40 4th of July Party Ideas You Can DIY

Let's be honest: Food is the star of most parties. Pull out all the stops for the 4th of July with red, white, and blue linens, utensils, and serving pieces (including that vintage red cooler!). Tuck a few American flags in a vase for a patriotic centerpiece that won't wilt!

Bright blue plates made of melamine are ideal for outdoor get-togethers like a 4th of July party. Pair them with grain sack-style napkins with a red stripe for a subtle patriotic look.

This party trick is one your friends will definitely copy! Fill red, white, and blue water balloons with water and freeze. Place in a tray and nestle in ice cream to keep it cold in style.

Use these placemats featuring hand-stitched stars at your 4th of July party this summer.

To make:
Step 1: Cut a 15- by 11-inch rectangle from ticking stripe fabric and a 6- by 5-inch rectangle from denim fabric.
Step 2: Use a "disappearing" pen (available at craft stores) to trace a five-point star on denim. Outline by passing a need and thin white yarn though each of the points.
Step 3: Sew the denim to the top left-hand corner of the ticking stripe. (Iron-on adhesive will also do the trick.)
Step 4: Create a relaxed frayed edge by pulling out threads along the placemat's border.

Let guests serve themselves by piling up a variety of canned drinks in a big tub. This red one is just right for the 4th of July.

Buy Enamel Tub

For a buffet-style barbecue, help guests avoid a juggling act by hole punching disposable plates and attaching plastic utensils and a festive napkin with a loop of twine.

Kid guests will especially love these patriotic headbands made using felt, pipe cleaners, and pom poms.

To make: For fireworks headbands, twist short lengths of metallic red, silver, and blue pipe cleaners together at centers. Twist end of a silver pipe cleaner around each firework, and twist opposite end around headbands to attach.
For USA and star headbands, cut letters or stars from red, white, and blue felt. Glue small pieces of felt (in same colors) to bottom of each letter to create a tab. Glue tabs to plastic headbands, adding a dab of glue at the bend of tab to help letters stand upright.
For stars, glue metallic pipe cleaners to the back of each star, and twist ends around headband at varying lengths.

Customize plain ol' potato sacks with red and blue stripes for an easy DIY yard game that will keep the kiddos laughing all the way to the finish line.

To make: Insert a piece of cardboard between the layers of a burlap potato sack ($14 for 5;sandbaggy.com). Mark off stripes with painter’s tape, making sure to push the edges down so that the paint doesn’t seep beneath. Use a foam brush and craft paint to paint stripes. Remove cardboard and painter’s tape, and let dry.

Group together bandana-covered flower pots in various shades of blue for a 4th of July centerpiece that will last all summer long.

To make: Use Mod Podge to attach a bandana to the outside of desired-size clay pots, folding fabric one inch over the top rim and cutting off extra fabric as needed. Once dry, fill with seasonal blooms or ferns.

Use what you have, in this case, a vintage oyster tin that's been sitting in the cupboard just waiting to be filled with fresh flowers. Other items you probably already have that are good to repurpose as vases: Mason jars and old soda bottles.

A red-coated cast iron skillet (preferably filled with cornbread!) adds a festive touch to a 4th of July table, especially when finished off with a red, white, and blue napkin tied around the handle. The table linen with a star border can be used year round.

It's no secret string lights make everything better, and 4th of July parties are no exception. We love the varying blue hues on these crafty string light shades made from plastic cups (really!) and bandanas.

To make: Use the tip of a hot-glue gun to melt a small hole in the bottom of a heavy-duty clear plastic cup. Download shade template. Cut out the template from the second page. Trace template on bandanas; cut out. Attach cutout bandanas to outsides of cups using Mod Podge. Thread mini-bulb string lights (amazon.com) through holes in cups. Secure with hot-glue.

Patriotic fabric pinwheels (with soda cap centers!) add whimsy to any 4th of July display. Use heavy-duty, double-sided fusible webbing to pair two fabric squares, then cut in from corners and hot-glue alternating points to the center. Top with a metal soda cap. Pack away and use year after year.

When you can't decide whether to serve cookies or cake at your 4th of July party, these blueberry whoopie pies are the answer. With a buttery soft cookie exterior and a sweet mascarpone filling, these desserts are sure to be a crowd favorite.

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Stir up a bubbly blend of sparkling rosé and mashed raspberries in plain glassware decorated with fireworks drawn on with fine-tipped, oil-based paint markers.

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Cut several sets of red, white, and blue straws into different lengths. Then thread a needle and twine through them to create a paper straw garland. Hang across a window or on a table, as shown.

Add some ambience to your 4th of July party with these patriotic pillar candles. Simply stick red, white, and blue star push pins into pillar candles of varying heights.

Parmesan-dusted tater tots served with a sweet-chili-and-pickle dipping sauce make for an easy-to-serve and delicious appetizer. Tuck dotted paper wrappers into Mason jars for an easy, serve-yourself setup. Blue-and-white gingham napkins and a vintage 7-Up crate completes the patriotic color scheme.

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Elevate your summer drink of choice with these sweet fabric-topped Mason jars.

To make: Remove the metal lid from the ring band of a wide-mouth 16-ounce jar, and trace on a piece of cardboard. Cut out and use a hole punch to make a hole large enough to fit a straw. Cut a piece of berry-print fabric 1/2 inch larger than the cardboard round. Coat one side of the cardboard with spray adhesive and center fabric on top. Fold excess fabric around edge and tack down with hot-glue. Cut out fabric above the hole in the cardboard. Insert in ring band and add straw.

Both kids and adults will love this berry sweet and patriotic spritzer at your 4th of July party. The recipe itself doesn't include any alcohol, but try adding 3/4 cup vodka or gin to the berry mixture for a boozy twist. Dress up your drinks station with wooden bead garland in blue and red.

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