Happy 4th of July!
I hope you’re enjoying your summer and that you’re spending today with friends and family! Whether you’re at a BBQ, heading to the beach, or trying to keep your dog calm during fireworks. I hope your July 4th is amazing! Of course, I love to bringing art into everything I do, so I wanted to share a quick, easy 4th of July craft for kids with you!
Black Fireworks Magic
This week at my summer art camp, I stumbled upon this activity and was thrilled with the results! All you need are paper, crayons, a paintbrush, and black watercolor paint. It’s easy to set up (so you can quickly return to grilling or preparing a fancy 4th of July cocktail, see below!) and the kids adore creating their own fireworks. What I appreciate most about this activity is that it introduces kids to a straightforward artist technique called wax resist.
Different Paints
Something worth noting here is that I have been creating these artworks for years and have observed that different types of paints yield varying results. My favorite paint is to use the black ready friendly paint, number 3 it has color pop!
- Number 1 is created using watered-down tempera paint.
- Number 2 is crafted using black tempera water cakes.
- Number 3 is accomplished with my black Ready Friendly watercolor paint.
If you’re interested in acquiring some Black Ready Friendly paint, you can order it here in 4 oz bottles.
July 4th Art
In America, we commemorate our country’s independence on July 4th. Families and friends typically come together to celebrate with a BBQ, potluck, beach time, popsicles, or fireworks. I understand that the last thing you want to do during the summer—especially on a holiday—is to conduct an art lesson. However, this particular activity is incredibly straightforward, and you’ll shine as the party’s hero by keeping kids joyfully engaged as they create these artworks.
Firework Coloring & Painting Activity
The concept is simple: using black paint over crayon markings produces a striking color contrast. The wax from the crayons resists the paint’s pigment, making those marks stand out vividly against the dark background.
- Thick white paper (watercolor paper or cardstock)
- Black paint — tempera, watercolor, acrylic, or any other kind of kids’ grade paint (you will need to thin the paint down to a watery consistency)
- Paintbrush
- Crayons (preferably red, white, and blue, but any colors will work)
Art Tips:
Tip: Be sure to use plenty of white crayon marks as you doodle; this is the best part! You won’t see it as you’re drawing because it’s white markings on white paper, but when you paint, it’ll “magically” show up.
Steps:
- Doodle with crayon
- Paint over the whole paper with black paint
- Dry
Let kids have fun with this. You can even make flags to decorate your home or picnic tables.
Blueberry Coconut Sparkler
I discovered this delightful recipe on Spiced. It’s a visually appealing and festive drink that embodies the patriotic colors of red, white, and blue. Plus, with the incorporation of fresh fruit, you can even consider it a healthy option. Spiced 
If preparing this drink for kids, simply omit the rum!
Ingredients:
- 3 cups fresh blueberries
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1/2 cup coconut rum (optional)
- 2 1/2 cups ginger ale
- Ice
- Coconut Flakes (optional garnish)
Instructions:
- Muddle the blueberries in the bottom of a medium bowl.
- Add the lemon juice and coconut rum, stirring until well combined.
- Strain the mixture using a fine mesh strainer to remove the blueberry skins.
- Gently stir in the ginger ale until combined.
- Optionally garnish glass rims with coconut flakes.
- Fill glasses with ice, pour in the drink, and top off with a few fresh blueberries.
- Enjoy!
Wishing you a fantastic 4th of July celebration!
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