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Fourth of July Crafts for Kids

Take the mess outside! This is a great time for summer outdoor crafts for kids! And crafts are a great way to fill up those long summer days when, "I'm bored" is the theme of the day. They're also a great way to build up the excitement for the upcoming 4th of July holiday.

For most children, crafts aren't a serious artistic hobby. They are just an hour of fun and a month-long project display, followed by a forgotten item crumpled at the bottom of their "treasure box." I have six children, I know all about it!

So while children love crafts, you probably don't want to spend an arm and a leg paying for expensive craft supplies, when they don't really care that much about them. Instead, give them lots of inexpensive stuff that allows them to mess around to their heart's content. Then, gather just a few real craft projects that use their refined skills.

Essential Art Supplies for Children

We homeschool our children (well, except the ones that are in college now…), so art is part of every day. My favorite place for art supplies hands down, from the simple to the serious, is Dick Blick Art Materials. They have everything I've ever looked for and always run special pricing. Be sure to check out the hot deals of the week.

Craft Kits for Kids

Craft kits are a great idea when you want to have a whole project, all put together, in minimal time. There are a few sources that provide many such kits, for little moolah. We have a short list of favorites:

Craft-of-the-Month Club

When I was very young, my parents gave me a subscription to the Weekly Reader Book-of-the-Month Club for my birthday. Every month for the whole year I got a new book in the mail. I loved this book and was so excited every time my package arrived. I still have all those books and my own kids have read them, too.

Now the same concept has been applied to crafts! You can give your child a gift that excites them again and again with the Fun Craft of the Month Clubs. The same company has a Craft Clearance Outlet to browse through as well. All their projects are geared to kids.

Kids Recycled Materials Art Projects

Going green in your art doesn't have to mean sacrifice. Let your children use found objects to create whatever they like for your holiday celebrations. Anything that you might normally throw away, can be recycled and used to create.

You've probably already thought of magazines and newspapers. What about foam meat dishes (thoroughly washed) and wire coat hangers? We always save our broken electronics, let the kids take them apart, explore and create. Fun and educational.

If you're building a home—like we are—think about how you can use all that scrap lumber (to build a fort or dog house?) and broken tile (to create a mosaic?).