A Mom’s Life Made Simple

I can’t believe it’s almost the Fourth of July! It seems like summer just started and now it’s almost over! We are planning on having a cookout at my parent’s house which means great food and swimming! We’ll probably cook a little something one day this weekend at our house and play a few games but other than that we are going to stay home as much as possible. I would love to take the kids to all the parades and fireworks (which we may go see fireworks) but it seems that with every year that passes people get more and more out of control. My kids are too important to put them in harms way just to see a parade.

My kids learned a long time ago that fun comes from being with family and friends it doesn’t have to be anything expensive or over the top, we don’t have to rush to the local festivals to have a good time. We can have a great time being at home where it’s safe!

Now I don’t know about you but my mom loves to decorate on the holidays so I’ve decided to find a few cute decorating ideas and Fourth of July crafts for the kids to do.

All decoration and craft ideas along with pictures are provided by http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/season/specialfeature/july-4th-crafts/

 ~A LOFTY TABLE TOPPER~

Materials:

• Ribbon
• Helium-filled balloon
• basket
• Crepe paper
• Double-sided tape

Tape the centers of two 6-foot-long pieces of ribbon to the top of a helium-filled balloon. Tie or tape the ends of the ribbons to a basket.

For each section of crepe paper bunting, bunch two 7-inch strips of crepe paper, one narrower than the other, into a fan shape, as shown. Use double-sided tape to attach the layers and to stick the bunting to the balloon and basket.

 ~PATRIOTIC PLANTING~

• pot
• red,white, and blue flowers
• soil

Fill a planter with splashy flowers in the colors of the day. We like red petunias and salvia, white dwarf cleome and petunias, and blue lobelia and verbena.

Add some appropriately patriotic props such as a small flag and a garland of Mylar stars for extra punch.

 ~PATRIOTIC PUNCH CUPS~

• Plastic cups
• Large and small star stickers (red white and blue)
• Placard
• Marker

Add a large red, white, or blue star sticker to each cup, along with a few smaller stars for decoration.

Next to an assortment of markers, set up a placard directing guests to choose a cup for the event and write their name on it.

 ~STRING OF STARS~

• Craft Foam
• Scissors
• Tacky Glue
• Hole punch
• Ribbons

Cut out a bunch of craft foam stars that measure five or so inches across

Next cut out smaller stars of contrasting colors and use tacky glue to attach each one to a larger star.

To finish, use a hole punch to make two holes in each glued pair, then thread lengths of ribbon through to tie them together.

CRAFTS

 ~CAN-DO STILTS~

MATERIALS: 

Puncture-style can opener

2 (29-ounce) cans of tomato sauce

Acrylic paint in white, red, and blue

Paintbrush

Star shapes cut from household sponges

Disposable pans or plates

Tape

2 (5-foot) lengths of cotton or nylon clothesline

Skewer

Puncture a can in opposite spots on its side, as shown. Drain it by blowing into one hole to force the sauce out of the other. Repeat with the second can. Wash both cans under running water to clean them, inside and out. Remove their labels and let them dry.

Paint both cans white. When they’re dry, dip dampened sponge stars into pans or plates of red and blue paint. Apply the stamps to the cans and let them dry

For the handles, tape one end of a length of clothesline to a skewer. Push it through one hole and out the other, as shown. Have your child stand on the can, holding the line’s ends. Knot the line at hip level and trim. Repeat for the other stilt.

 ~FIREWORKS ART~

Acrylic paint

Drinking straw

Paintbrush

Paper (or card stock)

Water

For each color, in a paper cup, dilute some acrylic paint with water to a runny consistency

Using a paintbrush, drip a few drops of paint onto a piece of paper or card stock (be sure to rinse the brush between colors), then hold a drinking straw directly over each puddle of paint and blow gently to create a spectacular starburst effect.

 ~ROCKET BALLOONS~

Balloon

Ribbon

Dried lentils

To make each rocket, use a kitchen funnel to pour 1/3 cup of dried lentils into a round balloon. Then blow up the balloon so it’s about 16 inches around and knot it. For the finishing touch, tie several long ribbon streamers around the neck.

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