I love everything red, white, and blue in the summer! My toddler daughter and I made these cute patriotic crafts for the 4th of July. She’s so excited to see fireworks so we got a head start by making our very own Fork-Painted Fireworks! She was thrilled to make her own fireworks with forks and red and blue paint.
We had a ton of fun painting her hand blue to make our Blue Handprinted American Flag. The third craft (but not the last one we’ve done in the last couple of weeks!) is our Happy 4 (fingers)th of July decoration. My husband and I love how excited our girl gets to hang up her own artwork. Her Independence Day artwork is hanging all over our kitchen and backs of doors!
What is Independence Day?
Independence Day is an annual holiday in the United States of America that is celebrated on July 4th with barbecues, summer cookouts, and fireworks. Independence Day, also known as the 4th of July or July 4th, is a celebration of the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.
According to Brittanica’s article, Congress voted in favor of independence from Great Britain on July 2nd, but the process of revising the Declaration of Independence, which was initially drafted by Thomas Jefferson in coordination with John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and William Livingston, took two more days to complete.
During the early years of the republic, Independence Day was celebrated with parades and toasting ceremonies to celebrate a new nation.
Blue Handprinted American Flag
This darling handprint adds an adorable touch to an American Flag painting! It’s perfect for toddlers and kids for Memorial Day, 4th of July, or Labor Day. American handprint flags are the ideal summer craft for kids!
How to make a Blue Handprinted American Flag
To make a Blue Handprinted American Flag, you’ll need a white piece of posterboard (about 12×8 inches), blue and red paint, paint brushes, and a little hand or two.
Paint the child’s hand with blue acrylic paint and carefully place it sideways on the top left of the paper. It’s easier to shift the paper so that it’s vertical (or portrait), on your bottom left, before placing the painted hand on the paper. Use red acrylic paint and paint brushes to paint red stripes.
Fork-Painted Fireworks
Need a new, exciting medium to paint with?! Try these cute plastic Fork-Painted fireworks. All you need is white paper, blue and red paint (we use acrylic paints), and plastic forks. If you don’t have a palette, use a paper plate or a lid from a plastic container that you recycled. I love upcycling plastic lids from vitamin and mayo or peanut butter jars as they function perfectly as a paint palette for my toddler and my crafts.
Let the kids use their fine motor skills to help paint as they grow more and more excited about the upcoming July 4th holiday and all its fun festivities! My three-year-old had a blast painting these and is very excited about fireworks and everything related to the Fourth of July!
Happy 4 (fingers)th of July!
All these crafts involve fine motor activities for kids and are affordable, cheap, dollar store crafts. You likely have all these items in your home now to get started! For this preschool, kindergarten, or older kid Independence Day kid’s craft, you need blue, red, and white paper, scissors, a glue stick, tape, and a black marker (such as a Sharpie pen).
How to Make a Happy 4 (fingers)th of July Craft
Trace an adult hand on blue construction paper. Use scissors to cut it out. Grab a piece of red and white paper. Cut three one-inch red strips of construction paper. Use a glue stick to stick the red stripes on the white sheet of paper, spaced evenly apart.
Bend the top of the thumb backwards, towards you. Use a small piece of tape to stick the thumb down, on to the hand. Use a glue stick to glue the blue hand onto the paper. Use a black marker to write “Happy” above the hand, “th” to the right of the hand, and “of July!” on the bottom, below the hand.
More crafts you’ll love!
Paper Plate American Flag Kid’s Craft
Fourth of July Patriotic Sensory Bin
Clay Bowls—Easy Mother’s/Father’s Day Keepsake Gifts
DIY Homemade Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift—Handprint-Potted Cactus
Clay Handprint Bowls—Easy Mother’s/Father’s Day Keepsake Gift
Easy DIY Handmade Mother’s Day Cards
Final Thoughts
Finally, if you make these Simple Fourth of July Kid’s Crafts, be sure to leave a comment and/or give these crafts a rating! I love to hear from everyone who makes these crafts and always try my best to respond to all comments.
If you do make any of these crafts, don’t forget to tag #elisemccollister on Instagram! It makes me so happy to see your craft photos.
Blue Handprinted American Flag
Equipment
Materials
- white posterboard
- paint blue and red
Instructions
- To make a Blue Handprinted American Flag, you’ll need a white piece of posterboard (about 12×8 inches), blue and red paint, paint brushes, and a little hand or two.
- Paint the child’s hand with blue acrylic paint and carefully place it sideways on the top left of the paper, as shown in the post. It’s easier to shift the paper so that it’s vertical (or portrait), on your bottom left, before placing the painted hand on the paper. Use red acrylic paint and paint brushes to paint red stripes. Allow to dry.
- If you make this, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
Fork-Painted Fireworks
Equipment
Materials
- white paper
- paint blue and red
- plastic forks
Instructions
- Pour the blue and red paint onto a palette.
- Let the kids grab a fork as a "paintbrush." Instruct them to dip the fork in the paint and start making art on the white paper. Allow to dry.
- If you make this, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
Happy 4 (fingers)th of July!
Equipment
Materials
- paper blue, red, and white
- glue stick
- tape Scotch
- black marker such as a Sharpie
Instructions
- Trace an adult hand on blue construction paper. Use scissors to cut it out. Grab a piece of red and white paper. Cut 3 one-inch red strips of construction paper. Use a glue stick to stick the red stripes on the white sheet of paper, spaced evenly apart.
- Bend the top of the thumb backwards, towards you. Use a small piece of tape to stick the thumb down, on to the hand. Use a glue stick to glue the blue hand onto the paper. Use a black marker to write “Happy” above the hand, “th” to the right of the hand, and “of July!” on the bottom, below the hand.
- If you make this, don't forget to leave a rating and comment!
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