The Fourth of July is a favorite holiday of many. Not only is the weather generally delightful, but it’s a day to celebrate our nation’s independence, when on July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence. Today, we celebrate with picnics, barbecues, gatherings, and fireworks, the latter tradition attributed to President John Adams and the first anniversary celebration of the holiday in 1777. Today, we proudly incorporate the red, white, and blue colors of our flag in our décor to create a festive atmosphere. Here are four of our favorite creative ideas:
1) For a table centerpiece: Buy a bag of pebble size rocks. Divide into three equal piles. Spray-paint the first pile red, the second pile white, and the last pile blue. Let dry completely. Wrap a burlap ribbon near the top of some mason jars. Then fill them with alternating layers of the colored rocks. Place some small American flags or red, white, and blue pinwheels in the mason jars, using the rocks to hold them in place.
2) For a fun dessert: Buy or bake cupcakes and cover with vanilla frosting. Dust with blue sprinkles and add a cherry on top of each one. Display the cupcakes on a double decker cake stand, or place one smaller stand on top of a larger one. Add some small flags to the cupcakes on the top tier.
3) For creatively wrapped silverware: Gather an assortment of red, white, and blue bandanas. Fold a set of silverware (knife, fork, spoon) into each bandana. Here’s how to do it: lay the bandana down, fold the bandana in half diagonally, place the open point away from you and arrange the silverware horizontally at the center of the bottom near the fold. Then fold in the right and left corners over the silverware (it will resemble an envelope shape at this point) and begin rolling away from you, evenly toward the point. Then tie a colored ribbon around the folded bandana napkin. Make one set per guest. Stand them up in a tin for a buffet or set them on the table.
4) For a DIY Fourth of July tablecloth: Buy a plain, white cotton/linen tablecloth. Wash it to remove the starch from the fabric. Dry it (no fabric softener). Next, iron if necessary. Using red and blue fabric paints, squeeze a small amount of one color onto each paper plate. Dip a star-shaped sponge into the paint, then apply to the tablecloth. (Practice first on a test cloth. For a time-worn look, dab some paint off before applying it to the fabric.) Or use star-shaped stencils and apply paints with a brush. Dry the paint with a hair dryer as you go. Let sit overnight, then iron the backside of the finished tablecloth. When ironing, be sure to put an old cloth under the tablecloth to prevent any paint from transferring.
Up the spirit of your Fourth of July gathering by incorporating the cheerful red, white, and blue color theme. Get creative, have fun with your ideas, and remember that a little ingenuity can go a long way. Happy Fourth!