4th of July Crafts

I have to admit I am a patriotic sap! I think it is because I became an American citizen in second grade. The naturalization process was different in the 1970’s. Even though I was adopted at 18 months old I had to wait years to become a citizen. This made becoming an American so special for me. I still remember my second grade teacher giving me a decorated coffee can with a flag in it to display on my desk. I remember all the kids gathering around in admiration — at the coffee can, not me — as if it were somehow more than just a coffee can with construction paper stars taped to it. I have the letter from Jimmy Carter congratulating me on becoming a citizen filed with all my most treasured documents. And perhaps most fondly, I have a t-shirt my Aunt gave me that says ‘All American Girl’ on it.

Although most of your children will have become citizens before they can remember, I believe it is important to celebrate with them our common thread of being American. It underscores the fact that although we are all different we are all Americans. Happy July 4th!

Patriotic Star Mobile

What you need to turn a cereal box into a festive mobile:

*Note: My supply lists are suggestions. Please substitute materials for what you have on hand or available to you. (for example, if I say ribbon and you have yarn – go for it) Projects are designed as a starting point for you and your children. Older children can take more ownership of projects and embellish them to their hearts desire.

Please use your discretion with allowing your child to use scissors and hot glue guns.

• 1 Cereal Box
• Red & Blue Paint
• Glitter
• Scissors
• Marker or Pencil
• Glue
• Glitter
• Ribbon
• Star Template
• Paint Brush
• Water Container (plastic container with hole in lid to keep little kids from spilling and to keep brushes more upright)
• Palate (something to hold your paint)
• Hole Punch (optional)
• Hot Glue Gun (optional – but makes life a lot easier! Worth the purchase.)
• Clothes Pins (optional – to hold object in place while drying)
• Star Craft Punch (if you have one or several in different sizes use them!)

1. Open cereal box along glued edge. Cut into 4 pieces. 2 strips and 2 rectangles using box folds as guides. 1 cereal box makes two mobiles.
2. Paint non printed side with colors of you choice, preferably red, blue or white. Sprinkled with glitter. (Tip: I mixed some school glue into my paint to help the glitter adhere.) Allow to dry before continuing on to next step.
3. Cut out a star template (or use a craft punch.) Trace twice as many stars as you would like. You will be gluing together two stars to make one finished star. Using two different size stars adds to the look of the finished project. Cut out stars.
4. Glue top strip to form a ring. Secure with a clothes pin while it dries.
5. Glue ribbon to unpainted side of star. Glue another star on top so you have a two sided star. Trim star where needed. Decide how many stars you want hanging from each ribbon.
6. Before you start attaching your ribbon and stars to your ring figure out how you want your mobile to look. You may even consider taping the ribbon the the inside ring so you can judge balance and overall look. Once your happy with the arrangement attach the ribbons to top ring by either hot gluing or punching holes and tying the ribbon to the top. Attach a ribbon to the top to use as a hanger. (Tip: a paper clip makes a great S-hook. Bend the paper clip so it looks like a S. This allows you to hang your lantern easily.)

Patriotic Clip

This is an easy and fast project to do for any holiday or special occasion. I use these clips not only for my daughter’s hair but also to dress up a plain t-shirt or tank top. Just clip it on to the front of the top and you have an instant holiday top! Once you make a couple of these try experimenting by adding a larger bow behind the bundle. Have fun! Warning: Clips can become addictive to make!

• Ribbon
• Contour Clip Barrette
• Hot Glue Gun (optional – but extremely helpful)
• Fabric Glue (Fabri-Tac Adhesive sold in Fabric Section or Adhesive Section)
• Fray Check (Sold in Fabric Section)
• Felt
• Button
• Needle & Thread

1. Cut your ribbon to the same length.You will be folding the ribbon in half so make sure it is long enough to do so. There is no right length just what you think looks good. Tie in center tightly. I use Fray Check on the ends of the ribbon to ensure it doesn’t start to come unraveled.
2. Use a star template (print a star off the computer) or draw by hand. Cut out star. If you have a Star Shaped Craft Punch use stiff felt. Unless you have a Sizzex or similar be prepared to put a lot of weight into punching through the felt. I stood on my punch. Be careful!
3. Time to assemble. Fold ribbon bundle in half. arrange ribbons. Using fabric glue – glue bundle to star. This keeps everything in place while you sew the button to the star and ribbon. Tie off. At this point you can hot glue gun your star bundle to clip or sew the star bundle to the clip. I recommend hot gluing.

Kim King also writes under the pseudonym Mama King over at 4 Crazy Kings. Come by to see what craziness she is working on today!

Originally posted 2009-06-30 08:00:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter