Firecracker Fun! Make July 4th Party Invitations, Place Cards & Event Schedule

 

Have you ever thought about making your own dyed fireworks paper? Well, Cindi Bisson got her creative juices flowing and used a drinking straw and Rit dye to make splattered fireworks paper, which she turned into party invitations, place cards and an event schedule. What an extra special touch this adds to a festive 4th of July celebration!

 

Cindi is a mixed-media artist and the Associate Producer for When Creativity Knocks, an online craft TV show. She creates a weekly Simple Solutions project and writes a Product Review for the website. For more crafty inspiration, stop by her fun blog, Fat Cat Creations.

 

OK, here's the tutorials...

 

SUPPLIES:

 

 

INSTRUCTIONS:

 

 

 

1. Cover work surface with plastic table cover.

 

2. Wearing latex gloves, measure 1 teaspoon Cherry Red dye into disposable bowl. Add ¼ cup hot water; stir. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 1 minute.

 

3. Measure 1 teaspoon Royal Blue dye into a disposable bowl. Add ¼ cup hot water; stir. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 1 minute.

 

4. Place layer of paper towels on work surface. Lay 8 ½” x 11” piece of dry white cardstock over paper towels.

 

 

5. Place end of drinking straw into hot Cherry Red dye solution. When end is submerged, place finger over top ending of straw and pull small amount of dye from

bowl. Keep finger on top, place straw over cardstock and then remove finger. A few drops of dye will appear on cardstock.

 

6. Hold straw at an angle so it is almost parallel. Gently blow through straw into wet dye causing it to spread outward and create a “firework” effect.

 

7. Repeat this process randomly all over cardstock. Then repeat with Royal Blue dye, allowing colors to overlap and blend in some areas.

 

8. Repeat on additional sheets of white cardstock to create the number of pieces needed to create all post card invitations, event schedule and place cards. Note: If you are going to make the event schedule, determine whether you want the finished sign to be horizontal or vertical before creating your fireworks.

 

9. Place splattered dye sheets individually in microwave on a paper towel. Set on high and microwave for 30 - 60 seconds to dry paper.

 

10. To add sparkle to your dyed fireworks paper, use a craft brush to apply Mod Podge Sparkle all over the dyed sheets of cardstock. Let dry approximately ½ hour.

 

 

 

 

1. Cut blue cardstock to 4 ¼” x 5 ½”. Cut red cardstock to 4” x 5”. Cut dyed firework cardstock to 4 ¾” x 3 ½”. Using Elmer’s Craft Bond Dot Runner, mount red cardstock onto blue. Then mount firework cardstock over red and blue at an angle, as shown.

 

2. Type and print text onto white paper. Cut to desired size. Cut blue cardstock mat and mount.

 

3. Cut gold metallic star accent and small gold border from gold metallic stickers. Embellishments need to be kept flat for easier mailing.

 

 

4. For back of postcard, cut piece of fireworks cardstock 3 ½” x 5 ½”. Center and mount on back of postcard. Print text and trim to desired size. Mount text over two accent pieces of red cardstock, centered on fireworks paper.

 

 

 

 

1. Cut blue cardstock to 5 ½” x 4 ¼”. Fold in half. Cut red cardstock to 3 ¾” x 2 ¼”. Mount at an angle on front of blue folded cardstock. Cut fireworks cardstock to 3 ½” x 2”. Mount at an angle as shown over red cardstock.

 

2. Print name onto white paper, trim and mount onto blue cardstock mat as shown. Add gold sticker border accent, metallic star, and glitter buttons using glue dots.

 

 

 

 

1. Using retractable craft knife, cut foam board to 8 ½” x 11”.

 

2. Mount full sheet of dyed fireworks paper over foam board.

 

3. Print text, mount onto red cardstock mat. Mount to center of fireworks paper.

 

4. Add additional strip of fireworks paper, decorative gold border sticker, metallic star, and glitter button accents, as shown.