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Whether you are having a huge barbeque or a quiet Independence Day this year, these crafts will make a nice addition to your celebration either way.
The crafts are quick and easy and can be completed quite easily by kids of all ages with a bit of supervision by you.
RED, WHITE AND BLUE PAPER YO-YO
Ages: 3+ (with adult assistance)
Time: 15-20 minutes
MaterialsNeeded:
- unsharpened pencil or pencil-length wooden dowel
- invisible tape
- one piece of white paper
- red and blue crayons or markers
- rubber band
Directions:
Start by folding the paper lengthwise into 3 equal pieces and cut them out.
Lay the strips of paper end to end and tape them together making one long strip.
Tape one end of the strip to the top portion of the pencil.
Decorate both sides of the paper with the blue and red markers as much as you like.
Roll the decorated paper onto the pencil and secure with rubber band.
When you are ready to use it, remove the rubber band.
Hold the pencil by the bottom and flick your wrist to let the paper shoot outward.
CONFETTI BLASTER
Ages: 5+ (with adult supervision)
Time: 20-30 minutes
Materials Needed:
- toilet paper tube
- decorative duct tape or markers
- toe section of a pair of stockings
- rubber band
- confetti (make your own out of red, white and blue paper scraps)
Directions:
Decorate the toilet paper tube however you like using duct tape or markers.
We used silver duct tape to give our confetti blaster an extra pop!
Secure the stocking toe to the end of the tube using the rubber band.
Tuck the toe into the tube and fill with confetti.
Using your finger, gently pull the stocking toe down through the bottom of the tube and quickly release to blat your confetti into the air!
WOVEN AMERICAN FLAG
Ages: 3+ (with adult assistance)
Time: 15-20 minutes
Materials Needed:
- 3 pieces of standard letter size paper in red, white, and blue
- white crayon
- scissors
Directions:
Draw the 13 stripes of the American flag on the back of the red piece of paper.
Fold the paper in half so that you can easily cut the lines you have drawn.
Be sure you leave about ½ inch on the edges.
Cut 1 inch off the length of the white paper and discard.
Weave the white paper onto the red paper to give your flag its red and white stripes.
Remember: the flag starts with a red stripe and ends with a red stripe.
Place the blue piece of paper next to your flag and cut it so that it will fit in the proper top left corner ending at the bottom of the 7th stripe and tape it into place.
Add 50 white stars with your crayon and you are set to proudly wave your homemade American flag!
FIRECRACKER LUMINARY
Ages: 5+ (with adult supervision and assistance)
Time: 20-30 minutes
Materials Needed:
- blue paper lunch bag (if you do not have blue, regular brown is fine, too!)
- pen or pencil
- toothpick
- small piece of Styrofoam or a bunched up cloth
- glow sticks
Directions:
Draw a firecracker design on the front of the bag.
Place the Styrofoam inside the bag under your design.
Using the toothpick, poke the outline of your design.
The Styrofoam will make it easier to poke through.
When you are happy with your design, remove the Styrofoam and add your glow sticks to the bag.
When the sun goes down, you will have your very own fireworks display to admire.
We love seeing your work!
Snap a photo of one of the crafts that you created and share it with us on our Facebook page!