55 Easy DIY 4th of July Crafts to Celebrate the Red, White, and Blue
Give a nod to the red, white, and blue with these fun craft and decor ideas.
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There are so many fun ways to celebrate Independence Day! You can invite friends and family over and grill a yummy meal. Spend time in the kitchen with the kids baking delicious summer desserts, or head outside for a fun water game at the pool or lake. But one of our favorites ways to celebrate the country's birthday to to make a slew of patriotic 4th of July crafts.
Head to your craft closet and gather the hot glue gun, a bit of burlap, and every red, white, and blue pen, tube of paint, and ribbon you can find to help bring these easy and festive ideas to life. Bonus, many of them do double duty as 4th of July party decor. A front door adorned with a 4th of July wreath, DIY American flag placemats on the table, yummy snacks piled high in a rustic bucket painted red, white, and blue, and cold drinks stored in a galvanized bucket embellished with stars are sure to make everyone feel at home and ready to celebrate.
An don't forget to give your interior the holiday treatment, too. Try making a flag pillow cover, a star-spangled tea towel, a burlap entryway banner, or oversized fabric rosettes (made from vintage grain sacks!) to decorate the walls. The kids will also love getting in on the crafting spree. Set them to work on red and blue sun catchers, mini popsicle stick flags, and fun ribbon sparklers.
Get more ideas for 4th of July fun:
- 4th of July Appetizers That'll Round Out the BBQ Feast
- Add These Songs to Your Independence Day Playlist
- Welcome to Camp Country Living! 60 Badge-Worthy Activities for Kids
So get going on those 4th of July crafts! We can't wait to see what you make!
Ribbon and Rickrack Sparklers
When the 4th of July comes around, even the littlest kids can enjoy waving these DIY ribbon sparklers.
To make: Wrap a 12-inch by 1/8-inch wooden dowel in washi tape. Cut lengths of red, white, and blue ribbon and rickrack of varying widths, colors, and textures. Lay ribbons and rickrack flat on a table and tie together in the center with a length of baker’s twine. Wrap baker’s twine around the dowel and hold in place with hot glue.
Bleached Bandana Bunting
Set the scene at your outdoor party with a bunting made from "reverse" tie-dyed bandanas.
To make: Wash 100% cotton bandanas; do not dry. Fold, scrunch, or crimp wet bandanas and hold together with rubber bands, kitchen twine, or binder clips. Soak in a solution that is 2 parts bleach to 1 part water until faded. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours. (Note, new red bandanas seem to be pretty colorfast, and we found that vintage ones bleach better.) Once desired level of bleaching has occurred immediately remove binder and thoroughly rinse under cold water. Wash if desired. Fold bandanas in half to form triangles, then tie corners together to create a bunting. Or, use bandanas as napkins or as neckerchiefs.
Red, White, and Blue Straw Wreath
Celebrate the 4th and welcome guests with a colorful wreath made from loads of straws. For a sophisticated palette, dot a few light blue straws in the mix.
To make: Attach different lengths of red, white, and blue paper straws to a craft ring with hot glue. Layer them until the craft ring is fully covered.
Vintage Flag Banner Decor
For some indoor decor, drape a vintage or new flag banner over and around a fireplace mantel.
SHOP FLAG BANNER
Fabric-Scrap Flags
Wave these petite fabric-scrap flags at the town parade or use them to embellish a table centerpiece.
To make: Cut a 4-by-3-inch rectangle from a red-based fabric. Cut a smaller square of blue-based fabric. Glue the blue square to one corner of red fabric with craft glue. Glue the flag to a wooden skewer or small dowel with a few dabs of hot glue.
Tie Wreath
Raid Dad's closet or take a trip to the consignment shop for a selection of vintage red, white, and blue ties, then fashion them into the hippest wreath on the block.
To make: Gather about 10 color-coordinated ties (they can be made with red, white, and blue for the 4th of July or in your dad’s favorite colors for Father’s Day). Cut each tie about 7 1/2 inches long, measuring from the widest end of the tie. Arrange the 7 1/2-inch pieces around a 12-inch wooden craft ring, pointed ends facing out and cut ends facing in. Fold the cut ends over the inside edge of the craft ring. Hot glue in place, being sure the craft ring is fully covered.
Patriotic Place Setting
A layered table sets the scene for a festive holiday celebration. Create a centerpiece by filling a glass vase with baseballs and flags. Use vintage sparkler containers as place cards. Line the table with a selection of vintage noise makers. Happy 4th!
Red, White, and Blue Snack Basket
Serve snacks and treats in a seasonally decorated basket.
To make: Paint the vertical slats of a small wooden basket, alternating red and white. Paint the horizontal strapping blue. When dry, line the basket with a blue and white striped napkin or tea towel. Fill with snacks.
Embellished Bucket
Transform a vintage metal vessel into a star-flecked cooler.
To make: Use a premade star stencil—or cut your own out of thick craft paper—white acrylic paint, and a paintbrush to add an arrangement of stars to the outside of your container.
Rustic Rosettes
Vintage grain and feed sacks create a colorful and festive focal point above a backyard buffet station (get the complete how-to instructions here). Vintage “4” signs and cast-iron masonry stars add another layer of playfully repurposed decor to the setup.
Star Seat Swag
It's easy to turn a hinged carpenter's ruler into a homespun wood craft.
To make: Shape a carpenter’s ruler into a star, using hot glue to hold the overlapping lengths together. Wrap colorful twine below each point for decoration, leaving extra at the top point to tie on a chair back.
Ribbon Pinwheels
Arrange pretty pinwheels in stacked soda crate and bottles to create a spectacular centerpiece.
To make: Cut two pieces of ribbon that are twice as long as the width; sew pieces together to form a square. Cut small slits from the corners toward the center. Hot-glue the alternating points to the center, top with a button, and attach to a dowel. (Tip: Use Dritz Fray Check to prevent fraying).
Patriotic Place Setting
Stacks of mix-and-match red and blue transferware plates make a colorful holiday combo. Top with striped napkins adorned with star-shaped cookie cutters tied on with twine.
Batter-Up Wreath
Celebrate America’s favorite pastime by hanging a baseball-themed wreath on the front door.
To make: Wrap a 12-inch wire frame with off-white cotton ribbon. Loop a piece of striped upholstery webbing around the frame for a hanger. Hot-glue old baseballs to the frame. Top with a simple bow.
Easy Bandana Blanket
Cherry pie, check. Hat and sunglasses, check. Let the relaxing begin.
To make: Collect nine same-size bandanas (here, 22 by 22 inches), sew together in a square grid pattern (three rows of three). Then secure to a piece of waterproof canvas such as Ottertex. Add a quilting knot to bandana centers to hold the layers together.
Vintage Potato Chip Flower Pots
Brighten up gray stairs with seasonal blooms nestled in vintage potato chip tins that perfectly fit the holidays red, white, and blue cheer.
SHOP VINTAGE TINS
Stars-and-Stripes Straws
We bet a berry and mint lemonade will taste even better when sipped out of a DIY stars-and-stripes straw.
To make: Use a star-shaped paper punch to cut out star shapes. Cut two slits, about the width of the straw, in the center of the star and thread over the straw.
Bandana-Covered String Light Shades
The red, white, and blue palette of classic bandanas make it the perfect material for making party ready string lights.
To make: Use the tip of a hot-glue gun to melt a small hole in the bottom of a heavy-duty clear plastic cup. Download shade template. Cut out the template from the second page. Trace template on bandanas; cut out. Attach cutout bandanas to outsides of cups using Mod Podge. Thread mini-bulb string lights through holes in cups. Secure with hot-glue.
SHOP PLASTIC CUPS
Painted Star-Patterned Game Boards
Star-patterned game boards (both vintage and new ones will work) painted in the colors of the holiday look great hung above a drink station or buffet table.
SHOP GAME BOARDS
Paper Sparklers
DIY paper sparklers and small store-bought American flags set in rock-filled mini milk jugs or glasses creates a cheerful centerpiece. Pair with vintage lanterns and blue hydrangea blooms to round out the look.
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