Don’t you love it when 4th of July decorations are easy to assemble? The red, white, and blue color scheme is a no-brainer, even if you do it yourself. Plus, your kids can help make all the patriotic flare.
You only get one day to transform your space into a patriotic wonderland, so to stay on budget and keep the kids busy, handmade crafts are the thing to do. From craft glue and clothespins to painter’s tape and those famous red party cups, we’ve got some useful tips. Plus, most of these crafts can be used again next year.
Get inspired with our 4th of July kids’ crafts to keep them busy. Since crafts need supplies, browse KCL’s Amazon, Michaels, and Dollar Tree coupon pages to see how you can save.
1. Decorate your table with an edible centerpiece using candy.
Talk about easy 4th of July decorations for your table! Fill vases with red, white, and blue candy for an eye-catching and edible centerpiece for your party. Use candy coupons before you start shopping.
2. Use ribbon and an embroidery hoop to make a wind sock.
Your 4th of July decorations don’t have to be just for indoor use. With just a few craft supplies, you can create a patriotic wind sock that can be used every year.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- six-inch embroidery hoop
- patriotic ribbon
- hot glue and a glue gun
- rope or cord
- swivel lobster clasp
- scissors
Directions:
- Cut your ribbon to varying lengths, then use a dab of hot glue to attach each ribbon to the solid inner ring of the embroidery hoop.
- Once the ribbons are attached, string two pieces of rope or cord through the lobster clasp, and glue the ends evenly around the hoop.
- Attach the outer hoop and tighten it into place securing the ribbon and cord while giving your wind sock a finished look!
3. Make custom American flag lighting with Mason jars and Mod Podge.
As a 4th of July kids’ craft, this is pretty fun to do, and probably doesn’t need adult supervision (depending on their age). Use Mod Podge (found online or at the dollar store) to glue small American flags to Mason jars. Illuminate them with tea lights or battery operated candles and you’re set!
4. Create an American flag clothespin wreath as a decoration for your front door.
This DIY holiday craft may take a little longer than the others, but it’s worth it. The kids will love applying the stickers.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 12-inch box wreath frame
- clothespins
- red, white, and blue spray paint
- wooden stars
- white craft paint
- foam paint brushes
- rubber gloves
- string or ribbon (for hanging your finished wreath)
Directions:
- Spray paint your clothespins by attaching them to the flaps of a cardboard box. I used three boxes — one for each color — then set them aside to allow the pins to fully dry.
- Paint the box wreath frame blue to match your theme.
- While the clothespins and wreath frame dry, use white craft paint and a foam brush to paint the wooden stars.
- Once your pieces are fully dry, you can begin assembly. Start by clipping one pin to the two center “bars,” or bar two and three of the frame. Then, place the next pin on the two bars closest to the center of the frame, or bars three and four.
- Use a hot glue gun to attach the white stars to the blue clothespins, and hang it with a wreath hook or ribbon.
For this size wreath frame it took 14 blue clothespins, 24 red clothespins and 24 white clothespins (62 total).
5. Use paper straws to make 4th of July kids’ crafts — red, white, and blue jewelry.
Keep your kids entertained with this easy DIY jewelry. All you need to do is cut patriotic paper straws into “beads” and string them to make necklaces or bracelets. If they don’t spill food on them, you can reuse them next year.
Jewelry making is usually fun, but if you need more options, there are other easy and fun summer activities for kids.
6. Decorate your driveway and sidewalk with red and blue stars.
4th of July decorations for your driveway? Yep. Using an X-acto knife, make stencils by cutting stars out of poster board. Pick up some sidewalk chalk paint, and let your kids go to town decorating your driveway and sidewalks. Of course, you can always buy star stencils to save a little time. This is perfect for your lawn too; just use spray paint for your grass.
7. Create a flag photo backdrop for your social media pictures.
Prepare to be the coolest party host with this DIY photo backdrop (aka selfie station).
Here’s what you’ll need:
- long wooden dowel (48 inches will do)
- red, white, and blue felt
- fabric scissors
- white craft paint
- wooden stars
- hot glue and a glue gun
Felt comes in wide widths, which will cut down on your overall cost — just be sure to use a coupon! (Or check out the Hobby Lobby sale schedule to shop when fabric is on sale.)
Directions:
- Begin by cutting varying width stripes of red and white fabric.
- Tie one end of the fabric to the wooden dowel (alternating between red and white to create your stripes.)
- Using white craft paint, paint the wooden stars, and hot glue them to a rectangle of blue fabric.
Use safety pins to attach the blue star-covered fabric to the red and white fabric, then hang it on a wall or fence.
8. Assemble a giant tic-tac-toe game in your backyard.
You’ll need four wooden O’s, four wooden X’s, red and blue spray paint, painter’s tape, star paper punch (or an X-acto knife and stencil to make painter’s tape stars), wooden dowels, and a 50-foot clothesline.
First, use painter’s tape to create stars and stripes on your wooden X’s and O’s.
Tap wooden dowels into the ground, and tie clothesline rope onto them. The dowels will save you from having to readjust the rope each new game.
Check out more cheap and fun backyard games for kids.
9. Make a rustic American flower pot using paint and stickers.
It’s the small details that count when you’re getting your house ready for a summer holiday party. Spruce up your flower pots with a hand-painted red, white, and blue pattern.
Here’s what you’ll need for this 4th of July decoration:
- terra-cotta flower pot
- painter’s tape
- star-shaped stickers
- red, white, and blue craft paint
- Plaster of Paris (for making DIY chalk paint)
- plastic cups, spoons for mixing paint
- foam brush
To make DIY chalk paint, mix one cup of acrylic craft paint with four tablespoons of Plaster of Paris and two tablespoons of warm water.
Next, paint the entire terra-cotta pot white. When it’s fully dry, apply the painter’s tape. It’s OK if it’s not perfect — that’ll help you achieve more of a rustic look.
Paint the bottom stripes red, leaving the stripe at the top for blue paint. Once the red paint is dry, place star-shaped stickers around the top, and paint over them with the blue paint.
After you remove the tape and stickers, you can make it a bit more rustic by sanding it down lightly with sandpaper.
Plant your favorite summer flowers and enjoy.
10. Use red, white, and blue rice for a festive 4th of July kids’ craft.
Measure out long grain white rice into two plastic Ziploc bags. Add blue food coloring to one and red food coloring to the other. Zip the bags shut.
Using your hands, mix and smoosh the rice with food coloring in the bags. Poor the red rice first, then white (uncolored rice) and then blue into Mason jars. Top it off with a tea light or sparklers.
11. Make twirlers out of red and blue Solo cups.
Start by cutting the lip off of the cup. Once the lip is gone, cut the cup at a slight angle while rotating it to create a spiral. When you reach the bottom of the cup, go ahead and cut it off.
Use a hole punch to make a hole through each strip.
Thread a piece of string through the hole, and display your twirly cups as a decorative banner — or bring the ends together and make a fun cluster that’ll blow in the wind.
12. Use bandanas from the dollar store to wrap utensils.
Looking for a creative way to display your utensils at your next barbeque? Bandanas make for an inexpensive choice. Plus, it’s a project that kids can help you with before the guests come. You can find bandanas on Amazon for about $14 for a 12-pack.
13. Make red, white, and blue string lights with yarn.
If you’re still looking for 4th of July decorating ideas, DIY string lights might do the trick.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- water balloons
- Vaseline
- gloves
- red, white, and blue yarn
- white school glue
- water
- rope or twine (to hang the wet balloons while drying)
- string lights
- wire
Directions:
- Cover each balloon in Vaseline to prevent the glue from drying onto the balloon.
- Then, pour white school glue into a disposable container and gradually stir in a little water (you don’t want too much water — the goal is just to thin out the glue a little bit).
- Cut off the desired length of yarn, and coil it around your hand before adding it to the glue.
- Cover the yarn in glue then wring it out to remove the excess.
- Gently wrap the yarn around the Vaseline-covered balloon, and when you’ve achieved your desired pattern, use clothespins to hang your balloons from string to dry.
Once completely dry, pop the balloons, and pull the deflated balloon out from inside the yarn. Attach the balls to a string of lights and enjoy!
14. Use star garland as 4th of July decorations for your utensil containers.
How easy is this idea? Assign this task to your little ones, and they’ll feel part of the decorating committee. Fill clear jars with star garland and add your utensils!
15. String up your own patriotic garland.
Yes, you can buy star garland, but these 4th of July decorations will be way more fun and satisfying. Using a star punch, cut star shapes from red, blue, and white craft paper. Attach the stars to the string with hot glue by sandwiching the string between two stars of the same color.
Hang it from a mantel, light fixture, or around your yard for a quick celebratory touch!