4th of July Crafts for Seniors

By Anna Hazard

Introduction

As the 4th of July grows near, here are an assortment of inexpensive crafts of varying skill levels that are suitable for seniors, children, or others with hand dexterity issues. Those with hand strength problems may wish to skip or receive assistance with craft styles that use breakables such as glass or make use of heavier materials such as buckets or cans.

Crafts are a fun pass time that can pull double-duty as both indoor & outdoor decor to show off your elderly loved one's patriotic spirit during the upcoming holiday or throughout the rest of the year.

4th of July Candles

• Get in the patriotic spirit with these simple candle crafts in various styles using various base supplies ranging from empty mason jars to rice or sand. Feel free to sub in citronella-based candles to use as bug repellant while celebrating outside or go with flameless LED candles instead of normal pillar or votive ones to avoid any potential fire hazards.
• Elder One Stop | This Grandma is Fun [1,2]  | A Pumpkin & A Princess | Pop Sugar

Patriotic Windsocks

• These crafts would festoon the festivities for any outside 4th of July parties that your senior loved one's may be attending or they could be simply used as summer yard decorations. Various styles of windsocks require various levels of hand dexterity with a bit of prep time or assistance possibly needed for windsocks using metal cans as their base.
• Multiples & More | Robyn's View | A Pumpkin & a Princess | Oriental Trading
  

4th of July Wreaths

• Here are a selection of quick & easy-to-do wreaths that are suitable for showing off your senior loved one's patriotic spirit this coming 4th of July. While some of them using metal or foam wreath bases, other more creative materials such as pool noodles, paper plates, and clothespins also are featured.
  
• Preciously Paired | Enchanted Learning | Mission to Save | Crafts N Coffee
  

4th of July Candy Poppers

• Safer than any home-made fireworks, these firecracker shaped "poppers" filled with candy make great party favors, table decorations, and are a good way to ramp up the ol' 4th of July spirit while making them. Enjoyable for kids and seniors alike, their bases range from candy tubes, to plastic containers, to empty toilet paper rolls (or sub in empty paper towel rolls for those who may be a bit more squeamish)
  
• The Good Stuff | 30 Minute Crafts | Karas Party Ideas | Club Chica
  

Patriotic Luminaries

• Here are a selection of luminaries suitable for lighting up the backyard while waiting for a nightly 4th of July fireworks display (or to take the place of such a display). Add lemon eucalyptus or citronella oils to candles for an additional mosquito repellant benefit or switch to flameless battery or electric lights to avoid fire hazards (especially for those paper based luminaries). Some luminary styles may require additional prep (such as punching holes into cans or paper) for those with hand strength issues.
  
• I Love to Create | Happy Hour Projects | Crafts for All Seasons | Aunt Peaches
  

4th of July Suncatchers

• Display your senior loved one's patriotic spirit not just on July 4th but every day with these fun & easy crafts. They are particularly eyecatching during sunny days (as their names suggest), as everyone hopes July 4th to be. Base materials range from beads, the ever present tissue paper, crayons, to even hand sanitizing wipes.
• Beaded Suncatcher [1, 2] | Hand Sanitizer Suncatcher | Tissue Paper Suncatcher | Crayon Suncatcher
  

4th of July Centerpieces

• These centerpiece crafts are suitable for indoor or (temporary) outdoor display, especially as the finishing touch to grace a 4th of July party table filled with goodies. Different styles of centerpieces require different levels of skills with some using pre-made materials that mostly require rearrangement, to supplies that require a bit of coloring and other additional work, to base materials where everything must be created from the ground up.
• All You [1, 2] |  Plaid Online | Southern Scraps | Fave Crafts
  

4th of July Utensil Holders

• Add an extra bit of patriotic pop to your 4th of July dining tables with these handy utensil holder crafts using tin cans, mason jars, and plain buckets as bases. After prepping the empty tin cans, that style of utencil holder would be the easiest to recreate for those with arthritis while the fancier mason jar varieties are more suitable craftwork for those with better hand dexterity.
• Stockpiling Moms | A Diamond in the Stuff | Home Talk | Crafts By Amanda