Fourth of July Crafts and Decorations That Show Your Red, White, and Blue Spirit

Who's ready for the Fourth of July? It starts with a pledge of allegiance to our flag and ends in a spectacular firework display across the country. Whether you plan to fire up the grill and have a barbecue, go see the fireworks, or join a parade—it's time to party like it's 1776. So, if you're hosting Fourth of July festivities this year, now is the time to brighten your home with American colors, stars, and stripes.

Dress up your front yard with decorations like flag garlands, bunting, medallions, and motifs like bald eagles, Uncle Sam, and the American flag in all of its glory. Box-pleated bunting adds a crowning touch to your outdoor gazebo and miniature flags can be sewn into a garland for the street-facing fence. Stick-on stars become the go-to embellishment for table runners, doormats, and hanging displays. Our printable templates and clip-art can be used for serving snacks like potato chips, cupcakes, and ice cream cones. Handmade candles and party favor sparklers will light up the night as the day winds down and darkness falls, while your guests wait in anticipation for the booming fireworks. The Fourth of July offers plenty of kid-friendly activities as well: Pop a balloon bursting with confetti, snack from candy containers that looks like Uncle Sam's top hat, or make pom-poms to wave while watching as the Fourth of July parade meanders downtown.

Find inspiration in our star-spangled banners, stripes, sparklers, and a patriotic color palette of red, white, and blue—it's all befitting a birthday party for America.

You don't need to do a stitch of work to strike up a star-spangled banner of Fourth of July decorations. With grosgrain ribbons, heat-bond adhesive, and an iron, you can give your table some patriotic panache in minutes. First, embellish a length of linen to make a runner: Just cut ribbon and a rip of adhesive to the length you need, put the adhesive under the ribbon at the edge of the fabric, and press with an iron to attach it. To complete the scene, add bands to plain napkins, or wave the flag in red blooms. To make mini flags for arrangements (or drinks), fold wide ribbon in half over skewer, secure the fabric together with double-sided tape, and trim the ends.

Mood Designer Fabrics #104537 (left), $3 yd., 212-730-5003. Ribbon Factory Red, White, Royal Blue Ribbon (#GRWB; right), 1", $6 for 20 yd., ribbonfactory.com.

Channel fireworks by floating a "chandelier" at your party. Two metal wreath forms (one big, one small) and wire make a simple frame for two layers of ribbons trimmed to different lengths.

Hang lanterns in two styles. Paper ribbons inscribed with the words "America the Beautiful" dress up accordion-style lanterns and tucked with LED tea lights inside for a safe glow. Meanwhile, upside-down honeycomb bells become bodies for bald eagles, and looped wings and a drawn head give this flier a little patriotic flourish. 

Get your flowers into the patriotic spirit, too. We love this robust bunch with fiery anemones, deep-blue alliums, and white phlox, because they say, "America the beautiful"—and they hold up in the heat (especially when you place them in cool water).

This fun ribbon flashes charm and good cheer. Use heat-bond adhesive to iron it onto plain canvas tote or clutch, and show your independent streak.

Mood Designer Fabrics Italian Cotton Grosgrain in Fringe, 50mm, in Navy/Natural/Red, $10 yd., 212-730-5003. Imagin8 Natural Canvas Tote Bag, 3 for $12; and Pouch, $6, michaels.com.

An array of circular tissue fans, cut to different sizes, creates a fireworks effect. On some of these pendants, the center is snipped flat, making room for a clip-art medallion. (Choose from a large medallion in liberty, eagle, or "4th" or a small medallion in liberty, eagle, or "4th"). If adding a medallion, snip the closed fan along one edge of cardboard, cutting off one staple, and this will create a flat center. Pinch together the loose tissue paper and secure it with a dollop of hot glue; then attach the medallion.

Wave away the heat, and proclaim your allegiance, with these red, white, and blue decorations. With wooden garden markers as handles, our fans make great party favors. Print out one of our two templates—stars & stripes template or patriotic fan template—and follow the directions to create the fan. 

Give paper lanterns a Fourth of July makeover. Accordion-fold tissue paper several layers high and punch with a star punch. Decoupage them onto the lantern using a storebought medium or a homemade mixture—combining 1 part white glue with 1 part water. To create a cascading star pattern, as shown here, cluster stars close together at the top of the lantern and paste stars farther apart toward the bottom. Hang the lanterns in a group for maximum impact.

Brighten your table with a centerpiece inspired by two highlights of summer: fireworks and our star-spangled banner. Trim­ out star shapes with cookie cutters. (Tip: If the wax is hard to handle, soften it using hair dryer on low.) Then craft this celestial centerpiece by pressing two beeswax sheets together, overlapping a skewered wick.

Bundle utensils in blue-and-white linen with red pom-pom napkin rings. The palette is patriotic, and the style factor is sky-high. To make them, cinch the raffia at the center on one side with floral wire; slide it off and cut the loop in half. Fluff the ends. Fashion the wire into a circle, and twist it closed.

A casual backyard barbecue becomes a star-studded event with these oversized ornaments twirling around. Simply bend and glue inexpensive brass strips from the hardware store (such as K&S Precision Metals Brass Strips, each 1/2 inch wide and 36 inches long) to form celestial shapes. To make one, start by marking seven 5-inch-long sections on one brass strip and use pliers to bend the strip at each mark, forming the top part points of the star. Cut another 17-inch-long strip, narking at 1 inch, then three 5-inch intervals, and then another 1-inch interval; bend at each mark. To complete the star, glue the two strips together using a strong adhesive (such as E6000 Clear Adhesive). Let it dry 24 hours, then hang them from a porch ceiling or even a tree limb. They will withstand the elements and catch the light as they spin in the breeze.

If you could once make friendship bracelets or macrame pot hangers at summer camp, you can make quick handiwork of this wreath. It's braided using a sailor's knot, and the natural rope ensures that it will withstand any weather displayed on your front door this summer.

When a honeycomb garland is cut in half, the flat side will sit flush against a serving piece. One long garland yields several bands. Cut each flattened garland on both sides of the center hole, as shown; discard center. Divide garland into lengths that wrap around your serving dishes by peeling apart paper layers. If garland pieces are taller than your serving dishes, trim top and bottom points. Use double-sided tape to secure garland ends.

Opened halfway and layered, these tissue-paper fans make a breezy addition to a porch or a gazebo. Create fans in different sizes by trimming diagonally along the closed fans' unstapled ends. Open each fan halfway; peel off several layers from one side, leaving the staples in place. Use painters' tape to hang the fans.