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I cannot believe tomorrow is July! Independence Day will be here before we know it so we had to start making some crafts for the day. There is a little bit of a debate in our house regarding if this is a 4th of July Rocket or Firework, but our daughter insists it is a rocket, so that is what I’m going with. Regardless if you want to label this craft a rocket or a firework, your kids will love flying it around. Use red, white, and blue materials to give it that patriotic pop.
What You Need
***DISCLAIMER: Parental supervision is required with all projects. I hope you enjoy the quality time creating memories together!***
- Toilet Paper Roll
- Construction or cardstock paper (preferably red, white, and blue)
- Pieces to decorate the rocket, i.e. foam stars, star stickers, etc.
- Ribbon or streamers (optional)
- Glue
- Scissors
- Straw or stick (optional)
We like to use cardstock paper when we do crafts because it is a little more durable than construction paper, but any paper will work for this craft. Pro tip: do not buy cardstock that has a white core or else you will see the white on any cut edge.
How To Make Your Rocket
Start by deciding your color scheme. We chose to make a blue rocket with a red top, so my directions will be based on this scheme, but apply them to your own. Cut your blue rocket paper to fit around the toilet paper roll, approximately 4×6. Wrap it around the roll and glue it together. Take the red circle for the top (approximately 4in diameter) and cut a slit from one edge to the middle. Roll the paper to make a cone and glue it together. Carefully put a layer of glue on the top edge of the blue rocket and place your red top on. You will need to carefully hold in place for a minute to make sure it sticks on straight.
Now that you have your rocket built, you can begin decorating. We cut some stars out of foam and some stripes out of white cardstock. I love using opportunities like this to help my daughter practice her scissor skills. You could also use stickers, foil, or felt to decorate. Once you have all your decorations glued on, it is time to add the flames.
I cut about three inches of two ribbons I had on hand – red and orange. You can use ribbon, streamers, or paper. This will represent the flames coming from the bottom of the rocket after takeoff. My ribbon was thick, so again, I used this opportunity to practice scissor skills. Once your flames are the right width, place a small dab of glue on the inside bottom of the roll and stick on the ribbon. Go around the inside bottom of the roll until you have all your “flames” secured.
Flying Your 4th of July Rocket
One last thing you can do is tape a straw or stick to the inside of the roll so your child can hold onto that and fly their rocket around. Afterall, what good is a 4th of July Rocket if they can’t enjoy it, right? Have a fun and safe holiday!
Happy crafting!
Check out our collection of 4th of July activities and crafts for more inspiration!