5 Easy 4th of July Crafts for Kids

Celebrate America’s birthday with these 5 easy 4th of July crafts for kids. They are festive and fun to make at the kitchen table or outside on the patio. If you’re attending one of the many events in the Tampa Bay area, these are perfect for the events. Your family can wear matching flag shirts or the kids can hold the parade wands instead of sparklers. There are so many ways to incorporate these crafts with your celebration.

AMERICAN FLAG HANDPRINT SHIRTS – 4th of July Crafts

Supplies: 

• White shirt or onesie
• Red and Blue Paint (acrylic or fabric)
• Foam brush
• Paper plate
• Cardboard from cereal or diaper box

Directions:

First, slide cardboard inside the shirt to make sure it doesn’t stick together after painting. Next, add blue paint to a paper plate then apply to hand using a foam brush. Carefully stamp a handprint on the upper left side of the shirt. Finally, paint some red stripes next to the handprint and one underneath. If you have an infant, like me, it may be easier to use their footprint on a plain onesie. These shirts are perfect to wear to a local parade or 4th of July festival.

PATRIOTIC PARADE WANDS – 4th of July Crafts

Supplies:

• Dowel
• Tacky glue
• Felt (red, white and blue)
• Ribbons
• Scissors
• Chalk
• Star template
• Small star foam or felt shapes

Directions:

Use the template and some chalk to trace two of the large stars. When assembling, be sure to extend the dowel about 3 inches onto the large star. Put some glue down and then roll the dowel in it. Before attaching the other large star, put some glue on the dowel that would be against it. Decorate the large stars by adding the smaller foam or felt stars. Finally, add the ribbon by tying a double knot as close to the where the dowel meets the felt. These are perfect 4th of July crafts for kids who are not old enough to use sparklers and definitely safer.

PAPER PLATE STAR WREATH – 4th of July Crafts

Supplies:

• Paper plate
• Red, white and blue foam shaped stars
• Patriotic ribbons
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions:

Cut the center from a paper plate. Most paper plates have a line you can cut along. Glue stars to the paper plate alternating red, white, and blue. Next, attach a piece of ribbon to the back of the paper to hang the patriotic wreath. Make a bow from another piece of ribbon and attach it to the top of the wreath to complete this 4th of July craft.

PATRIOTIC DIY BUBBLE WANDS – 4th of July Crafts

Supplies:

• Red, white and blue pipe cleaners
• Red, white, clear and blue beads
• Small star cookie cutter

Directions: 

Wrap a pipe cleaner around your small star cookie cutter leaving a little excess pipe cleaner at the start of the cookie cutter. When you reach the end of the cookie-cutter wrap the excess around to close the star shape. The rest of the pipe cleaner becomes your bubble wand handle. Fill your bubble wand handles with your colorful red, white and blue beads. When you reach the end of the pipe cleaner handle, bend the end of the pipe cleaner up and scrunch it up into a ball to keep the beads in place.

CONFETTI POPPERS – 4th of July Crafts

Supplies:

• 9″ red, white and blue balloons
• Empty toilet paper or Paper towel tubes
• Clear Tape
• Patriotic paper
• Star-shaped stickers
•  DIY Confetti or Pre-Made Patriotic Confetti

Directions: 

Knot the balloon, and cut off the tip. Stretch the balloon tightly around the paper tube, and secure it in place with a strip of tape. Wrap them with the patriotic scrapbook paper and secure it with tape. You can add a few star sticker embellishments or leave it plain. Add the confetti to the tube – use a funnel or a rolled piece of paper to help guide the confetti into the tube if necessary. To launch the confetti, pull down on the bottom knot of the balloon, and let go! The confetti will shoot high up into the air. This was definitely my son’s favorite 4th of July craft.