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Great Fourth Of July Crafts For Kids
Published 06.24.2008 | Permanent Link | Comments (3)
The Fourth of July, the day we celebrate everything it means to be an American (liberty, freedom and the right to drive around in a gas-guzzling SUV while complaining about the cost of fuel) is coming up in a week or so. Most of us will celebrate by grilling food in the great outdoors, watching a parade (or two), viewing fireworks and maybe running with sparklers in the yard. Our neighborhood hosts a pancake breakfast on two neighbor's front lawns on the Fourth, because nothing says "Liberty" like pancakes and bacon shared with your neighbors.
To give your kids a thing or two to do for the holiday I've come up with five great projects to get your yard looking "All American." What's more American than forcing your kids to do your decorating for you? I mean, enriching your kid's lives with mind-blossoming craft projects?
Here's an easily-adjusted idea for the under-5 set also from Martha. This ribbon and star garland would be great for decorating a table, a food table at a party or strung across the front porch. However, as I always do, I read the directions and knew in 2.4 seconds I wouldn't even be able to handle making these fancy stars. Still, you can cut out red, white and blue construction paper stars for a group of little kids, and then give them markers and stickers (glue and glitter....depending on how nice you are: I am not that nice). Let the kids make as many stars as you need, grab some red or blue ribbon and staple all the stars along the length. Much easier, more charming and just as festive. Take that Martha.
Martha offers a printable template to make these patriotic fans. This craft could work for a kid with a careful sense of attention to detail. This detail being how to fold a fan with reasonable care. They'd make excellent table decorations for a party, they're fun for kids to run around with and could even be stuck in the lawn.
This crazy Fourth of July crown is really cute and would be pretty darn easy to make. It's also perfect for wearing to all your kid's upcoming Fourth of July appearances. Using duct tape and pipe cleaners in patriotic colors, your kid gets a custom made crown. It reminds me of a simpler version of the crown my husband made for a Valentine's day contest a few years back. You can see that version here.
Another template idea from Martha's site is this three- dimensional-star centerpiece. Print the template and use it to cut stars from red, blue and white paper. Fold each star, staple together and you have a stand alone centerpiece. You can also attach string and hang it from a tree, it would be really cute to make 3 or 4 of them to hang at varying lengths in a tree.
A door flag is a great way to make your house say "We Like America" without having to dress a concrete goose in patriotic gear. Using ribbon, a paint stirring stick, glue and white pompoms, your kid can construct a simple American flag for your door. Now the sample uses 13 small pompoms as a cop out so they didn't have to spend time putting 50 pompoms on the flag. I'm pretty lazy but the tiny voice of perfection in my head would be annoyed without all 50 states represented.
Burning Daylight will be coming back to The Buzz Off in another week or two. I'm sort of shocked to be typing this, but I'm actually looking forward to doing some of the projects I've been bookmarking all year while my kids were (gloriously) busy in school all year. Stay tuned.
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About
Melissa Summers was one of five Melissa's throughout her schooling, in her everyday life she is the only Melissa who folds laundry. The name Melissa is derived from the Greek word for Honeybee. The Buzz Off is published weekly on Tuesdays. She writes almost nearly everyday at Suburban Bliss.
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Melissa's Buzz Off is a collection of pretty much anything Melissa wants to buzz about. Sometimes what she wants to buzz about is also what you'd like to buzz about. The Buzz Off is a collaboration so you can tell her anything at You can email me at melissabuzzoff@gmail.com
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Comments (3):
Caroline J. said:
Hey Melissa!
Thanks for the great craft ideas! I printed out a few of them and will attempt with my four year old. Looks like fun!!
Caroline =)
Posted on June 27, 2008 10:00
taylor said:
i loved them anough that i printed all of them
Posted on July 4, 2008 12:14
Megan said:
i did not print them because.... i do not have a printer. PS nice hat :)
Posted on July 4, 2008 16:47