Get Ready for the Fourth of July with These Easy Do-It-Yourself-In-A-Few-Minutes Crafts

Get ready for the Fourth of July!  It's just around the corner, and now is the time to start planning the best day of July.  What do yu normally do for this holiday?  We have an interesting tradition here. We start off by watching the hot dog eating competition in Coney Island and then follow it with a contest of our own and Weiner Schnitzel.  After "lunch" we go up to Park City and ride the rides at the Park City Mountain Resort.  We are fans of the Alpine Slide and Mountain Roller Coaster.  The zip line is fun, too.  After an exhausting afternoon of rides and junk food, we go back home, freshen up and either go to a park to watch fire works, or pick some up of our own and do our own show.  (Don't worry, government, they are the little sparklers and smokers.  No big guys for us, I've had bad experiences before!)

But what if you don't havea plan?  Or are planning on having people over?  What if someone invites you to their BBQ?  These are things you need to plan for.  Even if you have something similar to my tradition, you still need to get your house dressed up for the holiday.  And what is more classic and simple than red, white, and blue decor?

Here are some of my do-it-yourself-in-a-few-minutes decorations:

1. A festive, cloth table cloth.  This option will usually end up cheaper than a plastic table cloth you will end up throwing away and will add a certani charm to your picnic or BBQ.  Measure your table both width and length, and then go to the nearest fabric store, armed with these numbers.  I like Joann Fabrics for this project simply because they always have a good selection, coupons for steep discounts, and already low prices on their cottons.  A typical width of a fabric is 44".  If you table is wider than that, plan no having a center seam to make it wider.  If this is the case,double up your pieces.  When getting your fabirc cut, add one inch to both the length and width to allow for seams.  You don't have to sew a seam, but it will make it look nice.  A frayed edge with certain fabrics can look great too- but make sure to sew a seam about 1" from the edge to stop the fray from taking over your table cloth.

2. Vases, pitchers, cups, utensils- any item that can be wrapped in ribbon is great for this tip.  Pick up simple, 1/4" thick spools of red, white, and blue ribbon and wrap them with lengths of it.  Tie a bow and cut the ends.  You have now transformed your every day items into independance day festive ware.  If you want to go a step further you can pick up fresh or fabric flowers in these colors and ties a bud in the ribbon before finishing with the bow.

3. Take a tote bag and fill it with your essentials.  A friend of mine always goes to her lake house for this holiday.  She always needs a towel, sun tan lotion, a changeof clothes for when it gets cooler at night, and a hat, plus a mix of other things she throws in.  She started off by throwing all this into her trunk, but now she puts it into a tote.  For a gift idea for her, or if you want to do this for yourself, decorate a large, plain tote with red white and blue items.  Don't go too overboard with Fourth of July items, since you may want to use this bag later for something else.  Try finding a stencil of flowers, nautical items, buildings, or whatever interests you and stencil them on using shades of red, white, and blue.  If you stay away from traditional tones and hues of these colors, you are not pigeon-holing yourself in one holiday.

4. Don't forget outside.  It is just as important to decorate your outside as it is to decorate your table.  A festive door hanging, a flag, and a garland are all acceptable decorations.  This is where the normal, store-bought items are not acceptable.  You want to be unique and original and buying from the store is not that.  Try, instead, looking at what you have.  A few yards of thick, knit fabric may beall you need for the door hanging and garland.  Twist the different colors around an inexpensive wreath frame, and you have yourself something unique and inexpensive for your door.  Add a few flowers in appropriate colors and maybe some holiday buttons you can pick up inexpensively at a craft store and you are done.  As for the garland, this is an even easier project.  Twist the fabric and hang.  Done.  As for the flag, if you can find a vintage or looks-lik-vintage flag to hang out in your yard, that is best.  Otherwise, don't attempt to create your own.  Too time-consuming.  Here is where store bought can be your friend.

Now, just plan your meal if you're having people over and prepare to have a great day with friends and family!

Do you have a Fourth of july hyoliday tradition?  What do you like to do?

Betty Crocker Holiday Celebrations - Music, Recipes, Party Planning, and More (Enhanced CD)