July 4th Firecracker Decorations

Decorate your 4th of July celebration with this 4th of July craft idea by Vicki O'Dell. Just paint some dowel rods in red, white, and blue, and you'll have your own July 4th firecracker decorations.

Materials:

• 1/2" by 3/4" dowel rod
• Saw
• Drill
• Paint--Folk Art Blue Ribbon, Wicker White, and Cardinal Red
• Small paint brushes
• Star Stickers
• Folk Art Antiquing Medium
• Paper towel or rag
• Glue
• Jute

Instructions:

1. Cut the dowel rod into three pieces 3, 4 and 5 inches tall.
   
   
   
   
    
2. Drill a hole straight down into the top of all of the pieces about a 1/4” deep.
   
   
    
3. Paint them all white.
   
   
   
   
    
4. Use star stickers as a resist. Make sure to rub the edges down well so that paint doesn’t seep underneath.
   
    
    
5. Paint over the stickers in blue. Let Dry.
   
    
    
6. Paint another one with stripes and dashes.
   
    
    
7. Paint the third one with a line of stars and a wide red stripe down the middle.
   
    
    
8. Let the blue and red dry and then carefully remove the stickers.
    
9. Rub Folk Art Antiquing Medium on with a paper towel or rag to make them look old and grubby.
   
    
    
10. Put a little glue (your favorite brand) down into the hole and then put a short length of jute inside.
    
     
     
11. Repeat for all of the firecrackers.
    
     
     
12. Lay them all together and then tie with jute.