48 Easy 4th of July Crafts to Get Into the Patriotic Spirit

Transform a vintage metal vessel into a star-flecked cooler.

To make: Use a premade star stencil—or cut your own out of thick craft paper—white acrylic paint, and a paintbrush to add an arrangement of stars to the outside of your container.

Vintage grain and feed sacks create a colorful and festive focal point above a backyard buffet station (get the complete how-to instructions here). Vintage “4” signs and cast-iron masonry stars add another layer of playfully repurposed decor to the setup.

It's easy to turn a hinged carpenter's ruler into a homespun wood craft.

To make: Shape a carpenter’s ruler into a star, using hot glue to hold the overlapping lengths together. Wrap colorful twine below each point for decoration, leaving extra at the top point to tie on a chair back.

Arrange pretty pinwheels in stacked soda crate and bottles to create a spectacular centerpiece.

To make: Cut two pieces of ribbon that are twice as long as the width; sew pieces together to form a square. Cut small slits from the corners toward the center. Hot-glue the alternating points to the center, top with a button, and attach to a dowel. (Tip: Use Dritz Fray Check to prevent fraying).

Stacks of mix-and-match red and blue transferware plates make a colorful holiday combo. Top with striped napkins adorned with star-shaped cookie cutters tied on with twine.

Celebrate America’s favorite pastime by hanging a baseball-themed wreath on the front door.

To make: Wrap a 12-inch wire frame with off-white cotton ribbon. Loop a piece of striped upholstery webbing around the frame for a hanger. Hot-glue old baseballs to the frame. Top with a simple bow.

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Cherry pie, check. Hat and sunglasses, check. Let the relaxing begin.

To make: Collect nine same-size bandanas (here, 22 by 22 inches), sew together in a square grid pattern (three rows of three). Then secure to a piece of waterproof canvas such as Ottertex. Add a quilting knot to bandana centers to hold the layers together.

Brighten up gray stairs with seasonal blooms nestled in vintage potato chip tins that perfectly fit the holidays red, white, and blue cheer.

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We bet a berry and mint lemonade will taste even better when sipped out of a DIY stars-and-stripes straw.

To make: Use a star-shaped paper punch to cut out star shapes. Cut two slits, about the width of the straw, in the center of the star and thread over the straw.

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The red, white, and blue palette of classic bandanas make it the perfect material for making party ready string lights.

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 through holes in cups. Secure with hot-glue.

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Star-patterned game boards (both vintage and new ones will work) painted in the colors of the holiday look great hung above a drink station or buffet table.

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DIY paper sparklers and small store-bought American flags set in rock-filled mini milk jugs or glasses creates a cheerful centerpiece. Pair with vintage lanterns and blue hydrangea blooms to round out the look.

Simply tying a strip of colorful bandana around a flatware and a napkin adds instant flare to a table set for a 4th celebration!

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A soft place to land is always appreciated at an outdoor party and these festive cushions provide just that!

To make: Measure the seat of the chairs you wish to cover and cut 1-inch-thick upholstery foam to size. Cut two bandanas to size. Sew bandanas together, leaving an opening large enough to slip foam
through. Turn right side out, insert foam, and sew opening closed. Sew ribbon or strips of bandana to the back corners of the cushions for tying to the chairs.

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Your in palette blooms and dishtowels have never looked so adorable.

To make: Fold a towel in half over a gallon-size zip-seal bag and cut the towel 1/8 inch larger than the bag. Staple the towel together along the sides; hang with clothespins; add water and flowers.

Hang a star-shaped garland, made from bandanna pattern paper, above a themed table for additional red, white, and blue twinkles.

To make: Cut stars from bandana-patterned scrapbook paper using a stencil. Punch a hole in the top of each star and then thread string through the holes.

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Jazz up the picnic table with blooms nestled in a bandana-covered ceramic pots.

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.

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Oversized pinwheels make the perfect backdrop for a 4th celebration.

To make: Use heavy-duty, double-sided fusible webbing to pair two fabric squares. Then cut diagonally from each corner toward (but not through) the center, and hot-glue alternating points to the center. Top with a metal soda cap.

Look to (hand-stitched) stars and ticking stripes for a grand 4th of July placemat.

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.

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