Easy 4th Of July Crafts For Kids

Making homemade decorations for holidays is something I love doing with the kids. We sat outside the other day in the shade of our front porch and crafted. Thanks to Tampico for sponsoring our crafting time and this post.

I wanted to share a couple of easy 4th of July decorations that we made. Both can be created in less than an hour. The best part is that they can be made with materials you probably already have around your house. The first decoration the boys and I made was a paper chain and the second craft was flag windsocks.

Materials needed:

  • Construction paper – red, white and blue
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • Yarn/String
  • Crepe paper – red and white
  • Chalk
  • Hole puncher (optional)

Directions to make the paper chain:

1) Cut some of the construction paper into strips

2) Take one paper strip and make it into a loop and tape the two ends together

3) Take the 2nd strip of paper and put it through the first one. Make a loop and tape the two ends of that 2nd strip making a chain with the two pieces

4) Continue until your chain is the length you’d like it to be

Directions to make the flag windsock:

1) Use the chalk to draw stars on one side of your blue construction paper

2) Roll the piece of paper into a cylinder and tape together

3) Cut pieces of crepe paper into strips about 20 inches long

4) Tape one end of the crepe paper onto the inside bottom of the cylinder, letting the other end hang down. Repeat until you have paper hanging all around the bottom

5) Poke two holes in the top of the cylinder on opposite sides (using a hole punch or your scissors)

6) Put string or yarn in holes and attach to windsock so you can hang your windsock

With these hot days we have been having, it’s important to stay hydrated. We love to drink Tampico Tropical Punch while we are outside crafting. I add little fun straws to their cups for a festive feel.

What fun crafts do you like to make with your kids?

4th of July Treat: Sweet & Salty Sparklers

Looking for a Fourth of July treat that is festive and everyone will enjoy? Family Fun magazine shared these sweet and salty “sparklers” with me and I just had to share them with you all! Layered with white chocolate and studded with sprinkles and M&M’s, these pretzel treats add flare to any party spread.

Directions: Cover a baking sheet with waxed paper. Melt 1 cup of white chocolate chips in a medium, heat-safe bowl according to the package directions. Use a spoon to drizzle 1pretzel rod at a time with chocolate (you’ll have enough chocolate to make a dozen), then lay the rod on the prepared sheet and scatter it with red and blue sprinkles and M&M’s. Chill the pretzels in the refrigerator until the chocolate sets, about 15 minutes.

4th of July 2013

We spent the morning at a McDonald’s play place so the boys could play while I caught up on some work.  After a nap {for everyone!}, the late afternoon was spent outside in our backyard. It was a little chilly but the boys had fun on the slip n’ slide. Once Sinisa got home he grilled some steak for fajitas and after a delicious dinner we headed over to our Church for their 4th of July event. They had music playing, food, and glow in the dark fun for the kids. At 9:30 we watched the fireworks set to music. It was a nice evening. Here are a few of my favorite pictures :)

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How did your family celebrate the 4th of July? I’d love to hear from you :)

Free Bloomin’ Onion At Outback Steakhouse Today {Giveaway}

(Disclosure: This is a sponsored post.)

Outback Steakhouse will honor our nation’s birthday by letting freedom bloom. Visit any Outback location in the 50 states and tell your server to “let freedom bloom” and you’ll receive a FREE Bloomin’ Onion to share with your friends and family at the table. In addition to that, Outback Steakhouse will honor our nation’s heroes with 10% off the entire check at Outback when they come in for lunch or dinner TODAY. Two great ways to save!

GIVEAWAY:

One reader will win a $20 Outback gift card

HOW TO ENTER:

Join the #BestMates conversation! Do any or all of the following to enter:

1) Tweet July 4th only: “Declare your independence with @Outback and get a FREE Bloomin’ Onion on July 4th. Just mention #LetFreedomBloom! #BestMates”

2) Tweet July 4th only:  “July 4th- @Outback is giving all active and retired military a 10% discount. tp://soch.us/xvaL-RrzU #BestMates”

3) Share this post on a social network.

4) Follow Outback on Twitter

5) Follow me on Twitter

6) Post a blog comment thanking a special member of the armed forces in your life.

Giveaway ends July 6, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. To enter you must be a US resident 18 or older.

Have A Red, White & Cool 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day! Hope you all have a red, white, and cool 4th of July :)

Looking for some 4th of July ideas? Here are some of my favorite roundups!

4th of July Breakfasts

4th of July Treats and Desserts

4th of July Decorations

4th of July Crafts for Kids

Happy 4th Of July {Cute Pictures Inside!!}

We hope you have a wonderful Fourth of July!! Love, Jacob & Lucas

It took about 15 tries to get this shot. Here are some of the other cute ones…

Crafting With DIY Network’s Jeanne Benedict And OFF!

On Thursday, June 21, I co-hosted an event for OFF!® at the Lincoln Park Conservatory & Gardens in Chicago. DIY Network’s Jeanne Benedict was on hand to share some easy ways to spruce up the backyard for Fourth of July parties and get the family offline and outdoors this summer!

The space was absolutely beautiful amidst the wonderful city views! Jeanne demonstrated the decorations we will be working on and we kicked things off by creating a floral masterpiece with red, white and blue flowers and spiced them up with additional decorations such as patriotic pinwheels and our own personalized flags we created. It was a blast! We also worked on these great table decorations filled with sand and seashells and chatted about our upcoming Fourth of July plans as well as how to help keep mosquitos as bay during the holiday.

Here are some pictures from the event:

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Decorated Table

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Gardening Table

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Pot decorating table

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Our Special Guest, DIY Network’s Jeanne Benedict

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Finished Centerpieces {Photo Courtesy: Edelman}

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Jeanne also shared ways that we can “log off” and enjoy the summer with our families. Here are some of her top tips for logging OFF!® while on vacation:

As I shared in my last post, OFF!® Clip-On™ Insect Repellent is a product that is fairly new to me. I have used OFF!® products since I was in grade school and am definitely loving the fact that I can get the same mosquito protection that I always did with the added bonus of convenience. I used the OFF!® Clip-On™ Insect Repellent the other day while sitting outside on my patio. I liked that, although it is a fan, the sound wasn’t that loud and didn’t bother me while I was watching my children run around the yard. The clip-on’s last up to 12 hours so I know that I can take them with me whether I’m gardening, fishing, camping or relaxing in the backyard.

(Disclosure: I was compensated for hosting an event and writing about OFF!® but all thoughts are my own.)

Fourth of July Breakfast Ideas

Make 4th of July extra special with a patriotic breakfast!
{Click on the pictures to be taken to the sites they are from}

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Fourth Of July Decor {Roundup Of My Favorites}

Here are some of my favorite Fourth of July decor I’ve found online.

{Click on the pictures to be taken to the posts they belong to}

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Fourth Of July Crafts For Children

Here are some of my favorite Fourth of July crafts for kids!

Make sure to click on the pictures to be taken to the sites they come from!

Confetti Popper Rockets from alphamom

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Handprint Fireworks from No Time For Flashcards

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Star Spangled Welcome from FamilyFun

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Pipe Cleaner Flag from Children’s Learning Activities

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Uncle Sam Paper Plate from Kaboose

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Tin Can Flag Windsock from Under The Table and Dreaming

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Red, White, and Blue Container from Motherhood on a Dime

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Flag Print from Art With Mrs. Smith

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Fireworks in a Bottle from No Twiddle Twaddle

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Star Prints from The Masked Mommy

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Tissue Paper Stars from Preschool Crafts for Kids

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Doilies Fireworks from Preschool Playbook

Fourth Of July Dessert Roundup

Here are some of my favorite Fourth of July desserts I have found around the web.

{To get the recipes- click on the pictures to be taken to the posts they come from.}

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Fourth of July Linky Love

I haven’t done any linky love posts in a while so I figured today would be a perfect day to share some links.

Enjoy these festive 4th of July posts as you prepare for your weekend festivities:

Shortcakes for July 4th by Liz at Hoosier Homemade

4th of July Party Printables from Tweedle Dee Designs

Patriotic Pinwheel Banner by Leanne

Red, White and Blue Sand Candles by Martha Stewart

Handprint Fireworks (kid craft) by No Time For Flash Cards

Pride of the USA hairbows by Mimi’s Babies Etsy Shop

4th of July toddler dress by Crafts For Lily

Have a wonderful weekend and please remember to be safe!