Behind the Scenes: A Family-Sketched 4th of July

Some of my favorite childhood memories come wrapped in warm summer air and the crackle of fireworks.

Growing up, I remember heading to my grandparents' house in rural Minnesota. The 4th of July meant at least one family football game, a round of croquet, and then folding chairs lined across the lawns. Kids ran wild with sparklers while families gathered on blankets, sharing snacks and laughter as we waited for the sky to light up.

That feeling of wonder, freedom, and simple joy has always stuck with me.

These days, we celebrate from the water.

Now I get to watch that same magic unfold through the eyes of my own kids—but our 4th of Julys usually start from the lake. We pile onto Grandma and Grandpa’s pontoon and watch fireworks shimmer across the water—surrounded by shows from neighbors and the city.

It’s absolutely magical. And those are the moments I wish I could bottle up.

This year, we kind of did—on a tee.

When our kids were younger, their daycare had a tradition we absolutely loved. Every summer, we’d bring in a plain white shirt, and they’d paint their own version of the American flag. Stars, stripes, handprints, sponge brushes—every tee a little masterpiece.

We loved the tradition so much, we kept it going in our backyard for a few more summers.

So when it came time to design this year’s tees, those painted shirts were front of mind. I asked Kiddo 1 to start sketching some design ideas—just to see where the inspiration would take her. We pulled out photos of the old daycare shirts, and she took it from there—sketching on her iPad when the mood struck.

When the first few concepts started coming together, I pulled in both kiddos for feedback. Kiddo 2 jumped in with font ideas (a role she takes very seriously). She helped us figure out what felt playful, bold, or nostalgic—and which ones just didn’t fit at all.

The whole process was slow, joyful, and full of heart.

We took our time:

• Swapping out colors

• Sifting through inspirational quotes

• Playing with pattern sizes and layouts

• Letting the designs evolve between dinner and bedtime or in bursts over the weekend

It wasn’t a formal “sit around the table” type of thing—it unfolded like a lot of our best family ideas do. A little here, a little there. A texted screenshot. A passing “what do you think of this one?” moment in the kitchen.

In the end, we came up with something perfectly ours.

Each tee holds a spark of creativity from our kids, a nod to those paint-covered summer shirts, and all the love we could pass on.

We hope when you wear one, you feel a bit of that same joy—those backyard sparklers, lakeside laughs, and little traditions that mean everything.

Thanks for being part of our journey!
– The Life’s Canvas Crew