Jill A. Chafin
Looking for a fun way to celebrate Independence Day with your kids? These craft projects will stimulate their creativity and give you some bright, colorful decorations perfect for any party.
Fourth of July Star Sun Catchers
If you have a pile of old crayons collecting dust, this craft is a great way to put them to use. Be prepared, though—this project requires a lot of adult supervision, as you have to use an iron to melt crayon shreds onto parchment paper. After that, though, your kids can cut out the stars, thread them onto strings, and figure out where to hang them.
We suggest hanging the finished stars over a window or outside, so the sun will make them sparkle.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Crayons: Use red, white, and blue to go with the theme.
- Wax and parchment paper
- An iron: Make sure an adult performs this step, and keep it high out of reach of curious little hands.
- A star stencil or cookie cutter
- Some baker’s twine
You can read the full tutorial at The Suburban Mom.
Tin Can Windsocks
We love crafts that reuse tin cans (or anything from the recycle bin).
The end result is a sturdy, solid, and oh-so pretty windsock. Hang it outside to watch it blowing in the wind, or from your mailbox to brighten your neighborhood. It’s a wonderful addition to any Fourth of July event.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Empty tin cans: Cleaned, with the tops and bottoms removed.
- Ribbons: Red and white to fit the theme.
- Baker’s twine
- Outdoor paint: Blue and white to fit the theme.
- A star stencil
- Stencil adhesive
- A paintbrush
- A hot glue gun
- Hot glue gun finger caps
You can read the full tutorial at Real Creative Real Organized.
Stars and Stripes Patriotic Flower Pot
This patriotic flower pot is perfect for those wanting something functional to last for years to come.
And talk about easy! Just grab a flower pot, some festive-colored paint, and slap on a few stars. You can follow the suggested stars and stripes design, or let your kids create any design they like.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Paint: White, red, and blue, of course.
- Foam brushes
- A 10-inch flower pot: But any size will work!
- A roll of Painter’s tape
- A sanding sponge
- Some vinyl stars
You can read the full tutorial at Lolly Jane.
Painted Rocks
Painting rocks is a simple craft project for all ages. You just need a pile of smooth rocks, some paint and brushes, and a little creativity, of course.
After the rocks have dried, you can scatter them around the porch, set them on a table, or even use them as paperweights for napkins and plates if you’re having an outdoor celebration.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Some smooth rocks: You can either find them outside or get a bulk supply for future projects.
- Some paint: You guessed it—red, white, and blue!
- Paintbrushes
Check out Thrifty Nifty Things for some cool design ideas.
Kid-Friendly “Fireworks”
Looking for a way to include fireworks without all the matches, smoke, and danger? These child-friendly “fireworks” are a safe alternative—they explode with glitter!
The only downside is they leave a real mess—like, a phenomenal amount of mess. So, use them outside and keep those brooms handy.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Push-up cake pop molds: You can also use ice cream push-pop containers—just make sure to clean them first.
- Construction paper
- Markers
- Festive decorations: Glitter, pipe cleaners, confetti, shredded paper—basically anything you can fit inside.
- Some tape
You can read the full tutorial at Goodness on the Go.
Fireworks in a Jar
Here’s another safe firework option, that’s less messy than the craft above. Your child adds glitter and sequins to a jar, secures the lid, and then shakes it whenever he wants to see fireworks.
It delivers hours of fun, while containing all the mess. Perfect!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Baby oil
- Jars: Any size will work. Use glass jars if you trust your kiddos to not break them, otherwise go with plastic. Make sure they have lids that fully secure!
- Gorilla glue
- Glitter
- Sequins
- Scissors
You can read the full tutorial at 504 Main.
Making crafts is a great way to get into the Fourth of July spirit. Plus, many of these are built to last, so you can add vibrant decorations to your celebrations for many years to come.
