fourth of july Archives

Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Brittany

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July 2, 2022

Paper Cake Topper Fireworks for the Fourth

Fireworks and the Fourth

Can we all agree that the best part about the Fourth of July is fireworks? I am always mesmerized by amazing firework shows–the colors, the lights, the sparkle! I could do without the loud noise (not to mention stress of toddlers and babies around fire!) but there are pros and cons to everything. Well, if you’re like me and are not so crazy about mixing real fireworks with your kids and their all-too-eager hands, these paper cake topper fireworks are for you. It gives you a beautiful, festive display without the noise or the worry!

Perfect for your Fourth of July celebrations, these red, white and blue fireworks are a stunning scene when arranged atop a cake. All you’ll need to make the magic happen is colored paper and some skewers. Cut them on your cricut maker or by hand, these little beauties will be the stars (or should I say fireworks?) of the party this Fourth of July.

How to Make Paper Cake Topper Fireworks

I love how easy these paper cake topper fireworks are to make. They’re the perfect solution for a last-minute craft that definitely doesn’t look it. Here’s how to make them:

First, cut out the firework templates using scissors or a Cricut Maker. We use our trusty Cricut Maker for everything!
Next, layer the larger fireworks to give them some dimension and glue together. To recreate our cake toppers, see the photos for reference!
Now glue a skewer onto the back of each firework. Vary the heights of your skewers.
Last, arrange atop your cake and enjoy the view!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper fireworks and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! Try this other variation of our cake topper fireworks for the Fourth! Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

Cake Topper Sparklers

Brittany

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July 1, 2022

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Sparklers and Fireworks on the Fourth

You can’t get much more classic than sparklers and fireworks on the Fourth. And I happen to love that these cake topper sparklers, in addition to being adorable, are not a fire hazard. With two little kiddos, I don’t love the idea of sparklers and fireworks that could cause injuries and fires with a simple accident. Jasper has just enough energy that I’d rather err on the side of caution, know what I mean?

The other perk about these cake topper sparklers is that you can keep them for years to come! Make them a tradition and add them to cakes and cupcakes every Fourth of July. Don’t live in the U.S.? Not to fret! Use these sparklers to celebrate any occasion. And that goes for those in the U.S., too. Once the Fourth of July is over, keep using these pretty little sparklers to celebrate birthdays and other special occasions all year long.

How to Make Cake Topper Sparklers for the Fourth

Here’s how to make your own cake topper sparklers:

First, cut three 12 inch by 5 inch strips of cellophane. We used red, silver, blue and pink. Gold, this iridescent option and this colorful set are all great options, though! You can also use ribbon or tissue paper.
Now create a fringe effect with each strip by cutting parallel lines down the full strip, making sure never to cut all the way to the edge of your material.
Once all 3 strips are fringed, take your dowel and begin gluing one strip on to the top of the dowel. Start on one side and twist it around the skewer, adding a dab of glue when needed to keep it in place.
Do that for each strand creating 3 tiered layers at the top of the skewer.
Last, simply add 1 thin piece of cellophane around the bottom of the 3 tiers for the finishing touch!

More Inspiration

Loved this tutorial on how to make cake topper sparklers and interested in more Fourth of July crafts? Step right this way! You can try out these Paper Firework Cake Toppers, to start with. Need more decoration ideas? You won’t want to miss 3 bunting ideas or this brand new Fourth of July wreath! Also see this compilation of Fourth of July projects. Then head to our shop to check out our Fourth of July content!

Fourth of July Wreath

Brittany

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June 27, 2022

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Custom Gradient Accordion Stars

I’m in love with the accordion stars on this Fourth of July Wreath! They manage to look delicate, lovely, and festive all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, the traditional red white and blue of the Fourth of July are nice. But I love the way the gradient softens the colors into cotton candy hues of pinks, reds and blues. Oh, and I’m also in love with how simple this wreath is to make!

Here’s how to do it:

How to Make a Fourth of July Wreath

Constructing the Stars

First, download, print and cut out the accordion gradient templates found here.
Next, fold each strip back and forth to make the accordion folds. Make each fold roughly ¼ inch thick.
Now, connect the two ends of the accordion strip so you have one continuous circle.
Next, flatten the circle out like a fan, points facing out to make the stars.
Now, bring the center of the star together nice and tight and secure with hot glue. For extra security, glue a paper circle onto the back of the star’s center.

Assembling the Wreath

For the wreath form, cut a piece of wire that’s a little bigger than you’d like your wreath to be. Then wrap the excess around itself to secure.
Next, hot glue the stars onto the wreath form until it’s as full as you’d like.
Now, add the silver strips wherever you’d like for extra fullness.
Done!

More Inspiration

Looking for more festive, Fourth of July crafts? Check out this comprehensive guide of festive Fourth of July projects!

What are you doing for the Fourth of July? Let us know in the comments!

3 DIY 4th of July Bunting Ideas

Brittany

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June 28, 2021

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1 – Draped Paper Bunting:

This is the style of DIY Fourth of July bunting that I came up with last year and I love it. Most buntings are made out of draped fabric, and as a result are super expensive. This one is made out of butcher paper but it has the same fabulous drape – without the extravagant price tag! Follow this link for instructions.

2 – 2D Paper Bunting:

Also made out of butcher paper, this bunting is budget-friendly and super quick to make! It is a 2D version of a traditional patriotic bunting, and I love the simple lines. If your home is more modern than traditional, this bunting makes for a great alternative to the ol’ faithful draped bunting. You can’t go wrong with clean design!

Materials:

Red, white, and blue butcher paper (amount varies depending on your measurements, this can typically be purchased at your local party store).
Measuring tape
Pencil
Scissors
Hot glue gun
Tape

Instructions:

Measure the length of the desired location for bunting. Do a little math to figure out how long each individual section should be.
Cut the red, white, and blue papers to the correct lengths and half circle widths. *An easy way to get a nice round shape & even width is to tie your pencil to a string that’s anchored to something heavy enough on the opposite end to hold its position as you draw. Pull the pencil to the end of the length of string and follow it in the natural circular shape, going around the anchored point. Then cut along the line you’ve drawn.*
Glue the red, white and blue half circle shapes on top of each other, with the largest color on bottom, the smallest color on top, and the flat edges lined up.
Double over pieces of tape and stick them to the back of the straight edge to attach the bunting to your desired location.

3 – Balloon Bunting

We love balloon decor, and the Fourth of July is a holiday without enough balloons! Because of this, I decided to make a bunting with balloons. The third DIY Fourth of July bunting features red white and blue balloons of different shapes. Long balloons are reminiscent of the red and white stripes, while small blue ones decorate the bunting like stars!

Materials:

The same materials as the paper bunting
Red, white, and blue balloons – each color in both 5 inch round balloons and 46 inch long balloons (amount varies depending on your measurements)
- A low-heat glue gun works best for gluing the balloons to the butcher paper

Instructions:

Follow the instructions above to create your paper buntings in the desired sizes
Blow up enough 46 inch long balloons to create two side-by-side layers of each balloon color. Then hot glue each balloon to the butcher paper bunting, following the half circle arch of the balloons’ corresponding color. Red balloons will follow the arch of the red butcher paper, white balloons will follow the arch of the white butcher paper, and blue will follow the arch of the blue butcher paper.
Blow up enough 5 inch round balloons of each color to fill in the space between the long balloon arches. Then hot glue a layer of round balloons to the corresponding color of butcher paper.
- Balloon order: Two side-by-side layers of red long balloons, one layer of red round balloons. Two side-by-side layers of white long balloons, one layer of white round balloons. Two side-by-side layers of blue long balloons, fill in the remaining area with blue round balloons.
Double over pieces of tape and stick them to the back of the straight edge to attach the bunting to your desired location.

Don’t Have the Time?

Look, we get it! Sometimes you want the look without spending the time and effort to craft. We’ve still got you. Here are some of our favorite ready-made 4th of July buntings (for a range of budgets).

Click here to see some of our other favorite patriotic projects! And you can find all of our holiday ideas on our Pinterest here.

Red white and blue outfit inspo

Brittany

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June 15, 2020

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It looks like life is starting again. To tell the truth, it’s caught me off guard! I have finally become comfortable isolating. Bras have become irrelevant and I’m mastering the art of the video call. Now that it looks like I have to put on real clothing and makeup again, and I’m getting nervous.

I know my nerves are silly – after all, fashion is a way to express yourself. Regardless of what you’re wearing, it should feel like you. I’m thinking a red white and blue outfit will be just the thing to get me excited about fashion again without adding stress. There is some semblance of a dress code, there’s a simple place to start: Color!

Red White and Blue Outfit Brainstorming

The vintage-kick back vibe of Independence Day fashion is so familiar it feels like breathing. But somehow it’s still refreshing! Put a new spin on an old favorite outfit. Or, go all out and invest in some statement pieces.

To me, Fourth of July fashion looks like old Levis, maybe cutoffs. On top is that red flag tee from Old Navy, big sunglasses and a swimsuit underneath. Oh! And your new DIYed tie-dye bandana, worn milk-maid style. That piece is essential.

Truthfully, I love that classic red white and blue outfit. But I have worn exactly that same thing each year since I was four. It’s time to spice it up. Remember my glam aspirations? At the moment, I’m thinking that I’ll pair my blue gingham maxi with something I have yet to find on top (maybe a swimsuit…) and red lips. It’s all about that red white and blue outfit color combo.

We at Lars have put our heads together (metaphorically, don’t worry, still social distancing) to brainstorm the perfect red white and blue outfit for the Lars girl! If you’re feeling risky, dare pairing red white and blue adjacent colors together, like hot pink, teal, and white. If you’re feeling classic, you’ll look fabulous in denim, a white button down, a neckerchief, sunnies, and red lips.

No matter how you’re dressed, remember to have fun with it. Enjoy celebrating!

PS: You can never go wrong with red lips.

Great Independence Day pieces

We are all for going ALL OUT for every holiday, but when looking for a specific holiday color scheme, it is still possible to buy pieces you will want to wear all season long! Like this red and white gingham headband – just image wearing that to picnics all summer! According to Vogue, linen is the “fabric du jour” and this tiered linen dress is what our puff-sleeve dreams are made of. Now that we all agreed to wear white past Labor Day, white wide legs pants like these are more of a staple piece than ever before. Pockets, an old fashioned collar, a unique shade of red, and EMBROIDERED EYELETS? I must be describing my dream summer dress! And this is just the beginning of all of the items I love for the 4th of July this year, explore the links below to see them all!

DIY Fourth of July Bunting

Sammy Jameson

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June 18, 2019

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Last week, we were taking our Lars team shots outside on the front lawn of our new studio.

While basking in the sun outside our dreamy white house we realized we might have the white house! No, not that one, but the beautiful white detailing really makes it the perfect spot for some excellent Fourth of July decorations! We’ve been in love with the historical feel of our home even before we moved in, and thought it was finally time we put that to use. It’s the ideal place for some classic decorations, and you can’t go wrong with the red, white, and blue! Kassie, our project manager, mentioned her love of bunting and it was decided. Nothing says the Fourth like bunting on the porch! And in paper? Cheap AND easy!

I mean, you could buy them for hundreds of dollars OR you could make them for $5. The choice is yours 🙂

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Paper Firework Cake Topper

Brittany

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June 13, 2018

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One of my favorite parts of all the New Years celebrations are the fireworks. When it’s so dark and cold, a bright pop of color and sparks is just the thing to boost my mood! The problem is, with little kids, real fireworks aren’t always the most practical option. That’s why I’m in love with these paper firework cake toppers! They’re still bright, fun, and happy without the drawbacks of fire and little kids. These colorful fireworks are a stunning scene when arranged atop an all-black cake to resemble the night sky. Dramatic and playful! All you’ll need is colored paper and some skewers. We’ve provided templates you can use on your die cut machine or you can hand cut them too. What are you doing for the holiday? We want to know your plans!

Download the paper firework templates!

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Origami stars and stripes cake topper

Brittany

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June 28, 2016

1

Three cheers for the red, white, and blue and what better way to celebrate the fourth of July than with some cake. Frosting please! We created this cute origami stars and stripes cake topper with easy to find materials so you don’t have to spend time searching for unique materials. Paper only! And the origami stripes would be perfect to hand over to your kids for a fun challenge. See the full tutorial below!

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4th of July celebrations

Brittany

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July 3, 2014

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Leave it to me to work last minute up to the holiday. You’re probably gone for the weekend and not even checking in on blogs. Awesome. We just had so much fun making projects that we couldn’t help ourselves! Last week we had a pre 4th of July picnic and had a blast. We brought tunes, some food, and drinks and enjoyed ourselves at the local park. I’ve already shown you a few of our projects but here are some other details that might help in your last minute preparations. (BTW: check out our video!)

No American celebration is complete without some lemonade and this is one of my favorite brands. We got ours from the local shop, Pop ‘n Sweets, but find out where you can get some near you here.

ME made a delicious pop rock cake and topped it off when sparklers. Guys, I am SO on sugar these days. I mean, how could I not?! And we carried the cake with our new handy dandy cake box from Pie Box which even comes with a nifty leather handle, perfect for bike riding! It even fits in cupcakes. It’s perfect.

Berry lemonade popsicles from Ramblin Rose Cafe here
Lady Liberty Floral Crown
Swag flag necklace tutorial here
picnic basket and picnic blanket from Poppytalk‘s new summer Target line
Cake Box from here
American flag banner tutorial

photography by Laura Sumrak

Happy 4th of July! We’ll see you next week!

Berry lemonade popsicles

Brittany

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July 3, 2014

4

At our 4th of July picnic Kandyce make the most delicious berry lemonade popsicles. They’re so easy to make and add the perfect amount of red,white, and blue to your festivities.

Click below for full recipe!

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Swag Flag necklace

Brittany

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July 3, 2014

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You know I love me a sweet necklace to ring in the holidays. This patriotic swag, normally seen on banisters and staircases, was minimized to create a cute accessory for the 4th. Try it out last minute for a cute statement piece!

Click below for full tutorial!

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Lady Liberty floral crown

Brittany

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July 2, 2014

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No 4th of July celebration is complete without a floral crown, amiright?! Victoria came up with the cutest Lady Liberty floral crown just in time for our favorite summer holiday. It’s perfect!

Click below for full tutorial!

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