Homemade Centerpieces for the 4th of July

Throwing a party, no matter the occasion, requires theme-appropriate decorations, and a 4th of July party is no exception. Create a festive place for your guests to sit and enjoy their food on with Independence Day-themed centerpieces. Wow your guests with your creative abilities by constructing these table decorations yourself with a few items you already have around the house and a few purchased from the craft store.

Things You'll Need

• 2 metal bowls
• 2 metal spoons
• Rubbing alcohol
• Tablespoon measuring spoon
• Red and blue food coloring
• White uncooked rice
• Measuring cup
• Colander
• Paper towel
• Glass hurricane vase
• White pillar candle

Instructions

1. Measure out 6 tbsp rubbing alcohol into each metal bowl.

2. Add 10 drops of blue food coloring to one bowl and 10 drops of red food coloring into the other, and stir the mixtures in both bowls with a metal spoon until the food coloring is completely dissolved into the rubbing alcohol. Use a different spoon to stir each mixture.

3. Pour 2 cups of rice into each bowl. Stir the rice into the food coloring and alcohol mixture with the respective spoons. Let the rice soak in the mixture for 10 minutes.

4. Pour one color of rice into a colander to drain off any extra liquid and spread the rice out onto a paper towel to dry. Rinse the colander and repeat with the other color of rice. Allow the rice grains to dry completely.

5. Place the white pillar candle in the hurricane vase.

6. Pour the red rice into the bottom of the glass hurricane while holding the candle in place.

7. Tap the hurricane vase gently on the table so that the top of the red rice is level.

8. Pour 2 cups of white rice into the hurricane vase on top of the red rice, pouring as even a layer to the red rice as possible. Again, hold the candle in place as you do this.

9. Tap the hurricane vase gently on the table to make the top of the rice even.

10. Pour the blue rice on top of the white rice. Tap the hurricane vase to level the rice.