Summer is here! It's time for vacations, backyard barbecues, and pool parties.
It's also time to celebrate America's independence. To get ready for Independence Day, we've made a list of simple crafts you can make with your kids to celebrate the land of the free.
1. Patriotic Flowers
Kids will love watching these flowers change color as they "drink" dyed water in this patriotic flower craft by Artful Parent. This patriotic flower bouquet can also double as decor for your Fourth of July table.
To make patriotic flowers, you’ll need:
white daisies or chrysanthemums
red and blue food coloring or liquid watercolor paint
at least 2 Mason jars or cups
a chopping board
a knife.
How to Make Patriotic Flowers:
Pour a couple of inches of water into each cup or Mason jar. Then, add red food coloring to one of the cups and blue food coloring to the other.
Use a sharp knife to slice the flower’s stem in half lengthwise. Start your incision an inch or two below the flower’s head. Place the halves of the flower stem in the two cups of colored water, with one stem piece in the red cup and the other in the blue cup.
After an hour, the flower petals will start to change color as the stems absorb the food coloring.
Once the flower has reached the desired color, remove it from the cup. Place multiple flowers in a vase or empty Mason jar to create your patriotic bouquet.
This star-spangled slime by Create. Play. Travel. is a great sensory activity for young kids.
To create star-spangled slime, you’ll need:
clear craft glue
baking soda
red and blue food coloring
glitter
contact solution
How to Make Star-Spangled Slime:
Pour 1 cup of clear craft glue into a mixing bowl.
Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda.
Add glitter and a few drops of red or blue food coloring to the mixture.
Mix the ingredients until combined.
Add a squirt of contact solution and stir to activate the slime. The slime will become stretchy as you mold it.
Kids will love waving Crafts By Amanda's patriotic duct tape parade stick during fireworks displays on Independence Day.
To create a patriotic duct tape parade stick, you’ll need:
red, white, and blue duct tape
scissors
a sturdy cardboard tube (from an aluminum foil or plastic wrap container)
a hole punch
How to Make a Patriotic Duct Tape Parade Stick:
Pull off a strip of white tape about 12 inches long. Fold the tape in half lengthwise onto itself and stick it together. Press down to squeeze out the air. Repeat this until you have 3 of each color. Trim any sticky edges.
Cut each strip up the middle, stopping about 3 inches from the other end to create two separate tassels. Cut each tassel in half. You should have four tassels total. Repeat for all tape strips.
Attach the strips to the end of the cardboard tube with small pieces of tape. Overlap each color as you go. Once they are all loosely attached, cut a strip of blue tape and wrap it around the tassels to secure them.
Wrap the cardboard tube with strips of white tape.
Wrap a piece of blue tape around the tube once. Don’t cut it from the roll.
Use a hole punch to create holes in the tape for the stars. Secure the hole-punched blue tape around the top of the cardboard tube, just below the tassels.
Add one-inch to one-and-one-half-inch red strips of tape around the cardboard tube to create the stripes.
This toilet paper roll Fourth of July hat by Pink Stripey Socks is an easy craft that your kids can wear as they watch the fireworks.
To make a toilet paper roll Fourth of July hat, you’ll need:
a toilet paper roll
a cereal box
red, white, and blue paint
hot glue
Scissors
a pipe cleaner
2 small strips of felt
headband
How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Fourth of July Hat:
Cut the toilet paper roll to your desired length.
Trace around the edge of the toilet paper roll onto the cereal box to create the top for your hat. Cut out the circle.
Cut out a larger circle for the brim of your hat.
Paint an American flag on the toilet paper roll. Paint the large cardboard circle blue.
Glue the small cardboard circle to one end of the toilet paper roll to create the top of the hat. Glue the brim onto the other end of the toilet paper roll.
Trim off any excess from the top circle.
Cut two small pieces from the pipe cleaner. Attach the pieces to the bottom of the hat with hot glue. Glue two small strips of felt over the pipe cleaners to secure them.
Place the hat on the headband. Twist the pipe cleaners together around the headband to secure the hat to the headband.
This red, white, and blue bandana headband by Cutesy Crafts is an easy, wearable project that kids can make with a bit of help from a grown-up.
To make a red, white, and blue bandana headband, you'll need:
red, white, and blue bandanas
a half-inch wide strip of elastic
thread and a sewing machine
a hot glue gun and glue sticks
How to Make a Red, White, and Blue Bandana Headband:
Cut each bandana into a 3-inch wide strip.
Fold one end of each strip to make a “W” shape.
Stack the strips so the white bandana is between the red bandana and the blue bandana. Place one end of the elastic in the middle of the folds of the white bandana.
Hold all of the layers together and sew or glue the ends together.
Braid the bandanas together around the elastic. Braid tightly to create a skinny headband or loosely to make a thick headband.
Try on the headband and trim the elastic to fit. Sew or glue the trimmed end of elastic to the other end of the headband.
With this pop-up firework craft by Kids Craft Room, your kids can experience the bright colors and exciting sounds of Independence Day fireworks all year.
To make a pop-up firework craft, you'll need:
a wooden spoon
black construction paper
ribbons
a stapler or tape
scissors
star stickers
How to Make a Pop-Up Homemade Firework Craft:
Cut a large circle out of the construction paper.
Fold the circle in half twice to create quarters to find the midpoint of the circle. Do not crease the paper.
Cut a straight line from the outside of the circle to the center.
Roll the paper into a cone. Staple or tape the paper, so it keeps its shape.
Snip off a bit of the cone’s point, just large enough to fit the spoon handle.
Cut lengths of ribbon approximately 50 centimeters long. Tie the ribbons together onto the handle of the wooden spoon.
Insert the spoon into the cone. Tuck the ribbons inside the cone.
Use star stickers to decorate the cone.
This egg carton American flag craft by Crafty Morning is an easy, fun project for young kids.
To make an egg carton American flag, you'll need:
an 18-count egg carton
red, white, and blue paint
white paper
scissors
a paintbrush
How to Make an Egg Carton American Flag:
Paint the 4 cups in the left corner of the egg carton blue.
Paint the sides of the remaining egg cups red to create stripes.
After the red paint dries, paint the tops of the cups white.
Have your kids draw 4 stars on white paper. Cut them out and glue them to the blue egg cups.
This patriotic lantern by Kids Activities Blog is a simple craft that makes great outdoor decor for your Independence Day celebration.
To make a patriotic lantern, you'll need:
red, white, and blue construction paper
a glue stick
and scissors
How to Make a Patriotic Lantern:
Cut out two long strips of blue construction paper.
Cut short strips out of red construction paper to create the lantern’s stripes. You can make your strips straight, wavy, or even zigzags.
Lay out the strips of red construction paper onto the blue construction paper, with the red strips lying vertically between the blue strips. Arrange the red strips along the blue strips to make sure you like the spacing.
Glue the red strips to the blue strips. Make sure the red strips don’t hang over the ends of the blue strips.
Glue the ends of the blue strips together to create the lantern’s shape.
Cut triangles out of white construction paper and glue 2 triangles together to make stars.
Once the stars have dried, glue them to the red strips of the lantern.
Cut out a strip of red construction paper. Glue the ends of the strip to opposite ends of the ring at the top of the lantern.
Hang your patriotic lantern on a tree among your Independence Day decorations.
This fork firework art by A Thrifty Mom is a fun, simple Independence Day craft.
To make fork fireworks, you'll need:
a fork
a paper plate
red, white, and blue paint
paper
How to Make Fork Fireworks:
Dip the back of the fork in one color of paint.
Wipe the back of the fork onto the paper repeatedly to make a circle pattern.
Repeat with another color. Clean your fork before changing the color.
Repeat until you have used all of the colors.
This fireworks painting by Happiness Is Homemade is an easy, quick Independence Day craft that kids can make by themselves.
To make a fireworks painting, you'll need:
toilet paper or paper towel tubes
scissors
paper plates
red, white, and blue paint
a large sheet of paper or canvas to paint on
How to Make a Fireworks Painting:
Cut a toilet paper or paper towel tube into 2-inch long fringes and open up the fringes.
Cover three paper plates in a thin layer of red, white, and blue paint.
Dip the fringes of the roll in the paint.
Stamp the roll onto the paper or canvas.
Repeat with different paint colors.
These cupcake liner fireworks by The Kindergarten Connection are a simple Independence Day craft for kids.
To make cupcake liner fireworks, you'll need:
red, white, and blue cupcake liners
glue
construction paper
scissors
How to Make Cupcake Liner Fireworks:
Cut slits along the flutes of the liners from the edge to the circle in the middle of the liner.
Put glue on the center of the cupcake liners and glue them to a piece of paper, layering them to look like a firework display.
This patriotic paper plate wind catcher by Crafty Morning is a simple craft that you can use to decorate for Independence Day.
To make a patriotic paper plate wind catcher, you'll need:
paper plates
a paintbrush
scissors
a hole punch
glue
red, white, and blue paint
ribbon or string.
How to Make a Patriotic Paper Plate Windcatcher:
Cut a star from one of the paper plates and paint it blue. Next, paint red stripes onto the front and back of another plate.
Starting at the edge of the plate, cut toward the center in a circular motion to create a spiral.
Punch a hole into the top and bottom of the star and the biggest part of the spiral.
Attach the spiral to the bottom of the star with string or ribbon. Then, tie another piece of string or ribbon to the top of the star.
Hang your windcatcher outside.
13. Confetti Poppers
This homemade confetti popper by The How-To Home is a fun, simple Independence Day craft that you can make with items from around your home.
To make a homemade confetti popper, you'll need:
a water bottle
scissors
construction paper
balloons
washi tape
How to Make a Confetti Popper:
Cut off the top 2 1/2 to 3 inches of a clean water bottle.
Cover the cut edge of the bottle with washi tape.
Stretch the mouth of a balloon over the bottle opening.
Cut the construction paper into small pieces to create confetti. Place the confetti into the bottle opening. Shake the bottle, so the confetti fills the balloon.
Hold the neck of the bottle with one hand and pull down on the balloon with the other, then let go of the balloon to launch the confetti!
These patriotic binoculars by ConservaMom are an easy craft that your kids can use to watch the Independence Day fireworks.
To make patriotic binoculars, you'll need:
2 empty toilet paper rolls
red, white, and blue construction paper
star stickers
red and blue ribbon
scissors
tape
How to Make Patriotic Binoculars:
Cut one strip each of red, white, and blue construction paper. Make sure each strip is one-third of the length of the toilet paper tube. Wrap the strips around an empty toilet paper tube and secure the ends with glue. Repeat with the second empty toilet paper tube.
Glue the tubes together side by side.
Decorate the binoculars with star stickers.
Cut long pieces of red and blue ribbon. Tie the ribbons around one end of the binoculars. Use scissors to curl the ribbons.
Attach another long piece of ribbon to the other end of the binoculars to create a necklace. Hang the binoculars around your neck.
This magazine mosaic flag by Crafts By Amanda is an easy, patriotic craft that your kids will love.
To make a magazine mosaic flag, you'll need:
a 4-inch by 6-inch piece of thin cardboard
white acrylic craft paint
a magazine
scissors
string
a glue stick
a hot glue gun
How to Make a Magazine Mosaic Flag:
Find red, white, and blue areas of images in the magazines. Cut out the areas and cut the magazine pieces into small squares.
Paint the cardboard with white paint and allow it to dry completely.
Glue the blue squares to the upper left corner of the cardboard.
Complete the American flag by making red and white stripes with the red and white squares.
Attach string to the back of the cardboard with hot glue and hang your American flag mosaic in your home.
This Fourth of July noisemaker by Mess for Less is a simple craft that your kids can make with a few simple supplies and a bit of help from a grown-up.
To make a Fourth of July noisemaker, you'll need:
2 paper plates
red, white, and blue paint
dried beans
a stapler
scissors
paintbrushes
tape
How to Make a Fourth of July Noisemaker:
Cut a semicircle shape along the inner circle of both paper plates.
Cut across the semicircle to remove half of the inner circle from each plate.
Paint the rounded side of both plates using red, white, and blue paint.
When the paint has dried, staple the bottom edges. Make sure the staples are close together so no beans will spill out.
Fill the large inside pocket with a few tablespoons of dried beans, then staple that pocket closed.
Use tape along the length of the handle to stick the two sides of the handle together.
This patriotic tassel garland by Laura Radniecki makes an adorable decoration for Independence Day.
To make a patriotic tassel garland, you'll need:
red, white, and blue embroidery thread
twine or yarn
and scissors
How to Make a Patriotic Tassel Garland:
Take one bundle of embroidery floss and remove the paper tags. Cut one 10-inch piece of floss off of the bundle. Set this piece aside.
Lay out a long piece of twine for the base of the garland.
Fold the embroidery floss in half around the twine.
Slide the 10-inch piece of embroidery floss underneath the folded embroidery floss bundle, about half an inch from the top.
Tie the 10-inch strand in a knot around the embroidery floss bundle.
Wrap one end of the 10-inch strand around the embroidery floss tassel. Leave about 1 1/2 to 2 inches free. Repeat on the other side.
Secure the tassel by knotting the two free ends of the floss together at the back of the tassel. Trim the ends.
Cut the floss bundle at the bottom of the tassel.
Shape the tassel by shaking it to separate the strands.
Trim up any uneven strands on the bottom of the tassel.
Repeat for each additional tassel.
These Fourth of July paper sparklers by It Happens in a Blink are a safe, kid-friendly alternative to sparklers.
To make Fourth of July paper sparklers, you'll need:
Foam
red scrapbook paper
white cardstock
blue cardstock
glue
yellow pipe cleaners
craft sticks
How to Make Fourth of July Paper Sparklers:
Cut a 6-inch by 6-inch square from the red scrapbook paper.
Cut a piece of foam measuring approximately 2 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches.
Wrap the red scrapbook paper around the foam. Secure the red scrapbook paper to the foam with glue.
Cut stars out of white card stock and blue card stock.
Glue the stars onto the red scrapbook paper.
Insert a craft stick into the bottom of the foam.
Cut the pipe cleaners so that they are 2 to 3 inches long. Insert them into the top of the foam.
This mason jar sand art by Atta Girl Says is a fun craft for kids that makes a great centerpiece for your Independence Day table setting.
To make mason jar sand art, you'll need:
clear pint-sized mason jars
red, white, and blue sand
sparklers
tealight candles
How to Make Mason Jar Sand Art:
Fill the mason jar one-third full with blue sand.
Top the blue sand with white sand. Add sand to the jar until it is two-thirds full.
Fill the jar to the top with a layer of red sand.
If you would like to use the mason jar sand art as outdoor decoration, you can place sparklers or tealight candles in the top layer of sand.
Source
This patriotic coffee filter print by Fun-A-Day is a fun craft for young kids. To make a patriotic coffee filter print, you'll need:
coffee filters
red and blue washable markers
white construction paper
foam star stickers
How to Make a Patriotic Coffee Filter Print:
Place a piece of white paper under each coffee filter.
Use blue and red washable markers to color the coffee filters.
Spritz the coffee filters with water to make the marker ink run.
Place construction paper over the wet filter and press down.
Lift the construction paper off of the coffee filter to create a print.
After the ink dries, cut the print into a heart.
Decorate the print with foam star stickers.
Celebrate America's independence with these red, white, and blue crafts.
These crafts will help your kids explore their creativity and unique style, and they will love to show their creations to their friends and family at your next Independence Day party or barbecue. Try these easy crafts with your kids today.