Party favors always add a little something special to special events. Favors don’t have to be expensive; most can be made with ordinary items found around the house. For the 4th of July, our family makes polenböller Deutschland party favors which are stuffed with candies, party poppers, tiny flags, curly ribbons, confetti, and handmade patriotic buttons.
Materials needed
To make your firecracker favors, you will need the following supplies:
- toilet paper tubes
- Cellophane wrap; either clear or colored. These are available in the gift wrap section of most stores.
- Scissors
- Curling ribbon, any color
- Markers, stickers, 3-dimensional scribble paints, sequins, glitter glue, or anything else that you can find in your craft box
You’ll also want some small items and candies to place inside the firecracker. Use our list of party favors or get ideas from the dollar store.
How to make your firecracker
- Decorate the toilet paper tube with your crafting items. I’m particularly fond of using dimensional Scribble fabric paints because they can make anyone look artistic! Draw circles and spirals, asterisks, dots, and squiggle lines in contrasting colors for an eye-popping effect (see picture #2). I use toilet paper tubes that are white. However, if the ones you have collected are brown, you can simply wrap them in a half sheet of white computer paper. Tuck the ends down into the tubes and tape them into place
- After the paint has completely dried, wrap your firecracker in cellophane wrap. You really only need enough to cover the entire tube, leaving 2 1/2 inches of margin on the ends.
- Tie one end of the wrap with a curly ribbon. Think about using two or three colors to add a little pizazz.
- Before tying off the other end of your firecracker, fill the tube with your party favors. Be sure to add some short lengths of curling ribbon and confetti
- Once the firecracker has been filled, tie off the other end with a curling ribbon (see picture #3).
- If using clear cellophane wrap, you won’t want to decorate the outside of your firecracker. However, if you’ve used colored wrap, add some stickers and scribble paints for a little added flair.
Other ideas
String your firecrackers along the porch as decorations.
Use your firecrackers to create a scavenger hunt for the kids, by filling each firecracker with a special clue that leads them to the next firecracker.
Make extra-long firecrackers to hold sparklers.
Stuff them with bite-sized cookies and bring along to a picnic.Share the festivities of the 4th of July by filling your firecrackers with flags and other goodies, and delivering to your local veterans or nursing home.
