Sunday, January 6, 2008

3 Kids Craft Ideas for Independence Day

There are plenty of fun ways that you can craft your way into the 4th of July. If you are looking for some great Independence Day craft ideas, we have some for you. But, before you look at those options, all you have to do to come up with your own is to think about the day, the reason for the day, the colors and the fun it will offer. There are plenty of things that you can do to make this day truly amazing. If you are ready to celebrate, here are a few craft ideas to take into consideration. You can find full details on how to make them throughout the web or use your own creativity.

The Pinwheel. Nothing shouts Happy 4th like the pinwheel. TO make them, simple fold a piece of paper into a star shape. You will want to create a center section that will allow you to place a push pin through it. Have the kids color the paper red, white and blue before they begin folding. You'll need to squares to work with. Place the two sheets together. Then, cut the first sheet from the corners towards the middle about half way. Fold the corners to the middle, secure with push pin around a pencil at the back.
Tip! Use an old (or new!) fishing case, with all its many compartments, for your small craft parts.

Flags. Flags are the most traditional of ways to celebrate the 4th. For a simple design, have your child color a picture of the flag on a piece of paper. Then, attach one side of the flag to popsicle sticks for a pole and they have a great looking flag to wave!

Stars. Another great way to show your pride is with stars. Here have each child decorate paper stars on the front and the back in a wide range of designs. Anything goes! Red, white and blue work best. Then, place a small hole through the top of each and string them together. You can hang at your 4th of July celebration for a great way to celebrate. It makes a great decoration for around the table too.

You can find lots of fun craft projects for the 4th of July. In fact, you can make it a history lesson with a few great fact sheets, coloring sheets about the Founding Fathers and a wide range of other things. One thing is for sure. You will want the kids to enjoy themselves. Just getting out the red, white and blue finger paint and letting them go at it is enough to make this a very special celebration of the 4th of July!

Nicola always enjoys celebrating Independence Day. She can help you salute Old Glory in style with 4th of July party tips and news, information and views at http://independence-day.your-holiday.info

This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-Holiday.info

The Craft of Candle Making

Candle makers know that candles are a welcome addition to our daily dealings. This knowledge has transformed the candle making business into a multi-billion dollar industry, with big wigs like Yankee Candle Company pounding out product, small independent businesses like Kingston Candles in New Hampshire following suit, and thousands of men and women making candles from their home.

The inception of candle making is hard to trace. In ancient Egypt, candles were regularly made using beeswax in 3000 B.C. In places like China and Japan, whale fat was used for candle making. Fat from cows and sheep were used for candle making in Europe during the middle-ages. It wasn't until 1790 that a method not involving animals, or their by-products, was used. Waxy molds—specifically called paraffin, which was derived from coal—were used for candle manufacturing with the help of a machine that could produce more than a thousand candles an hour.

Paraffin wax is the primary ingredient used in candle making today. The wax is melted down, poured into the shape of the candle mold that is desired, with the wick is placed inside. This is not exactly a detailed explanation of the process, but it is, in essence, the way in which it is done (a fully-formed candle can take several days to complete between the warming and cooling of the candle; some steps involved in making the candle can't be done until it is completely cooled). This relatively easy process of candle making is garnering not only enjoyment for the crafty among us, but a great deal of money for the entrepreneurial among us. And for those who are really crafty and want to add their own special zip to their product, candles spiced with marbled colors, bi-colors, tri-colors as well as draping layers add a special flare that the ancient Greeks and Chinese could only dream about.
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