Make It, Take It: Fourth of July Party Crafts for Kds

Celebrating the Fourth of July with a cook out is a fun American tradition. The adults are looking forward to relaxing, chatting, tasting and trying to stay cool. Kids have been celebrating the "freedom" of the end of the school year for a few weeks now. Having some Fourth of July crafts for kids is a fun treat for the kids at your BBQ. It's easy to set up "make it, take it" patriotic crafts for kids to entertain the children at your July fourth party.

Patriotic bookmark crafts:

Many kids are participating in summer reading programs through their school, library or local bookstore, which makes a fun patriotic bookmark a practical craft for your Fourth of July party. Here are some of my favorite materials for patriotic bookmarks but you can use what you have in a pinch.

Materials:

Red or blue craft foam sheets (or paper)

scissor

A hole puncher

Red, white and/or blue ribbon or yarn

Patriotic stickers or peel and stick foam stars

Directions:
The foam or paper can be precut bookmark size or left for young party guests to cut out. Crafters can use the hole punch to make a hole to thread through ribbon or yarn. It's fun to use red, white and blue and braid them into a bookmark tassle. Patriotic stickers add the finishing touch to make each bookmark unique.

Patriotic necklace crafts:

These patriotic necklace crafts have been a big hit at our Fourth of July parties each year. You could, of course, use a variety of red, white and blue beads but I think what has made our July 4^th necklace crafts really cool are the letter beads. These are small wooden square beads that have letters and come in generous packs at crafts stores like Michael's and several alphabet beads options are also available at Amazon.com.

Materials:

Jewelry string or even pipe cleaners

Red, white and blue beads

Alphabet beads

Bowls for organizing beads

Paper plates

Directions:
Encourage kids to line up their bead pattern on a paper plate before beginning to string their design, especially if they are creating names or words. Some of our guests have enjoyed including their names or U.S.A. on their July 4th necklace. Alternating red, white and blue colored beads is fun pattern for this patriotic craft.

Super hero dress up crafts:

These super hero dress up crafts are the absolute bomb of July 4^th party activities for kids. Kids will have a super time making and wearing these dress up capes and eye masks. We found some bargain red, white and blue patriotic fabric scraps but we also cut up old pillowcases and tablecloths as well. The fabric or the patterns don't have to be fancy because will have a great time soaring around the party in disguise.

Materials:

Red, white and blue fabric scraps sized for capes or eye masks

Yarn

Scissors that will cut fabric

Supervision and assistance for younger party-goers using scissors

Directions:
Punching holes in fabric with scissors can be tough for adults, much less kids, so try our cheater's trick to make easy dress up capes and masks. Simply make a small "bunch" in the fabric on the two top corners of the cape, wrap each with yarn and tie in a double knot. For eye masks, kids should cut out about a six inch by four inch oval shape. Have kids hold the mask up to their eyes and have a partner or adult gently make a mark where the eye holes should be on the fabric. Show kids how to fold the mask in half and make a crescent shape on each mark. Use the same gathering technique on the ends to add the yarn string to tie on the masks.

For each make it and take it craft station, have an example on each table along with the materials. Making the sample crafts is a fun activity for your kids while you're busy organizing for your party. If they've made the crafts themselves, they'll be able to help their young guests create their own fun, patriotic crafts.

F is for freedom and for fun when you plan ahead to have a few easy Fourth of July crafts for kids at your Independence Day celebration.

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