Here are some fast and easy craft ideas
for the fourth. Have fun.
 

Cathie


CRAFT MATERIALS:
Scissors
Pieces of red, white, and blue felt
Red, white, and blue ribbons (available at local craft stores)
Tacky glue
3/8-inch dowel

Time needed: 30 Minutes or Less

1. Cut a pair of 6-inch stars from red, white, or blue felt.

2. Cut a slightly smaller pair (ours were 4 inches across) from a different color of felt, and an even smaller pair (ours were 3 inches across) from the third color.

3. Use tacky glue to affix the stars to each other. Glue together the 2 sets of stars, sandwiching a 3/8-inch dowel between them.

4. Allow the glue to dry, then finish the baton by tying a length of red, white, and blue ribbon around the dowel.



Make a joyful noise in honor of America's independence with this homemade rattle rouser.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Tissue tube
Small bells (available at craft stores)
Two 1 1/2-inch-wide cardboard circles
Clear report folder or clear acetate (available at art stores)
Star stickers
Colored tape

Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Fill a cardboard tissue tube with about a dozen small bells. Then seal the tube by taping the cardboard circles to the ends.

2. Next, cut a 6- by 20-inch rectangle from a clear report folder or clear acetate (sold at art supply stores) and fringe the 6-inch edges by making a series of 8-inch-long cuts (a parent's job). Attach sticker stars to the fringe.

3. Wrap the rectangle around the tube so that the fringe extends from the ends, and secure it with tape. Then your child can decorate the shaker with colored tape stripes and more sticker stars.



Star-Spangled Luminarias

Cut a star from cardboard (ours was 2 1/2 inches from point to point) and use it as a template to cut other stars from red and blue tissue paper.
2. Glue the stars to the insides of lunch bags with a dab or two from a glue stick. For a bit more pop, add other small star-shaped stickers on the inside and perforate the sides with a star paper punch.

3. Fill each bag with 2 to 3 inches of sand and sink a tea light or votive candle into the sand. Place the luminarias in a spot outside where you can keep an eye on them, and light the candles. (Tip for parents: To avoid scorching your forearm, light a piece of uncooked spaghetti and use it to light the candles.)

Materials
Cardboard
Tissue paper, red and blue
Brown-paper lunch bags
Star-shaped stickers and star punch
Sand
Tea light or votive candles




From inside the bags, the tissue paper stars will cast a red and blue glow guaranteed to shine on long after the twilight's last gleaming.