4th of July Arts and Crafts for Older Kids

I have been doing arts and crafts with my older kids since they were old enough to sit up. They love doing different projects for the holidays and then we paste them around the house. Yes, you can come into my home at any given holiday and see many kids crafts taped right on the wall. They work very hard on their projects and I love to show them off. Arts and crafts add a special touch to the holiday and its better then any over priced store decoration.

Fans

Materials:
Paint stirrer (wooden)
1 8 inch blue card stock
1 8 inch white card stock
Red and white paint. or
Red and white markers

Glue the card stock together with the stick sticking out. You want one white piece and one blue piece.

On the white side of the paper paint or color red strips on it to resemble the stripes on a flag.

On the blue side, paint or color white stars to make the stars for the flag.

Wave fan around and enjoy the fun. Optional: I have even found some red, white and blue streamers and hang these off the edges so they will blow while the kids wave them around.

Firework Place Mats

If your having a party, let your child make the place mats for everyone. If no party, just make them for everyone in the home.

Materials:
Large baking pan with sides (the more the better)
Tape
Dark blue construction paper
Washable paint red, white(more colors if wanted)
Egg carton (empty)
Newspaper
Clear contact paper

Spread the paper out around the work area. Place some old clothes on also to be safe.

Place the colors that you are using into separate spots in the egg carton. .

Tape the paper to the bottom of the pan.

Place marbles in each color. Pick out the first color and make sure its coated with paint. Place it in the pan. Holding the edges of the pain tilt it back and forth so the marble rolls around in the pan, decoration the paper.

Repeat until you are happy with the picture. Set aside so it can dry. Once dry, carefully remove it from the pan. Cover with contact paper and you have a 4th of July place mat.

Star Mobile

Materials:
White Card stock
Straw
Yarn
Scissors
Paint
Glitter

Cut out stars from the card stock. You will need 6 different sizes. Decorate the stars how ever you would like. Let dry.