Fourth Of July Crafts

Craft: Patriotic Picket Fence Flag

We didn't make this, but so simple for crafty people to make using picket fence boards and a little paint. Looks like they used a stencil for the lettering and stars.

I hope it will inspire someone to give it a try.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

Patriotic Wood Star

Approximate Time: 2 hours

Supplies:

• 9x12 inch piece of 1/2 inch wood
• sandpaper
• small water paint brush
• carbon paper
• jigsaw
• electric drill
• star pattern
• 18 inch jute or wire
• 2 buttons optional
• blue acrylic craft paint
• ivory acrylic craft paint
• red acrylic craft paint

Instructions:

1. Lay your pattern on the best side of your wood, trace all lines using carbon paper. My pattern happened to fit on a piece of copy paper, but feel free to enlarge or shrink it as you want. You could make a large one to hang on the outside of your house or 4-5 inch ones for a tree or garland.

2. Cut out on the outside line; drill the holes for your hanging cord. Sand somewhat smooth, it doesn't have to be perfectly smooth for painting this design.
3. Paint your white lines and white welcome circle first as the darker colors will cover the white better. Make sure to paint down over the edges matching the 13 stripes. Paint your blue last. Let dry and paint your wording, you could put a name or whatever you wish. Maybe paint three gold stars instead of a word.
4. Bring your jute or wire through the holes from the back, run through the shank of your buttons if you chose to use them, tie a tight knot and show your pride in our great country.

By Ann from Loup City, NE

Independence Day Wreath

Celebrate the 4th of July by showing how patriotic you are with this beautiful easy to make wreath.

Approximate Time: 40 minutes

Supplies:

• 1 foam wreath
• 2 rolls of red, white, and blue ribbon 2.5 inches wide by 3 yards
• pattern for a primitive star or make your own
• red and white paper to cover the star
• cardboard (to mount the star on)
• glue stick
• scissors
• tape
• navy blue ribbon
• computer and printer
• printer paper
• hole punch
• ready made red, white, and blue bow (optional)

Instructions:

1. Begin by wrapping the foam wreath with one roll of the red white and blue ribbon. Tape the edges to keep it secure.

2. Cut out and cover your star with the glue stick and glue onto cardboard. Cut out the star on the cardboard.
4. Punch a hole in the top of one of the star edges. Tie it onto the center of the wreath with a small piece of curling ribbon.

5. Find sheet music online with several American songs (America, the Red, White and Blue, etc.). Copy and make them look old by using a paint program (optional). Roll each piece of the sheet music up and tie with the navy blue curling ribbon. Place the tied song sheets around the different sides of the wreath. Put the tied end onto the back of the wreath so it doesn't show.

6. Hang the wreath by the ribbon to the front door to show how patriotic you are.

By Glenda from VA

Red White And Blue Heart Pin

Two sizes of hearts for a pin, or magnet.

Approximate Time:

Supplies:

• small amount worsted weight yarn
• G (4.5 mm) crochet hook
• 3/4 inch pin back
• needle and thread or hot glue
• yarn needle

Instructions:

Small Heart Motif

Chain 4, make all stitches in the first chain. 3 trc, 3 dc, chain 1, 1 trc, chain 1, 3 dc, 3 trc, chain 2 slip stitch. Fasten off.

Sew or glue pin back to back of heart. Embellish with ribbon or yarn bow.

Large Heart Motif

Round 1: Chain 4, make all stitches in the first chain. 3 trc, 3 dc, chain 1, 1 trc, chain 1, 3 dc, 3 trc, chain 2 slip stitch.

Round 2. Chain 3, in first trc make sc and hdc, in next stitch 3 hdc, in next stitch 2 hdc, 1 sc in next four stitches, chain1 dc in trc chain 1, sc in next four stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch, 3 hdc in next stitch, hdc and sc in next stitch, chain 3 and slip stitch in joining. Fasten off.

Sew or glue pin back to back of heart. Embellish with ribbon or yarn bow.

By Suzie from Bellingham WA

Patriotic Garden Ball

I love to recycle, especially when I am taking something that was used for one purpose and making it into something that can be used for a totally different purpose. Here I would like to share an idea that really uses something that most people have or can easily come by and that makes a beautiful decoration for your garden.

The instructions are easy and it is not really messy; so it is even something that older children or teenagers might like to do. We are going to recycle a bowling ball into a garden ball that will catch the light and be a joy to look at. Now I made mine red, white, and blue in a free form flag sort of arrangement, but these can be made in any color you would like.

Time to complete: 2 good nights of TV

Materials

• bowling ball
• flat marbles
  I bought 3-4 bags and had plenty left over. These can be bought in the floral section of Walmart. They are used in the bottom of vases.
• spray paint, to match your main colored stones
• clear GE Silicone 2
  This comes in a tube and can be found at any home center or hardware store.
• coffee can full of sand or one big rock
• tin foil
• plastic knife

Instructions

1. First, find yourself a bowling ball. You may have one hanging around or you can buy them at most major thrift stores for around a dollar, but if you are a scrounger like me, you can try your local bowling alley and see if they have any they are getting rid of. They don't need to be beautiful, the more scuffed up they are, the better for you because they will probably give you all the damaged balls you want.
2. You will want to clean your ball really good with window cleaner and a towel. Now take your ball outside and spray paint it the color that you have picked out.
3. Use your coffee can, full of sand or rocks, as a stand. Let ball dry completely.
4. Now here is the fun part. Put your bowling ball back on the can. Cut open your tube of silicone (which in my family we call glue because, if we are gluing something that needs to be waterproof, we use this) and squirt some on a piece of tinfoil. With your knife, spread a small amount on the back of your flat marble and press into place on your bowling ball. Hold it there for a couple of seconds to get it to stay put. Cover half of your bowling ball and let it dry until the next evening. Turn your ball over on to the covered side and cover the rest.
5. Unless you have gotten a ball with huge finger holes you can usually cover them with just one marble. But I usually tightly pack the finger holes with paper or Walmart bags, keeping it flush with the ball and then cover with marbles. I always leave the thumb hole exposed so that I can display them on a piece of rebar in my yard but if you have an old cement stand from a bird bath that has gotten broken, it is a great way to recycle that too. You can make stripes on your balls or make a pattern like my flag or work any kind of pattern that you like.


By Debra Frick

Paper Bag Flag Heart

This is just either packing paper or paper brown bags made into a great 4th of July decor idea.

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Supplies:

• craft brown paper or paper brown bag
• pencil
• shape to trace (heart)
• acrylic paints: red, white, blue, and brown
• raffia
• star stencil
• Kleenex
• glue stick

Instructions:

1. Use either brown craft paper or brown paper bag.
2. Trace design to get one shape. Have a larger piece ready for the 2nd shape for later.
3. Draw design with a pencil and paint.
4. Make your own star stencil and paint in the corner section of your shape.
5. Use brown paint really watered down to go over the top of the dried colors so it looks old or antiqued.
6. Shred kleenex so it makes the shape puff up.
7. Glue the shape down on the large piece of paper, with the shredded tissue inside.
8. Let dry and cut to the same shape.
9. Hang with raffia.

By Louella from Billings, MT

Framed Fabric Flag

Use odds and ends of fabric strips to add to your decor.

Approximate Time: 1 hour

Supplies:

• purchased 3 1/2 by 5 picture frame, with cardboard backing
• cream, red, and blue fabric strips
• sewing machine
• cream color thread
• buttons
• hot glue

Instructions:

1. Repurpose an old picture frame or purchase a new one.
2. Measure the cardboard backing so you know how long to sew your fabric strips.
3. Stitch thin strips down to the cardboard in the middle only so the sides stick up.
4. Adhere whole flag onto the cardboard backing of the frame.
5. Hot glue buttons in the upper left corner.
6. Place flag into frame and display.

By Louella from Billings, MT

Craft Project: Fourth of July Angels

Stiffened fabric with felt backing can be made into one of three gifts!

Approximate Time: 1-1.5 hours

Supplies:

• Fabric with your favorite things on them.
• white school glue
• water
• paint foam brush
• crochet thread
• felt scraps
• ribbon
• strip style magnet that has been flattened to "uncurl"
• tacky glue or fabric glue
• pin back
• upholstery needle with sharp point
• flat cutting board, preferably plastic
• scissors
• low temp glue gun is optional
• low plastic tub (like pesto or dips) for mixing glue and water
• hanger and clips/clothes pins
• old book in zip lock bag or brick (something for weight)
• Raffia, buttons, etc for embellishments
• Optional: small cookie cutters or stencils.

Instructions:

Before I begin, keep in mind that this craft project will net you the gift of your choice. You can make it a magnet, pin, or ornament to hang from a tree, visor, door knob, etc. Because of that, keep the item small enough to work as either. My gauge is just about 2 by 1.5 inches, that size is just about perfect.

I chose angels because I love them. If you want puppies, kittens, teddies, etc; you can choose any image you want on the fabric. Later, I will show you how to not be restricted to that, but for now, let's continue.

Keeping in mind that the image will have to be a single item, avoid fabrics where things over lap, or just touch. Even if you have just 1/4 inch between them, it's good. Place your fabric piece on a clean, plastic or wood surface that can be cleaned later. All that will be on it is glue and water, but if you do it on your gramma's antique table cloth, that would be bad.

In a container that you can brush from, mix 1 part glue and water to a nice consistency. If when you brush on a sample piece, your fabric puckers up a bit, it's a bit too much water. Just add a bit of glue and mix.

NOTE: DO NOT CUT THE IMAGES BEFORE YOU GLUE THEM! The only exception to this is if you only have one image and are only making one item.

Brush a light thin layer of gluewater to the fabric, making sure the entire surface of the image is coated. Keep going till all the pieces are coated.

Hang either from hanger or if you desire to do a larger piece, from a shower curtain rod. Some curling may occur during drying, but essentially, in 30 minutes your item should be nice and stiff. It cuts like paper so it's very nice to work with.

When it's done, cut the images around the "between parts" just loosely, don't cut around the images as the shape is, just "separate them".

Back at the table, take one item and brush the back with solid glue, not the diluted glue. Felt doesn't do well with water, so avoid that. Stick the item onto felt scraps, making sure the felt is big enough for the item with some "wiggle room". Weight the item down with a book or something flat.

In the meantime, thread your needle with single strand of crochet thread that will show up nice against the colors of the item. This will give it a country affect.

When item and felt have bonded, let it air dry for a bit. You don't want any glue that is damp as it will gum up your scissors.

Now, cut carefully around each shape with the felt, too, about 1/4 inch of the felt showing. This is optional, but if the felt is a great color then it really makes the colors pop.

Whip stitch around the edges from the "top" of the item around to the top again. At this point, you can either use a ribbon for the ornament option, or if you want it for an ornament, you can leave about 6 inches from the tail when you start and when you stop. This will give you a nice loop for the tree. If you know it's going to be for a visor, then longer, etc.

Turn on the low temp glue gun.

If the pin back is your option, cut a small rectangle of felt about 1 by 1/2 inches, and turn the item over. In the middle, making sure to place the pin back in the correct direction to display the pin nicely, put a touch of hot glue in a short "cross like" shape 1 by 1/2 inches. Place the pin back along that long side, and place the felt cross wise to the 1/2 inch part of the glue. This adheres the pin and the felt backing for it at the same time.

If a magnet is used, use the strip like, and make sure it's been flattened so it doesn't curl. If the magnets you bought are not in a roll, do not worry about this. Simply hot glue it and press is under the weight.

The final touch is either raffia, buttons, or some kind of embellishment.

As promised, I said I would let you know how to do this without restricting yourself to images on the fabric. If you have a small cookie cutter, or stencil, you can stiffen the fabric and cut out any shape you want, doing the same things to this idea as you can do with the new shape. It's a great way of using up fabric scraps, too!

You now have a nice gift for someone or just for yourself!

N-JOY

By Sandra from Salem OR

Craft: Simply Patriotic Afghan

Simply Patriotic Afghan. The crocheted afghan will be donated to the V.V.A. (Vietnam Veterans of America) Scholarship Program for next year. At the present time I'm working on a second afghan for V.V.A.

Source:

• http://www.freepatterns.com/list.html?cat_id=298

By MCW from Lewiston, NY

Patriotic Ice Cream Bouquet

I made a patriotic decoration to be used for 4th of July.

I took a plastic parfait glass and layered the following; put a paper patriotic napkin in the bottom, next layer was shredded gift bag paper, another patriotic napkin (folded to fit in the glass). On top of the last patriotic napkin is a white silk rose or carnation and artificial cherries are placed on the rose or carnation. A red plastic spoon and straw are placed in the parfait glass like a real parfait presentation. The napkin that holds the rose or carnation sticks up over the top of the glass.

The parfait sits on a 45 RPM record bowl. It is a cute decoration with a patriotic candle on my breakfast bar.

By WandaJo from Collierville, TN

Editors Note: To see the record bowl, here is a link to a previous Thrifty Fun craft project:

Vinyl Record Bowl

4th of July Candle Holders

These candle holders are made from clay pots.

Approximate Time: 40 minutes

Supplies:

• clay pots
• clay saucers
• acrylic paint
• brushes
• stencils
• candles
• sealer (optional)

Instructions:

Paint the pots and saucers in patriotic colors, let dry, then stencil on stars or stripes or free hand it. Just use your imagination. Let dry. Seal if you like, then put in candles.

By Sandy from Bluff City, TN