1
Ribbons and Rick-Rack Fireworks
Becky Stayner
With the Fourth of July fast approaching, even little ones can have fun waving DIY ribbon fireworks.
Directions: Wrap a 12″ x 1/8″ wooden dowel with washi tape. Cut lengths of red, white, and blue ribbon and ricrack in various widths, colors, and textures. Lay the ribbon and ricrack flat on a table and tie in the center with baker's twine. Wrap the baker's twine around the dowel and secure with hot glue.
Buy ribbon
2
Bleached Bandana Flag
Becky Stayner
Create a festive atmosphere for your outdoor party with bunting made from “Reverse” tie-dyed bandanas.
Directions: Wash a 100% cotton bandana. Do not dry. Fold, crumple, or shrink the wet bandana and hold it together with rubber bands, kitchen twine, or binder clips. Soak in a solution of two parts bleach and one part water until the color fades. This can take 15 minutes to two hours. (Newer red bandanas seem to hold the color better, but I've found that vintage bandanas are easier to bleach.) Once you've achieved the desired level of bleach, immediately remove the binder and rinse thoroughly in cold water. Wash as needed. Fold the bandana in half to make a triangle and tie the corners to create bunting. Or use the bandana as a napkin or neckerchief.
Buy a bandana
3
Red, white and blue straw wreath
Becky Stayner
Celebrate Independence Day and greet your guests with a colorful wreath made from lots of straws. For a sophisticated look, mix in a few light blue straws.
Directions: Attach red, white and blue paper straws of different lengths to a craft ring with hot glue. Stack them together until the craft ring is completely covered.
Buy craft rings
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Four
Vintage Flag Banner Decoration
Becky Stayner
For indoor décor, hang vintage or new flag banners over or around your fireplace mantel.
Shop Flag Banner
Five
Fabric Flag
Becky Stayner
Wave these little fabric flags in a town parade or use them as table centerpieces.
Directions: Cut a 4 x 3 inch rectangle from the red fabric. Cut a small square from the blue fabric. Glue the blue square to a corner of the red fabric with craft glue. Attach the flag to a wooden skewer or small stick with a few drops of hot glue.
Buy red fabric
6
Tyrese
Becky Stayner
Dig through your dad's closet or hit a consignment store and pick up a selection of vintage red, white, and blue ties to create the coolest wreath in the neighborhood.
Directions: Gather about 10 color-coordinated ties (you could make them in red, white, and blue for the 4th of July, or in dad's favorite color for Father's Day). Measure from the widest end of the tie and cut each tie to about 7 1/2 inches long. Arrange the 7 1/2 inch pieces around a 12-inch wooden craft ring, with the pointed end facing out and the cut end facing in. Fold the cut end over the inside edge of the craft ring. Secure with hot glue so that the craft ring is completely covered.
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7
patriotic table setting
Becky Stayner
A layered table will add to the holiday party atmosphere. Fill glass vases with baseballs or flags to create centerpieces. Use vintage firework holders as place cards. Line the table with vintage noise makers. Happy April 4th!
8
Red, White and Blue Snack Basket
Becky Stayner
Serve snacks and treats in seasonally decorated baskets.
Directions: Paint the vertical boards of a small wooden basket alternating red and white. Paint the horizontal stripes blue. Once dry, line the basket with a blue and white striped napkin or tea towel. Fill with snacks.
shopping cart
9
Decorative bucket
Becky Stayner
Transform a vintage metal container into a star-spangled cooler.
Directions: Use a pre-made star stencil (or cut your own from heavyweight craft paper), white acrylic paint, and a paintbrush to add a star arrangement to the outside of your container.
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Ten
Rustic Rosette
Becky Stayner
Vintage grain and feed sacks create a colorful, festive focal point above the backyard buffet station (see full instructions here ), and a vintage “4” sign and cast-iron masonry stars add another layer of playful, reused décor.
11
Star Seat Swag
Becky Stayner
It's easy to make a hinged carpenter's ruler into a homemade woodwork project.
Directions: Shape a carpenter's ruler into a star and hot glue the overlapping parts together. Wrap colorful string around the bottom of each point for decoration, leaving extra string at the top point to tie to a chair back.
12
Ribbon Windmill
Becky Stayner
Arrange pretty pinwheels among stacks of soda crates or bottles to create a stunning centerpiece.
Directions: Cut 2 pieces of ribbon twice as long as the width and sew together to make a square. Make small cuts from the corners to the center. Hot glue each piece to the center with alternating glue and attach to a dowel, button side up. (Tip: use Dritz Fray Check to prevent fraying.)
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13
patriotic table setting
Becky Stayner
Stack multiple red and blue transfer plates for a colorful holiday combo, decorate with star cookie cutters and top with striped napkins tied with string.
14
Batter Up Lease
Becky Stayner
Celebrate America's favorite pastime by decorating your front door with a baseball-themed wreath.
Directions: Wrap a 12″ wire frame in off-white cotton ribbon. Wrap a striped upholstery strip around the frame to create a hanger. Hot glue an old baseball to the frame. Tie a simple ribbon around the top.
Buy a Wire Wreath Frame
15
Easy Bandana Blanket
Becky Stayner
Cherry pie, check. Hat and sunglasses, check. Time to relax.
How to Make It: Gather 9 bandanas of the same size (here 22″ x 22″) and sew them together into a square grid pattern (3 rows of 3). Then pin them to a waterproof canvas such as Ottertex. Add a quilting knot in the center of the bandanas to hold the layers together.
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16
Vintage Potato Chip Flower Pot
David Tsai
Brighten up a grey staircase with seasonal flowers displayed in vintage potato chip tins that perfectly fit the red, white, and blue vibe of the holidays.
Buy vintage tins
17
Stars and Stripes Straws
David Tsai
Berry and mint lemonade tastes even better when sipped through a DIY stars and stripes straw.
Directions: Use a star shaped paper punch to cut out a star shape. Make two slits in the center of the star that are the same width as the straws, then thread the straws through.
Buy Star Punch
18
Bandana-covered string light shades
Becky Stayner
The classic bandana red, white and blue color scheme makes it the perfect material to create the perfect string lights for your party.
Directions: Use the tip of a hot glue gun to cut small holes in the bottom of a strong clear plastic cup. Download the shade template. Cut out the template from page 2. Trace the template onto a bandana and cut it out. Attach the cut-out bandana to the outside of the cup using Mod Podge. Thread mini bulb string lights through the holes in the cup. Secure with hot glue.
Buy plastic cups
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19
Star-patterned game board
David Tsai
A star-patterned game board (either vintage or new) painted in holiday colors would look great hung over a drink station or buffet table.
Buy a game board
20
Paper fireworks
David Tsai
Homemade paper sparklers and mini store-bought American flags set in small milk jugs or glasses with stones make a fun centerpiece. Add vintage lanterns and blue hydrangea flowers to complete the look.
Charlyne Mattox is Food and Craft Director at Country Living.
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