The countdown to the nation’s birthday is on, and with just a week to go until the parades, fireworks and hot dog gorging, there’s no time like the present to solidify plans for family fun on the Fourth of July.
Whether you are planning a humongous backyard bash with extended family and friends or you are opting for a more intimate affair with just you, your significant other and the kids, consider making use of the following ideas to help get your party started:
Spinning Sparklers
These safe alternatives to real sparklers are fun for kids of all ages.
Materials:
Round plastic coffee can lids
Red, white or blue paint
Craft knife
Rubber bands
Sparkly star stickers
Paper clips
Flexible drinking straws
Directions:
Paint the coffee can lids in red, white and blue paint.
Allow to dry completely.
When the lid is dry use a craft knife, cut an “X” in the center of it.
Push one end of a thick rubber band through the X, stretching it around the paper clip to keep it from slipping through the X.
Leave the other end of the rubber band dangling through the other side.
Place sparkly star stickers in a circle around the lid on the same side as the paper clip.
Cut one of the straws into two equal pieces.
Using a bent paper clip as a hook, thread the dangling end of the rubber band through the straight portion of the straw.
Thread the bent straw through the end of the rubber band loop to use as a handle.
To use, wind up the cap and then let it go, causing the cap to twirl as you hold onto the handle.
Ice Cream in a Bag
Let the kids help make this sweet treat to celebrate Independence Day:
Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
4 cups of crushed ice
4 tablespoons salt
2 quart-sized Ziploc bags
1 gallon-sized Ziploc freezer bag
Directions:
Mix the milk, vanilla and sugar inside one of the quart-sized bags.
Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing, then place the bag inside a second quart-sized bag.
Place the double-bagged mixture inside the freezer bag and fill the large bag with ice and salt.
Seal and keep shaking until the mixture turns into the consistency of ice cream.
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