Let’s Get Crafty: 10 Patriotic Crafts Your Family Will Love!
“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” |
Call us sentimental, but the Fourth of July is just one of those holidays that it’s hard not to love. Summer is in full swing, the weather is blazing hot (unless you’re in San Francisco, where it’s winter), and this year, we could definitely use a little extra celebration and decoration. For those of us who are...um...closer to “Nailed It!” than Pinterest-worthy, have no fear -- these projects are (practically) fail-proof. (Oh and hey, do you need the perfect place to do all this crafting? Our #CrissCrossModernTable is at just the right height for little hands to glue, cut, and color!) |
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1. Festive Flowers: This activity is actually a STEM-based science experiment that leaves you with a cool, patriotic floral arrangement. Just follow the simple instructions here (or on many similar sites). Make sure you start with white flowers (we think daisies and carnations work particularly well, but try different types!) and only use red and blue food coloring. |
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2. Recyclable Straw Garland: Just begging to brighten up your backyard or living room wall, these adorable straw garlands are easy to construct and customize -- we love these star-themed paper straws for the Fourth in particular, and you can switch up the colors for any holiday! |
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3. Beaded Garland: Gone garland-crazy after that last craft? Can’t get enough? Try this onethat’s a little sturdier, with wooden beads and fringe. You can buy pre-painted beads, but it’s even more fun to get plain, unvarnished ones and paint them red, white, and blue. Get creative and mix patterns: red with white polka dots, blue with red stripes, white and blue zig-zags...the sky’s the limit! |
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4. Sensory Station: For the toddler set, there’s nothing like some squishy, stretchy sensory play! This Independence Day version from Toddler Approved has enough variety to keep them occupied for a while, with different kinds of red-white-and-blue sensory bags to poke and prod, Montessori-style sorting activities, and peelable window clings, all made from everyday materials. |
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5. Melted Crayon Suncatchers: Take advantage of that summer sun and make some beautiful suncatchers to capture the rays! All you need is red, white, and blue crayon pieces (not even whole crayons; perfect for those little tips and ends that break off, and that beloved blue crayon that just gets worn down to a nub) and the instructions here; you can make any shapes you like, but we love the starburst they made for the Fourth! |
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6. Tin Can Windsocks: Could these upcycled metal windsocks be any cuter to hang from a porch or tree branch? Grab some empty cans (make sure to wash them out really well first) and some Goo-Gone for label residue, and get painting! |
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7. Candy Fireworks: There’s candy. It involves science. What more do you need to know? Half the fun of this project is seeing the swirling colors mix and re-separate; half the fun is eating the materials once you’re done. This activity involves very few materials -- Skittles or M&Ms (ideally red, white, and blue ones; there’s a patriotic themed Skittles bag if you’re lucky enough to come across one), warm water, and a plate. Try laying the candy in a bursting firework design, in lines by color, and other configurations to see if you get different results. |
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8. Fluffy Patriotic Slime: Now there are three words we never would have thought would go together in a sentence! The good folks over at Steamsational have created an awesome fluffy slime recipe (make sure you have shaving cream on hand) that can be mixed into oh-so-satisfying red, white, and blue stripes. Note that this recipe does include Borax, so if you’re sensitive to that ingredient, try their baking soda slime instead. |
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9. Pinwheel Wreath: Feeling a little ambitious but still want something that’s practically guaranteed to come out great? This colorful wreath is mostly made of rolled paper cones glued to a cardboard backing, and it looks like it would be really hard to make, but it’s deceptively easy! |
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10. Flag Balloon Dart Game: Here’s a craft that culminates in a second exciting activity! Red, white, and blue balloons, some pegboard (secondhand is fine; you can often find some for free in local Buy Nothing or Freecycle groups, and you can paint it white to give yourself a nice blank canvas!), and darts make the perfect patriotic dart game. You’ll need the pointy kind of darts to pop the balloons, so make sure all participants are old enough to be trusted with something sharp. |
What are some of your favorite Fourth of July crafts? Comment below and let us know!
Written by: Melissa Holman-Kursky
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