How to Decorate Your Table for the Fourth of July

The Fourth of July is a great opportunity to show off your budding creative talents. Use your imagination with these ideas to help decorate your table for a festive Independence Day.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Confettis
• 4th Of July Party Supplies
• American Flags
• Acrylic Paints
• Dowels
• Flowers
• Glues
• Paper Tablecloths
• Acrylic Paints
• Pipe Cleaners
• Paper tablecloths
• Pipe cleaners

1. Take 1/4-inch to 3/8-inch dowel rods and cut them into about 2-inch lengths. Paint each one red, white or blue and glue a length of pipe cleaner to the end of each to make unique wooden firecracker table decorations.

2. Pair a plain white tablecloth with red and blue napkins and flag place mats for instant visual patriotism.

3. Sprinkle glittery star confetti on the table. This can usually be purchased at party or craft stores.

4. Use inexpensive acrylic dishes to complete your look. Choose red, white and blue dishes to complement your table.

5. Top off your table with an elegant red, white and blue bouquet. Flowers to choose from include gerber daisies, cosmos, lupines, roses, shasta daisies, peonies, mums, blue flax, delphiniums and bachelor's buttons.

Tips & Warnings

• Use solid-color napkins and place mats if you happen to have a patterned tablecloth to avoid overkill.
• Use larger dowel rods cut in longer lengths or paint them in a flag pattern for variations on the wooden firecracker decorations.
• Know when enough is enough. Too many patterns, stars and stripes can be overwhelming.

on 6/30/2006 Wrap empty containers of baking power, oatmeal boxes or Pringles boxes with red paper (or spray paint them red). Put your goodies inside. Make a hole in the plastic top and put a stiff cord or a piece of stiff rope in the larger containers. Cute for table decorations. The finished oatmeal boxes look like big firecracker bombs.

on 11/22/2005 Cut paper towel tubes a little longer than your plastic utensils (or use empty toilet paper rolls). Wrap with a red napkin, corner to corner and tuck ends and utensils in tubes. Decorate with Fourth of July ribbon and shiny star garland as a lit fuse.