The items needed for this craft are toilet paper tubes or paper towel tubes cut in half, red, white and blue tissue paper, red, white and blue pipe cleaners and some patriotic ribbon, then lots of treats as a filler.  We used small candies but you could also put in small toys or balloons. Anything goes that would fit in the tubes.

Cut your tissue paper into about 10 inch squares.  You will want 2-3 layers of whatever color you are working with.

Roll your tube around the tissue paper.  You can either glue with a glue gun (with supervision if you have little kids!) or Elmer’s glue works also but will take a little longer time to dry.

Cut some of your pipe cleaners into smaller pieces and wrap these around the bottom of the tissue paper.  Twist tightly and then put the pipe cleaner into the end of the tube to hide it.  Don’t cut all of your pipe cleaners though.  You’ll  need some longer ones later.

Now fill your tubes with all of the goodies that you have gathered.

You can decorate the outside of your 4th of July Firecrackers by gluing on some ribbon but I think that some patriotic stickers would also look cute!

To close your tube, wrap a full length pipe cleaner around the top of the tissue paper and twist tightly. Make the pipe cleaner curly by wrapping it around a pencil.  We also fashioned a star popping out of the top.

Now you are ready for any 4th of July party with these fun poppers! Kid love cracking them open to find their surprises! 

Thank you to How Does She for a great patriotic kids craft!

Need a little more patriotic spirit?  Try out these crafts!

Kids Teeshirt              Popsicle Stick Flag

The post 4th of July Firecrackers appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

* We’re sharing our favorite links from last week’s party at the beginning of today’s party.  Check them out and then keep scrolling down for the link party.  Happy Weekend!

Thanks for participating in the Best Recipes and DIY Projects Party last week!  We’re thrilled to share some of our favorite links from last week’s link party with you.

We’re so excited to celebrate America’s birthday next weekend!  The links that caught our eye were treats with made with the patriotic hues of red, white, and blue.  Check them out below.

Red, White, & Blue Dessert Skewers from Made With Happy

Kid Friendly Patriotic Punch from Mom Endeavors

Patriotic Mixed Berry Pie from This Silly Girl’s Life

Sweet Cream Berry Shortcakes from I Should Be Mopping the Floor

Triple Berry Punchbowl Cake from The Kitchen is My Playground

Now, let’s get this party started!

 Happy Weekend, everyone! We’re delighted that you came to our party. The link-up is live and ready for you to share your recipes, DIY projects and crafts, just make sure you follow these guidelines:

1. When you link up, you are giving us permission to feature your project and pictures on our blogs and social media with a link back to you.
2. We’ll feature our favorite projects from this weekend’s party at the beginning of next week’s link party.
3. Weekly favorites will also be pinned to our Link Party Favorites Board on Pinterest!
4. Add a text link back to the host blog.
5. You can link up any post you’ve created during this past week.
6. We’re excited about your handmade items, but this link party is limited to blog posts only. Please don’t linkup your Etsy shop.
7. Share the love and comment on two or more of the other projects that are linked up. We all love comments!

This party starts every Friday at 5 P.M. MST, and keeps going until the following Tuesday evening. Feel free to invite others to join in the fun!

Thanks for participating! Your Hosts,

Ruthie from Cooking With Ruthie, Jeni from Bakerette, Mandy from Mandy’s Recipe Box, Dan and Chris from Live Dan 330, and Deb, Tracy, and Sherri from Made From Pinterest

The post Best Recipes & DIY Projects Link Party #102 appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

* We’re sharing our favorite links from last week’s party at the beginning of today’s party.  Check them out and then keep scrolling down for the link party.  Oh, and Happy Father’s Day this weekend!

Thanks for participating in the Best Recipes and DIY Projects Party last week!  We’re thrilled to share some of our favorite links from last week’s link party with you.

Before you know it we’re going to be celebrating America’s independence on the Fourth of July!  Here are some quick crafts to get you in the spirit of the red, white, and blue!

Easy DIY Bandana Tablecloth from The Gracious Wife

Easy Peasy Patriotic Centerpiece from Lou Lou Girls

Patriotic Pallet Sign from Blooming Homestead

Patriotic Rag Wreath from Olives-n-Okra

Patriotic Banner from The Happy Scraps

Now, let’s get this party started!

 Happy Weekend, everyone! We’re delighted that you came to our party. The link-up is live and ready for you to share your recipes, DIY projects and crafts, just make sure you follow these guidelines:

1. When you link up, you are giving us permission to feature your project and pictures on our blogs and social media with a link back to you.
2. We’ll feature our favorite projects from this weekend’s party at the beginning of next week’s link party.
3. Weekly favorites will also be pinned to our Link Party Favorites Board on Pinterest!
4. Add a text link back to the host blog.
5. You can link up any post you’ve created during this past week.
6. We’re excited about your handmade items, but this link party is limited to blog posts only. Please don’t linkup your Etsy shop.
7. Share the love and comment on two or more of the other projects that are linked up. We all love comments!

This party starts every Friday at 5 P.M. MST, and keeps going until the following Tuesday evening. Feel free to invite others to join in the fun!

Thanks for participating! Your Hosts,

Ruthie from Cooking With Ruthie, Jeni from Bakerette, Mandy from Mandy’s Recipe Box, Dan and Chris from Live Dan 330, and Deb, Tracy, and Sherri from Made From Pinterest

The post Best Recipes & DIY Projects Link Party #101 appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

Things are getting pretty festive on your blogs these days…we noticed lots of great idea that put us in the mood to party, American style!  Festive foods, patriotic decor, and even something to wear to the party were some of our favorites from Super Saturday #49.  Take a look below at some awesome July Party Ideas.

Patriotic Brownie Sandwiches from This Silly Girl’s Life

Dirty Dr. Pepper Floats from Simply Gloria

Patriotic Funfetti Angel Food Cake from Life With the Crust On

Tin Can Lanterns from About a Mom

Berries and Ice Cream Pie from Simply Suzanne’s

DIY Fireworks Shirt from A Mother’s Shadow

Crockpot Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs from Practical Stewardship

Cardboard Tube Fireworks from Spindles Designs

State Love Plaque from Day2Day Supermom

Fireworks Drink Stirrers from Homey Oh My

Thanks again for sharing your projects and recipes with us during Super Saturday #49!  We hope you were as inspired by these featured links as we were.   Please come back  for our next Super Saturday Link Party, starting at 7 P.M. EST on Friday night!  And keep an eye on your social media over the weekend, too.  We like to showcase links that catch our eye during the party via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  You might see your link featured there!

The post Share It Thursday from Super Saturday #49 appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

With the 4th of July fast approaching (can you believe THAT?!) we have a fun and easy craft to bring some American color into your home and your kids can even help too!

Just take a look at these darling 4th of July Mason Jar Candles!

Here’s what you will need to get started:

Pint or quart sized mason jars

White long grain rice

Food coloring (I used Wilton True Blue and Red Gel Coloring)

Ziploc baggies

Votive or tealight candles

Instructions:

Pour your rice into a Ziploc baggie.  Then add your food coloring, zip real tight and shake away!  Or you could also put the rice and food coloring into a separate mason jar, screw the lid on and let your kids shake away!  It’s that easy to color rice.  Add more food coloring if you want your rice to be a darker color.

If you let your kids “shake away” with the Ziploc baggies, be prepared to have rice shaken all over your kitchen.

This did not happen to me when I made these.

No it did not.

Okay yes it did.

And I’m an adult.

Sometimes.

I think I had a little too much fun shaking.

Once your rice is ready, starting with the red rice, scoop the rice into your mason jars.  I put about 1/2 to 2/3 cups of rice for each layer into the pint jars and about 1 to 1 1/2 cups into the quart jars.  It’s all up to you!

Top with a tealight or votive candle and you are ready to go.

This literally took minutes to create but look at the results!

A big thanks to Today’s Creative Blog for the inspiration for these 4th of July Mason Jar Candles.  We hope that you enjoy making them as much as I did!

This Pin Rocks!

You can also find us on Pinterest │ Facebook │ Twitter │ Instagram │ StumbleUpon │ Hometalk

Looking for more 4th of July ideas?  Check these out!

4th of July Tee Shirts

4th of July Strawberries

Popsicle Stick Flag Craft

We’re sharing this post with:

Living Well Spending Less

The post 4th of July Mason Jar Candles appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.

There were a few links this week that inspired our patriotic spirits.  Whether you use them to celebrate America’s independence next month, or just to celebrate the freedom of summer, we think you’ll enjoy these red, white, and blue recipes and projects.

4th of July Bookpage Wreath from Meegan Makes

Candied Almond Triple Berry Parfait from This Silly Girl’s Life

No-Bake Blueberry Cheesecake from Kleinworth & Co.

No-Cook Strawberry Blender Jam from Practical Stewardship

Blue Rice Crispy Treats from More Than a Mom of Three

Patriotic Pom-Pom Wreath from  Krafty Cards Etc.

Caprese Salad from All She Cooks

Rhubarb & Custard Cupcakes from Baking in Pyjamas

Blueberry Crumble Bars from Love Bakes Good Cakes

Firecracker Cupcakes from Tastes of Lizzy T

 Thanks again for sharing your projects and recipes with us during Super Saturday #47!  We hope you were as inspired by these featured links as we were.   Please come back  for our next Super Saturday Link Party, starting at 7 P.M. EST on Friday night!  And keep an eye on your social media over the weekend, too.  We like to showcase links that catch our eye during the party via Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.  You might see your link featured there!

The post Share It Thursday from Link Party #47 appeared first on TGIF - This Grandma is Fun.