Firecrackers that pack a fun bang!

For me, TODAY is one of the best days of the year…the first official day of summer!  I love the sunshine, warm weather, and fun summer holidays.  July is just a few weeks away and, if your family is anything like mine, we love throwing a good 4th of July party!  It helps that both my mom’s and my grandma’s birthdays are on the 4th of July.  How special that they get to share that great patriotic day together!

In preparation for our 4th of July celebration this year, I just had to make these treat-filled firecrackers that I  tweaked from an idea in my recent Taste of Home magazine.  They should be explosive fun party favors for family and friends at any patriotic celebration, or use as a kid’s craft!

Materials needed:

• paper towel tubes cut in half or toilet paper tubes
• patriotic colors of tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and wide-edge ribbon
• treats for filling (I used pop rocks candy, red/white/blue salt water taffy, and small miscellaneous firecrackers like poppers, smoke bombs, etc.

First, if you are using large sheets of tissue paper, cut 2-3 layers into 10×10 inch squares.  Next roll the paper towel or toilet paper tubes around the tissue paper, gluing as you go (I used hot glue, but a glue stick or Elmer’s glue would work too, just a longer drying time).

Cut a few pipe cleaners into 2-3 pieces, saving the majority of the full-length ones for later.  Wrap the small pipe cleaner pieces around the bottom of the tissue paper, twist tightly, and then push the end up into the tube to hide it.

Then fill your firecrackers with yummy patriotic goodies and toys.

Wrap festive wide-edged ribbon around the tubes in various fashions, then twist a large pipe cleaner around the top, curling with a pencil.

Make fuses by shaping a pipe cleaner into a star shape and securing them to the top.

So start saving your paper towel and toilet paper rolls!

I hope your 4th of July is a real “Bang!” and that you keep celebrating all summer long!