Easy and Safe Sparklers and Fireworks Crafts for Kids
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| Fun “sparklers” for little kids Photo: Maria Adcock |
By Jillian K. (Bicultural Mama’s niece) who created these craft ideas herself
You may have started reading this thinking, “This is insane! Fireworks and sparklers for little kids?” Parents who don’t want their young kids to use real sparklers and fireworks can instead use crafts to simulate these activities.
Here are two simple and safe projects parents can try at home that require minimal supplies that are already likely on hand. Keep in mind that both of these require scissors so make sure to supervise young kids.
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| Simple Cotton Swab Firework Photo: Maria Adcock |
Simple Cotton Swab Fireworks
This is a simple project for a nice 4thof July decoration at home.
Materials:
- 2 sheets of recycled paper (save the environment!) or construction paper
- Cotton swabs
- Cotton balls
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Glue or tape*
*Using glue will make for a better project, but tape will make for a less messy and easier project
Steps:
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| Fireworks in the Sky Photo: Maria Adcock |
- Color one sheet of paper a mix of blues or purples to replicate the sky
- Glue or tape cotton balls in pairs to look like clouds
- Cut the cotton tips off the cotton swabs
- Glue a single cotton ball on the sheet of paper – this will hold the cotton swab. Add as many as you like.
- Glue an end of the cut cotton swab into the single cotton ball and hold until semi-dry
- Color thick strips of paper with different colors or use construction paper.
- Fold the paper forward then backward like a fan and repeat.
- Cut the fan in the opposite direction so you’ll have strips with crinkles in them – these are your fireworks.
- Choose and cut the lengths of the different colors with some shorter than others.
- Glue or tape one strip of colored paper around the swab
- Carefully stack the different pieces of paper on top of the other strips
- Repeat steps 10-12 on each mini firework
- Place anywhere and enjoy your 3D
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| Easy Chopstick Sparklers Photo: Maria Adcock |
Easy Chopstick Sparklers
For your firework celebration, give these to kids to wave around! No lighter needed!
Materials:
- 1 sheet of recycled paper (save the environment! Again!) or construction paper
- A pair of wooden chopsticks
- Scissors
- Crayons
- Ribbons (optional)
- Glue or tape*
*Using glue will make for a better project, but tape will make for a less messy and easier project
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| Fold paper forward and then backward in a fan shape. Photo: Maria Adcock |
Steps:
- Separate your chopsticks if attached.
- Color thick strips of paper with different colors or use construction paper.
- Fold the paper forward then backward like a fan and repeat.
- Cut the fan in the opposite direction so you’ll have strips with crinkles in them – these are your fireworks.
- Using the thick side of the chopstick, glue or tape a strip of paper around the chopstick (very important, otherwise the ribbon will not stick as well)
- Keep gluing/taping and stacking the
After folding, cut paper into strips.
Photo: Maria Adcockribbons and paper onto the chopstick, letting it dry for each strip if using glue.
- When finished, glue or tape a single piece of colored paper (in a rectangle shape) to use as a “cap” to keep all the strips attached to the chopstick,
- Repeat steps 5-7 on the other chopstick
- Let the chopstick dry in a cup or a sponge
- After dried, fringe a couple of strips to make them pop out
- Have fun while waving them around!
The projects were not taken off the Internet as I
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| Tape or glue these strips to the chopstick to make a sparkler! Photo: Maria Adcock |
made these ideas up by myself. Thanks to my mom for the sparkler idea. Also thanks to my little cousin, Jasmine, for helping me make the 3D Cotton Swab Fireworks!
Happy 4thof July!
Jillian
