Fun, Patriotic Decorating Ideas for the Fourth of July

Candy, flowers, sparklers, sand, ribbons, some time and a little creativity will carry you far this July 4th holiday. Independence Day decorations can go beyond the requisite flags, which some don't think should be used on napkins or plates anyway. Stick with the basic colors of red, white and blue as well as patterns of stars or stripes for fun and patriotic decorating.

Entice with a red, white and blue candy centerpiece - Who doesn't love an edible centerpiece? Arrange your own using plastic, clear cups. Stick with small shot cups or tall champagne flutes. Fill with red, white and blue M&Ms for an indoor table. If it's too hot for chocolate, use jelly beans. Tie matching ribbons (raid the Christmas ribbon stash you bought on clearance) around the glasses.

Use a metal or wooden bucket in in the center, with a large piece of styrofoam or floral foam. Stick red, white and blue lollipops and rock candy into the foam.

Red, white and bloom - Flowers are not usually the focal point of Independence Day decorations. By adding red, white or blue flowers you can add a natural, organic touch to your holiday decor.

* Use a tall recycled glass jar from Pom juice or spaghetti sauce. Fill with a tight bouquet of real red and white roses. Silk flowers will work, too.

* Add blue flowers to small potted plants and use them as decorative favors by using Wave petunias.

Make carnations blue - Dye white carnations blue. In a bowl of water, add 20 drops of blue food coloring and a half teaspoon of sugar. Let the carnation stems sit in the dye for about six to 12 hours (or longer).

Add sparkle with sand vases - Alternate different amounts of red and white, blue and white or red, white and blue sand in glasses. Stick sparklers into the top of each one. When it's dark, light the sparklers.

Craft an Uncle Sam hat centerpiece - Cover an empty oatmeal container with white paper and glue the bottom to a white paper plate. Add a strip of blue paper to the bottom quarter of the container. Cut out a series of white stars and glue them on top of the blue. Finish the hat by adding vertical red stripes, alternating the strips of paper by leaving stripes of white visible. Voila! Uncle Sam was here!

Wave a patriotic wand - Enjoy the magic of the holiday with a homemade wand. Cut out red, white and blue stars in different sizes. Glue a small star onto a medium star and then onto the large star. Repeat. Glue the two stars together with a dowel in between. Attach silver ribbon to the dowel under the star. Use to decorate the yard, plants, the tabletop, and as favors for the kids.