4th of July Paper Plate Firework Craft

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Get ready to light up your Fourth of July celebrations with an explosion of creativity! Who says fireworks only belong in the night sky? Let’s make some magic right at home!

If you’re like my family, you can’t help but be entranced by the spectacular light show that brightens up the sky each 4th of July. Maybe your little ones find the loud noises a tad overwhelming, or maybe your family, just like ours, simply can’t get enough of those mesmerizing bursts of glittering light. Regardless of your reasons, we have an easy craft project that is fantastic fun for kids of all ages and adults alike – DIY paper plate fireworks!

We’re a family of serious Fourth of July enthusiasts and firework art is one of our favorite traditions. After having a blast making firework designs with a toilet roll tube and salad spinner fireworks, we were eager to explore other ways to recreate those magical, glittering explosions. Our next venture? Fork-painted fireworks! They’re an absolute treat to make! So sparkling and captivating, these homemade fireworks are sure to dazzle you!

The beauty of this project lies not just in the end result but also in its simplicity. With minimal supplies and just a few minutes, you can create your own festive firework display. It’s a great way to pass the time while you’re waiting for the grilled goodies at your July cookout or as a fun prelude to the grand pyrotechnics show.

These fantastic fireworks aren’t just for the Fourth of July, though! They’re fun ideas for all sorts of celebrations! Why not make a batch for New Year’s Eve, Memorial Day, or Canada Day? Let your imagination soar with every festive occasion.

We can’t wait for you to try this craft for your next patriotic project. But the fun doesn’t stop here! Looking for more Independence Day activities? You’re in luck! We’ve got a bunch of fun crafts, recipes, SVG files, and more to add a dash of DIY charm to your Fourth of July celebrations. And don’t forget to check out our FREE 4th of July Word Search Printable & 4th of July Printable Sudoku Puzzles.

How to Make Paper Fireworks Craft:

To get started making your own cute firework craft, pour a quarter size amount of each color of paint onto a paper plate. 

Using the back side of the fork, dip one fork into the desired color of paint. 

Important: Dab the fork onto the paper plate a few times to make sure you get the excess paint to come out of the middle of the fork prongs!

Gently press the back of the fork that’s covered in paint onto the other paper plate.

Continue to do this in a full circle, getting more paint as necessary as you press the fork down. You’ll start to see your fireworks pattern coming together now!

Repeat these steps about 3 times. (I found that for this activity, you can fit about three sets of fireworks onto the plate.)

You can alternate the colors if you’d like (for example a red and blue set of fireworks).

After each set of firework paintings are complete, sprinkle glitter onto the fireworks. 

Once the activity is complete, set aside your colorful fireworks to dry. Display your fireworks masterpieces! 

They look SO pretty once finished!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s The Best Paint For This Project?

Any type of vibrant acrylic or tempera paint will work! These washable, glitter paints by Crayola are perfect for at-home or classroom use! They require little clean-up and still shine bright!

What Supplies Can I Use As An Alternative To Plastic Forks?

You can use craft sticks, chopsticks, or wooden skewers to make your firework painting. Anything that can make a vertical line will work! We’ve even used recycled toilet paper rolls for making painted fireworks. Kids can practice their fine motor skills by cutting some fine lines part way up a cardboard tube, then press the fringed end of the cardboard tube into paint and stamp firework shapes onto your plate or paper. It’s so easy and fun!

What Can I Use Instead Of Paper Plates?

You can use black paper, construction paper, or craft paper instead of using paper plates. These beautiful fireworks will really ‘POP’ against the black paper!

Fork Painted Fireworks Shapes Quick Instructions

Paper Plate Fireworks

These dazzling DIY fireworks take minimal supplies to make! They’ll look fabulous hung up during your Fourth of July celebrations!

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What You’ll Need:

• 2 Paper Plates
• 2 Plastic Forks
• Red Craft Paint
• Blue Craft Paint
• Silver Glitter

Instructions:

• To get started making your own cute firework craft, pour a quarter size amount of each color of paint onto a paper plate. 
• Using the back side of the fork, dip one fork into the desired color of paint. 
• Important: Dab the fork onto the paper plate a few times to make sure you get the excess paint to come out of the middle of the fork prongs!
• Gently press the back of the fork that’s covered in paint onto the other paper plate.
• Continue to do this in a full circle, getting more paint as necessary as you press the fork down. You’ll start to see your fireworks pattern coming together now!
• Repeat these steps about 3 times. (I found that for this activity, you can fit about three sets of fireworks onto the plate.)
• You can alternate the colors if you’d like (for example a red and blue set of fireworks).
• After each set of firework paintings are complete, sprinkle glitter onto the fireworks. 
• Once the activity is complete, set aside your colorful fireworks to dry. Display your firework masterpieces! 

Notes:

NOTE: If you don’t want to use glitter for this art project, you can easily swap this item for shiny star stickers or glitter glue for a more mess free cleanup!

Did You Make This?Mention @HeidiKundin or tag #hihmakersclub on Instagram to show off your awesome work! ♥

This paper plate firework craft is such a fun way to celebrate the holiday! Don’t forget to pin this easy craft for later so you can always have some quick holiday fun to come back to! Happy crafting!