Tie Dye Fireworks Art
I have so many fond memories of making impromptu 4th of July crafts as a child. Much like baking cookies for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, it was my way of passing the time until the evening celebrations started. Here is an easy art project you can do with your kids to stretch out the holiday fun as they wait for the exciting firework displays to start.
Because the supplies are so simple, odds are you’ve got most of them on hand already. I do recommend using construction paper versus plain white copy paper, as its fibrous texture will soak up more of the marker bleed; however, plain paper will work if you don’t have construction paper on hand. And while the project calls for patriotic red and blue, your kids might have fun branching out and experimenting with other colors as well.
What you need:
- 1 sheet of white construction paper
- 3 coffee filters
- Red and blue markers
- White glue
- Silver glitter
- Water sprayer
- Newspaper
How to make it:
- Flatten 3 coffee filters and allow your child to color their “fireworks” using red and blue markers. (Note: If desired, you can press the filters flat quickly with an iron.)
- Working over a protected surface, place one colored coffee filter on top of white construction paper and spritz with water until filter is completely wet. Place and spritz the second filter in the same way, and then the third filter. (Younger children will need help with this step, while older children will have fun spraying the water by themselves.)
- Let filters sit for a few minutes so that the color begins to bleed. Then, let your child help remove and discard the filters, revealing the tie dye effect that the marker bleeds have left on the paper.
- Place paper in a flat, safe place and allow to dry for a couple of hours, such as on top of paper towels on the kitchen counter.
- Cover your work surface with a large piece of scrap paper (such as newsprint). Help your child use glue to make firework lines and stars on top of the tie dye background. Then, let them sprinkle silver glitter on top, covering all glue completely. Shake off excess glitter and let artwork dry completely before hanging. (Be sure to funnel unused glitter back into the bottle for next time!)
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More Crafts for Kids on RCM
Where to Find Fireworks on the 4th in Huntsville
This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated with current info.
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