Badge: Independence Day Crafts

Let’s start with the red, white and blue to craft a wonderful July 4th.

Steps

1. Red, white and blue.

When it comes to Independence Day, you’ll mainly see three colors. You can decorate wreaths with patriotic ribbon, use food coloring for sidewalk paint, make accessories for yourself, decorate your house and more. As you look through the following steps, brainstorm ways you can incorporate patriotic colors of the holiday into your celebration.

2. Stars and stripes.

Another important part of art and crafts is the use of stars and stripes to signify the American flag. As you look at the offerings from any store, you’ll see these are predominant. How can you incorporate these shapes into your holiday crafts?

3. Traditional symbols.

Other symbols such as Uncle Sam’s top hat, the American eagle, firecrackers and the letters “USA” can also be incorporated. Make a list of symbols and designs that remind you of Independence Day.

4. Decorations.

How are you going to decorate for the holiday? Making your own garlands, table settings and household decorations not only adds to the holidays, but allows everyone a chance to participate. Explore Pinterest for ideas on how you can incorporate decorations into your holiday celebration. Remember to proudly display your red, white and blue.

5. Street art.

Street art can be non-permanent or permanent. Chalk, paint, fiber, stencil and printable street art can all be used to support our holiday. Instead of doing this individually, plan a group meeting and ask everyone to decorate the start of a parade route, dress up the houses where veterans live or find other means to incorporate this type of expression. Brainstorm a variety of ways you can incorporate street art into a patriotic celebration.

6. Wind crafts.

Wind crafts such as pinwheels, wind socks, wind chimes and spinners can all use the colors and shapes to celebrate the holiday. This can be as simple as paper tubes with streamers for a windsock or shell casings used in a wind chime. Make or design a wind craft with a patriotic theme.

7. Crafting activities.

Making your materials can often be part of crafting. Rolling patriotic paper beads, making sidewalk paint or even making patriotic colored lanterns to light your sidewalk can all incorporate both crafting with activities. Kids are often bored when they are at large gatherings. By preparing booths or stations with items they can make and take, you can keep them active while keeping them engaged.

You can also make your crafting activities more “freestyle” by allowing them to create their own art expressing how they feel about the fourth of July, illustrate our history or just express their freedom.

Brainstorm the possibilities of activities that include crafting part or all of the items you need.

8. Patriotic clothing.

Why just dress in red, white and blue? Try tie-dying, painting or other ways to decorate your clothing for the holiday. You might even want to make a special scarf or hat for the occasion.

9. Accessories.

Make small accessories or even paint your face to celebrate the holiday. Dress up your wardrobe (or yourself) to show your support. If you’re making something small, you might choose to make extras to share with others as a random act of kindness.

SWAPs are a great way to make something small you can share to wear. Check out the Enrichment Project “SWAPS” to learn more about the possibilities.

10. Crafting with food.

It takes time to create something beautiful while coordinating for a holiday. Try decorating a cake or cupcake with patriotic colors, dipping strawberries in white chocolate and then blue sugar sprinkles, make a fruit tray with patriotic colored fruit, layer jello or other experiment with items that will coordinate with the holiday.