Heads up, tomorrow is the 4th of July! Not only that, but since it falls on a Friday, it’s a great opportunity to have your family and friends get together for a big celebration, since you won’t have to worry about going to work the next day.

If you’re already planning a party for the 4th, then you don’t need a reminder. But you might need some decorations – and if you need decorations by tomorrow, then you need something quick and easy! We’ve found some great Do It Yourself guides for 4th of July decorations that you can create with paper and other things found around the office.

July 4th Party Medallions

This guide has both instructions as well as free printables, so if you like the exact design shown in the pictures, you can just print them out! This is a simple craft that you can use as a fun centerpiece on the picnic table to draw attention to the food.

You’ll Need:

  • Heavy white cardstock paper
  • Red and blue cardstock or patterned cardstock
  • Circle cutter or scissors
  • Paper glue
  • Bamboo skewers or other small sticks

Directions:

  1. Cut 2 pieces of red or blue cardstock to be 3 inches by 12 inches.
  2. Fold paper accordion-style. The pleats should be at least ½ inch each.
  3. Overlap the folds of each strip and glue them together to form one long strip.
  4. Form a circle with the new strip and glue the other ends together.
  5. If the circle pops up in the center, turn the medallion over and add a little glue between each fold. Then push the center of the medallion where it sticks up until it’s flattened out. Hold until the glue dries.
  6. Print out the 3 inch Stars & Stripes circle or create your own, and cut them out.
  7. Glue the circle onto the middle of the medallion.
  8. Glue a bamboo stick to the back of the medallion in one of the folds and display it as desired.
  9. Repeat to your heart’s content.
4th of July Medallions

Patriotic Mason Jar Lanterns

You might not be able to find mason jars or paints just sitting around the office, but these are both really simple and super cool. With paint and some cutout stars, you can have gorgeous homemade 4th of July lanterns for when the sun goes down and the fireworks start going off.

You’ll Need:

  • Clear mason jars
  • Sticker paper
  • Scissors or star cutouts
  • Hole punchers
  • Red, white and blue paints (chalky finish paint recommended)
  • Masking tape/painter’s tape
  • Tea light candles

Directions:

  1. Cut out stars in different sizes with the sticker paper. You can usually find star-shape cutouts at any craft store, or you can do it by hand. You’ll need enough to decorate at least one of the jars.
  2. Use the hole puncher to create dots, also on the sticker paper.
  3. Stick either stars or dots all over the mason jars (or you can mix them if you want, it’s your project).
  4. Paint all the jars white.
  5. Once the paint dries, create stripes on some of the mason jars with the tape and paint red over the exposed white paint.
  6. Once this paint dries, remove the tape and peel off the dots. These jars are done.
  7. Stick your stars to the other jars and then paint the entirety of these jars blue.
  8. Once this paint dries, peel off the stickers to reveal white stars.
  9. Once it’s dark, place tea light candles inside the jars and light them.
Mason Jar Lanterns

4th of July Ice Cream Cone Wrappers

This last Do It Yourself craft is the easiest of all. You can print out these wrappers free from the website, and then all you need are some simple supplies.

You’ll Need:

  • Printer paper (preferably shiny)
  • Scissors
  • Ice cream cones (with pointed bottoms)
  • Glue sticks
  • Probably some ice cream

Directions:

  1. Print out the cone wrappers and cut as directed.
  2. Wrap each wrapper around an ice cream cone.
  3. Use the glue stick on the overlapping ends of the paper to hold it on.
  4. Put ice cream on the ice cream cone.
  5. Serve!
Ice Cream Cone Wraps