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Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

This original Fourth of July craft was created for Daily Candy Kids. Welcome, Daily Candy readers!

I mourn sparklers. The City of Chicago banned sparklers in 2007 joining most other ousted fireworks.  Yes, I understand that sparklers can be dangerous especially for small children yet my nostalgia for dancing sparks runs deep. What’s a Fourth without them?

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

In the spirit of all things wavy and shiny here’s a craft for making safer spark-free sparklers personalized for your family’s Fourth of July celebration. And it all starts with an unused pair of wooden chopsticks

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

This project can be easily adapted to making fairy and wizard wands, birthday party shakers or pom poms in your school’s colors.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Yankee doodle indeed!

WANNA MAKE IT? Free template, supply list and DIY step-by-step instructions for creating my Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland after the jump –>

Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com
Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com Merriment :: Sparkless Sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free craft by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Supplies:

Please post a comment below if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Optional supplies to personalize your sparklers:

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

WARNING: This project contains potential choking hazards due to small parts. It is intended for ages 3+ and assumes parental supervision. Please decide if your child is old enough to use scissors; if not, parents should cut all pieces.

1. Cut your sparks.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Cut 10-14 pieces of grosgrain ribbon at varying lengths, snipping 45-degree angles on one end to make them pretty. I used four 8” blue, four 10” red, two 12” white, two 12” tri-stripe and two 8” tri-stripe.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Unroll the foil party garland.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Cut 1-1½ inches of silver, blue and red strips, keeping the connected base intact. Stack them into a pile.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

You could substitute anything shiny here – leftover Christmas tinsel, curling giftwrap ribbon. Personally, I like using foil fringe garland because it’s easier and faster to work with and you get a range of colors in one package – red, blue, gold, silver, green and purple – that you could use for fairy and wizard wands or pom pom shakers in your school’s colors.

Be creative! Each child can have their own combination of sparkles and ribbon depending on how shiny or wavy they’d like their sparkler to be.

3. Bundle sparks.

Make two even stacks of ribbons, making sure the ends are even.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Place the foil stack on top of one of the ribbon stacks. The foil base is long so I staggered the pile so that the ribbon started 1/2” below where the fringe begins (or you can cut it but it works fine this way). Place the other ribbon stack on top. Your foil is now in a ribbon sandwich.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

3. Attach sparks to your wand.

Unwrap the unused chopstick. Gently slip the ribbon and foil stack between the sticks, making sure to avoid breaking them apart.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Starting at the ribbon end, wrap the electrical tape around the wand.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Wrap the tape around ribbon until secure…

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

…then go down the stick by overlapping tape a bit on an angle, just like you would change a tennis grip.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Trim the foil pieces to various lengths so they complement rather than overpower the ribbon.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

3. Personalize (optional)
Decorate your wooden letter using markers or paint.

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

Once dry, glue the letter securely to the base and allow to dry completely before using. Happy and safe Fourth of July, everybody!

Merriment :: Sparkless sparklers for kids for the Fourth of July using chopsticks, ribbon and party garland free DIY tutorial craft project for Merriment Design by Kathy Beymer at MerrimentDesign.com

COPYRIGHT NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use this idea and project instructions for personal use. Contact me for any commercial use – this includes etsy sellers.

Please post a comment below if you use this project so I can smile when I see that it’s being used. Craft and pass it on!

Vi.sualize.us

Friday 9th of January 2015

It makes sense then to have most if not all of your first plots of land dedicated to the alfalfa crop. Whatever the reason, if your pizza crust suddenly is not the same after you move, I'd do some trial and error experimenting with adjustments to the recipe to see if you can get better results.

Exactly how many features really does the maker have got.

moDeC

Tuesday 3rd of July 2012

I will be using this project for our Summer Camp I will be having at home. Here in MEXICO. The last week of July we will have the Olympics theme, so we will be making these sparklers with our Mexico colors.

Carolyn @ Mama's Little Muse

Monday 2nd of July 2012

This is a great idea! Thank you! We will definitely give it a whirl!

Amanda

Sunday 24th of June 2012

Just stopping by to let you know I've featured this in a fun 4th of July round up on FamilyCorner.com Thanks for the great idea! http://www.familycorner.com/family/10-fun-crafts-and-recipes-for-july-4th.shtml

Katania

Friday 27th of May 2011

I absolutely love this ideas especially with a little on at home. I featured your sparklers on my Friday Favorites. Feel free to check it out at http://ktdesigns-katania.blogspot.com/2011/05/friday-favorites-memorial-day.html

Kathy Beymer

Sunday 5th of June 2011

Thanks, Katania, for including me on your July roundup!