Next Weekend Is July 4th!

It's almost time for the 4th of July! We usually don't have a big party, but we do have a grill out and watch the fireworks. Below are a few ideas for crafts, activities, and food for your 4th of July get together!

CRAFTS/ACTIVITIES:

• Easy 4th of July Foods and a Craft (star stamp made out of noodles)
• Pinwheel Fun
• Easy Kids Party Popper
• Balloon Time Fun, Pinata style
• Windsock 
• 4th of July Word Find
• Ball Toss
• Make Your Own Chalk (use red, white, and blue paints)
  
• Star Shaped 4th of July Word Find
  

FOOD:

•  Breakfast
• Star Pancakes and Patriotic Strawberries
• Lunch/Dinner:
• Make a shooting star sandwich
• Salami roll-up flag

•  Side Dishes:
• Watermelon basket
• Broccoli Salad
• Veggie and/or Fruit trays: 
• Veggie ideas:
• Peppers: red and white bell peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fruit ideas: 
• Blueberries
• Red and white raspberries
• Strawberries
• Starfruit
• Red grapes
• Cherries
• Blackberries 
• For some ideas or examples, check out my previous posts (Veggie Trays, Veggie Trays Part II, and Put a Stick In It: Fruit Kabobs)
• Coleslaw 

• Dessert:
• Jello:
• Layered jello (use red, white and blue jello)
• Make a tray of Jello Jigglers and cut out star shapes 

• Swirl Cookies (The link is to my Christmas cookies which are red and white. However, if you divide the batter into thirds and color 1 red, 1 blue, 1 white, it makes a great 4th of July cookie!)
• Pie & Jars (Use star cut outs for the top of the pies)
• Hidden Surprise Pound Cake (use a star cut out instead of a shamrock)
• Dessert Pizza (So easy to make, so delicious! Use white chocolate, red and blue colored chocolate or candy melts to make it more patriotic.)
• Rainbow Cupcakes (Divide batter into 3 bowls. Color 1 white, 1 red, 1 blue)
• Peanut Butter Cheerios Balls
• Frozen Bananas (Dip in white chocolate with red and blue sprinkles! Maybe even some star sprinkles!) 
• Caramels (It is much harder to change the color of a caramel, so instead dress up the wrapping by tying them closed with red/white/blue ribbons.)
• Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Stained Glass Cookies (use red, white, blue candies)
• Fortune Cookies (make a mix of red, white, and blue dough)
• Candied Popcorn (Separate popcorn into 3 batches. Color each batch with red, blue, or white candy melts. Let dry and then mix together!)
• Make (or buy!) angel food cake or shortcake and top with strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and whipped cream (white).

• Drinks:
• Beverage Day (make red, white, blue star shaped ice cubes)

 The things listed above are things we have done in the past. However, there are so many other ideas out there for 4th of July parties. Here are a things that I think would be fun to try!

• Watermelon "cake". Cut and tier watermelon slices like a tiered cake. Decorate with other red, white, and blue fruits.
• Chocolate dipped strawberries. Dip in white chocolate and decorate with patriotic colored sprinkles or in red and blue drizzles. Dip in milk or dark chocolate and decorate with red, white, and blue drizzles. 
• Layered Red/White/Blue Drinks

4th Of July Word Find (Star Shaped)

I made a star shaped word find for this year's 4th of July! The jpg/images are below that you can save or print. There is also a PDF file with both the word find and the answer key.

To print the jpg/image:

• Click/Right Click on image, Choose Open in New Tab/Window. Click Print. 
• Or, click on image, right click, chose Save Image As to save to your computer. Print saved image.

ANSWERS BELOW

4th of July Food, Craft, and Activity Ideas

It's almost time for the 4th of July! We usually don't have a big party, but we do have a grill out and watch the fireworks. Below are a few ideas for crafts, activities, and food for your 4th of July get together!

CRAFTS/ACTIVITIES:

• Easy 4th of July Foods and a Craft (star stamp made out of noodles)
• Pinwheel Fun
• Easy Kids Party Popper
• Balloon Time Fun, Pinata style
• Windsock 
• 4th of July Word Find
• Ball Toss
• Make Your Own Chalk (use red, white, and blue paints) 

FOOD:

•  Breakfast
• Star Pancakes and Patriotic Strawberries
• Lunch/Dinner:
• Make a shooting star sandwich
• Salami roll-up flag

•  Side Dishes:
• Watermelon basket
• Broccoli Salad
• Veggie and/or Fruit trays: 
• Veggie ideas:
• Peppers: red and white bell peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Fruit ideas: 
• Blueberries
• Red and white raspberries
• Strawberries
• Starfruit
• Red grapes
• Cherries
• Blackberries 
• For some ideas or examples, check out my previous posts (Veggie Trays, Veggie Trays Part II, and Put a Stick In It: Fruit Kabobs)
• Coleslaw 

• Dessert:
• Jello:
• Layered jello (use red, white and blue jello)
• Make a tray of Jello Jigglers and cut out star shapes 

• Swirl Cookies (The link is to my Christmas cookies which are red and white. However, if you divide the batter into thirds and color 1 red, 1 blue, 1 white, it makes a great 4th of July cookie!)
• Pie & Jars (Use star cut outs for the top of the pies)
• Hidden Surprise Pound Cake (use a star cut out instead of a shamrock)
• Dessert Pizza (So easy to make, so delicious! Use white chocolate, red and blue colored chocolate or candy melts to make it more patriotic.)
• Rainbow Cupcakes (Divide batter into 3 bowls. Color 1 white, 1 red, 1 blue)
• Peanut Butter Cheerios Balls
• Frozen Bananas (Dip in white chocolate with red and blue sprinkles! Maybe even some star sprinkles!) 
• Caramels (It is much harder to change the color of a caramel, so instead dress up the wrapping by tying them closed with red/white/blue ribbons.)
• Ice Cream Sandwiches
• Stained Glass Cookies (use red, white, blue candies)
• Fortune Cookies (make a mix of red, white, and blue dough)
• Candied Popcorn (Separate popcorn into 3 batches. Color each batch with red, blue, or white candy melts. Let dry and then mix together!)
• Make (or buy!) angel food cake or shortcake and top with strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and whipped cream (white).

• Drinks:
• Beverage Day (make red, white, blue star shaped ice cubes)

 The things listed above are things we have done in the past. However, there are so many other ideas out there for 4th of July parties. Here are a things that I think would be fun to try!

• Watermelon "cake". Cut and tier watermelon slices like a tiered cake. Decorate with other red, white, and blue fruits.
• Chocolate dipped strawberries. Dip in white chocolate and decorate with patriotic colored sprinkles or in red and blue drizzles. Dip in milk or dark chocolate and decorate with red, white, and blue drizzles. 
• Layered Red/White/Blue Drinks

4th of July Ideas

If you are looking for 4th of July ideas, check out these posts:

Craft/Activities:

• Easy 4th of July Foods and Craft (Star stamp made out of noodles)
• Pinwheel Fun
• Windsock
• Balloon Time Fun, Pinata Style
• Easy Kids Party Popper
• Make Your Own Chalk  (Use red, white, blue paints.)
• Ball Toss 
• 4th of July Word Find

Food:

• Breakfast:
• Star Pancakes & Patriotic Strawberries
• Lunch/Dinner:
•  Make a shooting star sandwich or a salami roll-up flag
• Side Dishes:
• Watermelon Basket
• Broccoli Salad
• Easy Coleslaw
• Veggie and/or Fruit Trays: Use red and white bell peppers, blueberries, red and white raspberries, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, red grapes, cherries, blackberries. You could even make fruit kabobs! (For some ideas, check out my Veggie Trays, Veggie Trays, Part II, and Put A Stick In It: Fruit Kabobs posts.)

• Dessert: 
• Jello:
  • Layered Jello (Use Red, White, and Blue jello) 
  • Make a tray of Jello Jigglers and cut out star shapes
   
•  Pie & Jars (Use Star cut-outs for the top of the pies)
• Swirl Cookies: I made red and white for Christmas, but if you broke the batter into thirds and colored 1/3 blue/red/white, it would make a great 4th of July cookie! 
• Hidden Surprise Pound Cake (Use a Star cut out instead of the Shamrock)
• Peanut Butter Cherrios Balls 
• Dessert Pizza  (Super easy to make! Use white chocolate and/or red & blue candy melts to make more patriotic.)
• Frozen Bananas (Dip in white chocolate with red and blue sprinkles!)
• Rainbow Cupcakes (Divide batter into 3 bowls, color 1 white, 1 red, 1 blue.)
• Fortune Cookies (Make a mix of red, white, and blue.)
• Stained Glass Cookies (Use red, white, blue candies.)
• Ice Cream Sandwiches 
• Caramels  (While it's harder to change the color of the caramels, you can easily dress them for the 4th of July by wrapping them and tying them closed with red/white/blue ribbons.)
•  Candied Popcorn(Separate popcorn into 3 batches. Color each batch with red, blue, or white candy melts. Let dry and then mix together!)

• Drinks:
•  Beverage Day (Make Red,White, and Blue star ice cubes)

The above are my tried and true things that we have done in the past. There are so may ideas out there for 4th of July parties that would be fun to try! For example:

• Watermelon "cake". Cut and tier watermelon slices like a tiered cake. Decorate with other red/white/blue fruits!
• Chocolate dipped strawberries. Dip in white chocolate with red/blue drizzles, or in milk/dark chocolate with red/white/blue drizzles. My boys like sprinkles on theirs too!
• Layered Red/White/Blue Drinks 

4th of July Word Find

I keep losing track of time. How is it the 4th of July on Monday?! Here is a 4th of July themed word find. Higgins likes word finds, but has trouble with finding words diagonal and backwards. There is another word find below (in red) that only goes Forward and Down.

To Print: Right Click-Open image in new tab-Print or Ctrl-P. Or Right Click-Save/Save Image As/Save to Computer-Open the saved image-Print.



ANSWER BELOW! 

 

 

ANSWER BELOW!

 

4th of July Ideas

If you are looking for 4th of July ideas, check out these posts:

Craft/Activities:

• Easy 4th of July Foods and Craft (Star stamp made out of noodles)
• Pinwheel Fun
• Windsock
• Balloon Time Fun, Pinata Style
• Easy Kids Party Popper

Food:

• Layered Jello (Use Red, White, and Blue jello's)
• Watermelon Basket
• Pie & Jars (Use Star cut-outs for the top of the pies)
• Broccoli Salad
• Easy Coleslaw
• Star Pancakes & Patriotic Strawberries
• Beverage Day (Make Red,White, and Blue star ice cubes)
• Peanut Butter Cherrios Balls
• Veggie and/or Fruit Trays: Use red and white bell peppers, blueberries, red and white raspberries, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, red grapes, cherries, blackberries. You could even make fruit kabobs! (For some ideas, check out my Veggie Trays, Veggie Trays, Part II, and Put A Stick In It: Fruit Kabobs posts.)
• Make a shooting star sandwich or a salami roll-up flag
• Make a tray of Jello Jigglers and cut out star shapes
• Swirl Cookies: I made red and white for Christmas, but if you broke the batter into thirds and colored 1/3 blue, it would make a great 4th of July cookie!
• Hidden Surprise Pound Cake (Use a Star cut out instead of the Shamrock)

Easy 4th of July Breakfast and Lunch

I had some really cute paper plates I found in Target's dollar bins that I wanted to use for the 4th of July. The boys were in the mood for pancakes, so we made star shaped pancakes with a side of strawberries, blueberries and blackberries. To make the pancakes, I heated the skillet, placed a star cookie cutter down, and spooned in the pancake batter. I let it sit for a second and then pulled the cookie cutter up.

For lunch, we had peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches. I hulled the strawberries, filled with whipped cream, and placed a blueberry in the middle. They were gobbled up!

Easy Kids Party Popper

...or as Higgins calls it, the Party Gun. He also thought we should put toppings like sprinkles in it and shoot at ice cream. (He could be onto something!) We made this for the 4th of July with red, blue, and white confetti. However, these would be great at all different kinds of parties and could be a cute kid craft at a birthday party. The color of the tape, balloon, and confetti can all be customized to the party!

You will need:

• Plastic bottle (1 per)
• Construction paper
• Masking or Painters tape
• Balloon (1 per)

Directions:

1. Remove label and cap from the bottle. Cut the top of the bottle off. You want some of the straight part of the bottle, about 1-2 inches.
2. Wrap the tape around the cut edge of the bottle to protect from sharp edges.
3. Attach a balloon to the bottle top. You want some give to the balloon, but not too much. Adjust the balloon if needed.
4. Cut confetti from the construction paper. Place inside bottle and shake a little to get it to go into the balloon if needed.
5. Hold the popper at the base, making sure to hold the balloon in place.
6. Pull the balloon back and let go to make the confetti fly!

4th of July Ideas

I can't believe it's almost July! Next week is the 4th of July and I have some ideas to help celebrate:

Craft/Activities:

• Easy 4th of July Foods and Craft (Star stamp made out of noodles)
• Pinwheel Fun
• Windsock
• Balloon Time Fun, Pinata Style
• Easy Kids Party Popper

Food:

• Layered Jello (Use Red, White, and Blue jello's)
• Watermelon Basket
• Pie & Jars (Use Star cut-outs for the top of the pies)
• Broccoli Salad
• Easy Coleslaw
• Beverage Day (Make Red,White, and Blue star ice cubes)
• Peanut Butter Cherrios Balls
• Veggie and/or Fruit Trays: Use red and white bell peppers, blueberries, red and white raspberries, starfruit, cherry tomatoes, red grapes, cherries, blackberries. You could even make fruit kabobs! (For some ideas, check out my Veggie Trays, Veggie Trays, Part II, and Put A Stick In It: Fruit Kabobs posts.)
• Make a shooting star sandwich or a salami roll-up flag
• Make a tray of Jello Jigglers and cut out star shapes
• Swirl Cookies: I made red and white for Christmas, but if you broke the batter into thirds and colored 1/3 blue, it would make a great 4th of July cookie!

Balloon Time Fun, Piñata Style

This is a fun alternative to having a pinata. The treats are inside the balloons! Because I don't trust the kids with pointy darts yet, we had a stomp/sit popping event. However, you could also try it using throwing darts or a thumb tack on the end of a dowel rod.

You will need:

• Balloons
• Prizes/Candy
• Tape or Stapler 
• Foam board, cardboard box, plywood

Directions:

1. Cut board or box to the size you want.

2. Insert candy into some of the balloons. I found it easiest to hold open and then slide the candy in. Blow up balloons. I used candy for the filler since the boys were going to sit on the balloons. However, if you were going to use darts or the thumb tack to pop the balloons, small toys or gift cards could also work!
3. Attach balloons to the board/wood. I used a staple around the edges and Duct Tape for the balloons the stapler wouldn't reach. Because it's so close to the 4th of July, I arranged the balloons in a flag pattern.

4. Pop the balloons and find the treats!

The Weekly Review

I'm starting to get back into the swing of things after the move and am working on some new posts for you guys! I hope you had a great weekend :)

Here are the posts from this week:

• S is for Snake, Sun and Sundaes
• R is for Radio, Rainbows and Rabbit
• 4th of July Ideas

Windsock

These would make fun 4th of July decorations! Use red, white, and blue crepe paper.


You will need:

• Cardstock paper
• Crepe paper
• Ribbon
• Hole Punch
• Markers, dabbers, stickers, etc.
• Craft glue or tape

Directions:

1. Decorate the paper with paint, stickers, markers, or crayons.
2. Create a cylinder shape out of the paper. Tape together. (Glue or staples will 
    work too.)

3. Attach the pieces of crepe paper at the bottom of the cardstock with the tape or 
    glue.

4. At the top, punch a hole on either side of the cylinder.
5. Thread ribbon through the holes, tie at top, hang and enjoy!.

Use different colors!

Easy 4th of July Foods

Everyone thinks of fireworks and food for the 4th. We usually don't go to a big party, since Higgins gets tired long before the fireworks start. So this year, I made the kids a shooting star sandwich for their lunch. I made a normal PB&J sandwich, and cut into a star shape using a cookie cutter. Behind the sandwich, I added in the trail using pomegranates, white raspberries, and blueberries. Good alternatives would be blackberries, strawberries, cherries, or red raspberries.

For a mom's get together, I made this tray. It is salami roll-ups (cream cheese rolled up in salami), with blueberries in the upper left corner to resemble the flag.

Here's a few other easy ideas:

• Serve red and blue themed food: popsicles, jello, candies, ice cream, fruit salad, fruit punch or other colored drinks in red and blue. 
• Freeze red and blue colored Kool-Aid or fruit juice in star shaped ice cube molds. (See my Beverage Day post)

For a fun craft, first glue on uncooked spiral noodles onto cardboard squares in a firework pattern. Once the glue is dried, lightly brush paint onto the noodles. Let the kids stamp away!

Lightly paint on top of noodles

Press down lightly

Watermelon Basket

I love baskets made out of fruit. I've always wanted to make one, but it would be too hard. Apparently, Higgins thought it was time for me to try. I had just washed the watermelon. I heard the ding of a text message and left the kitchen to get my phone. Next thing I hear is a THUNK. Higgins had tried to get the melon off the counter by himself (well, with the help of his little step stool he brought in for the occasion).

There were two cracks in the melon, not too bad considering the mess I was expecting. It almost followed a handle pattern, so I decided to try to make a watermelon fruit basket. It didn't take too long and other than cutting out the inside parts a little bit at a time, wasn't too hard. This would make a great presentation at a 4th of July Party!

Here's how I did it, just based on what I thought would work.

1. Determine the flattest part of the watermelon. This will be the bottom, so it doesn't roll.
2. Cut into the top of the watermelon's rind where you want the handle to go.

3. Next, cut horizontally across the watermelon to cut out around the handles. Make sure you don't cut too far over and cut off the handle! Remove and set aside the wedges.

4. Trim off the watermelon from the handle rind and set aside.
5. Next, carefully cut sections of watermelon off the rind. I did it in small chunks, but a melon baller would work well too. Set aside watermelon.

 6. Scrape out any uneven sections with a spoon.
7. If you want, cut a triangle pattern around the top edges of the basket.
7. Cut up watermelon and other fruit.
8. Fill basket and enjoy!