Download the Sparkler Card Template and print onto white card stock. Print using the highest quality settings on your color printer to ensure that the patterns and text are clear.

2. Trim out all the shapes using scissors or a sharp blade and making sure to trim off all the black edges. Use a standard hole punch and punch where indicated to allow the straws to be thread through. Carefully trim out the small rectangles in the Sparkler Holders to weave the sparklers through.

3. Secure the wrap around the matchbooks with double sided tape, making sure not to cover up the striker strip. Crease the edges with your fingers or using a bone folder so that they are crisp. Thread the straw through the holes and position towards the top of the straw. Thread the sparklers through the slots.

DIY 4th of July Pinwheels

For safer~than~sparklers favors, fill a pail full of festive DIY scrapbook paper pinwheels mounted on slim wooden dowels! Darling for a tablescape and double as a guest favor!

Supplies

• Scrapbook paper (preferably with double-sided pattern)
• Wooden dowels
• Hot glue gun and hot glue
• Double-sided tape
• Scissors
• Star stickers
• Spray adhesive (if necessary)

Instructions

1. To create dual-sided pinwheels, gather double-sided scrapbooking papers in patriotic hues, or if you can't find pages in palette, create your own. Find pages in contrasting patterns, and use the spray adhesive to adhere them together.
2. Cut paper into square shapes — we made 8-inch and 6-inch squares to create pinwheels of varying sizes.
3. Fold squares in half diagonally to create a triangle. Crease.
4. Open the triangle and fold diagonally the opposite way. Crease.
5. Open up the triangle and flatten out the square.
6. Cut along each diagonal fold three-quarters of the way to the center.
7. Pull the tip of every other corner toward the center. Use double-sided tape or white craft glue to adhere the first tip to the center, then each folded-in tip on top of each other. When you finish, you'll have the pinwheel shape.
8. If you want your pinwheel to spin, skip to step 10. If not, simply hot glue the pinwheel to your wooden dowel. Skip cutting down wooden dowels from the hardware or craft store and use inexpensive flag dowels (removing the flags, of course).
9. Finish your pinwheel with a decorative star sticker in the center.
10. If you want your pinwheel to spin, you'll need to push a pin through the center (a straight pin works), then a bead beneath the pinwheel. You'll drive the pin into your dowel with a hammer. If needed, fold over (or cut and then fold over) any part of the pin that sticks through to the back to prevent injuries.

Original Post via Good Housekeeping

More Free DIY 4th of July Printables

Oh there's more! It's that time of the year again when everyone is in full summer / 4th of July party planning mode! More free downloaded printables (cupcake toppers and food tent cards), compliments of The Party Dress!

Click HERE ON THE PARTY DRESS to begin your download!

More Free DIY 4th of July Printables

More FREE DIY 4th of July Printables compliments of

The Sweetest Occasion and The Pink Orange.

Download your free 4th of July party invitations, straw flags and buffet signs directly from

The Sweetest Occasion.

Note: The buffet signs are editable so you make as many as you want for the

foods you will be serving.

4th of July FREE DIY Printables from Martha Stewart

Oh my goodness was I in for a treat when I found via Martha Stewart that she is offering all of the following 4th of July ~ Red, White and Blue Printable Clip-Art Crafts ~ FREE!!

Each of the downloads to the printable clip art, along with the how-to for these

projects can be found directly on Martha Stewart.

Ooh I have my work cut out for me for the next month!

Tissue Fan Fireworks with Clip-Art Medallions

Fourth of July Clip-Art Streamers

Fourth of July Clip-Art Candy Container

Fourth of July Clip-Art Toothpick Flags

Fireworks Clip-Art Wrapping Paper Place Cards

Paper Lanterns with Patriotic Clip-Art Ribbons

Bald Eagle Tissue Paper Lanterns

Fourth of July Clip-Art Invitations

Patriotic Ice Cream Cone Wrapper

Stars and Stripes Clip-Art Paper Cones

Picnic Napkin Rings

Patriotic Fans

Cupcake Flags

Drink Parasols

Patriotic Can Wrappers

4th of July ~ FREE DIY Printable Party Collection!

Thank you to Brandi of Tweedle Dee Designs for this festive {and free} DIY printable party collection for the 4th of July ~ one of my most favorite holidays!

This 4th of July collection consists of (8) files including: invitations; party punchables that can be used for cupcake toppers, favor tags, stickers, enclosure labels and more; star spangled party banner; stars and stripes straw flags; party labels that can be used for place cards, dessert labels, favors or gift tags; mini notecards; treat bag toppers; and patriotic water bottle labels. Fabulous collection!!

Click here to begin your free download

4th of July ~ FREE DIY Printables

Paper and Pigtails, one of my favorite party printable boutiques, would like to help

you get ready for the 4th of July with these perfectly patriotic (and free) printables!

Please head over to Bella Grace Designs for the free download and be sure to check out the

Paper and Pigtails Etsy shop for coordinating 4th of July printables (available next week)!

Red, White & Blueberry Desserts

Memorial Day is the day we stop to remember all of the men and woman who have served,

and are still serving in our armed forces, our surviving veterans, and to honor those that

have lost their lives fighting for our country. While we should be reminded daily to pray

for our armed forces, the families, our country and it's leadership, I'm thankful

that there is one day that makes us pause, and is a significant reminder of all the sacrifices

that have been made for our freedoms.

With that said, Memorial Day has traditionally become a patriotic holiday when family and friends gather together to celebrate and remember; and whenever there is a reason to come together and celebrate, there is a reason to entertain! Whether you are joining family and friends for a backyard bbq, attending a block party, having a picnic, or hosting a beach party, here are some last minute patriotic red, white & blueberry desserts compliments of Martha Stewart that are sure to wow your guests! God bless your holiday and God bless America!

Click here for all of Martha's recipes!

Vanilla-Raspberry & Blueberry Sundaes

Vacherin with Whipped Cream and Mixed Berries

Red, White and Blueberry Tarts

Red, White and Blueberry Cheesecake Tarts

Red, White, and Blue Parfaits

Star-Spangled Shortcake

Berry Pound Cake with Whipped Cream

Fruited Cheesecake Flag

Summer Shortcake

American Flag Tart