DIY July 4th Fireworks Art

In countries across the world, summer usually means no school, ice cream, and trips to the beach. In the United States, however, and especially where we live in New England, summer means one additional thing fireworks!

In the US, 4th of July celebrations are quite literally a blast, with bonfires and fireworks being the predominant way to celebrate, along with picnics, barbecues, and parades. It’s a fun occasion to celebrate and get together with family and friends!

This 4th of July, take some time out from the busy festivities and have fun with your kids with this easy fireworks process art project (a project that focuses on the process, more than the product) for kids! All you need is some simple supplies!

Materials Needed:

• Cardstock or watercolor paper (sturdy paper)
• Wondrous Watercolor Kit
• Paint Brush
• Glue
• Salt (table salt will do!)
• White pencil or crayon
• Cup or bowl of water

Instructions: 

Step 1

Gather your materials. Please note that you’ll need some sturdy cardstock paper or watercolored paper for this craft, as it can get a bit messy.

Step 2

On a dark piece of paper of your choice, draw fireworks using a white colored pencil or crayon.

Step 3

Use white or clear glue to cover your fireworks drawing. Use a paintbrush or your finger to smooth out the glue.

Step 4

Immediately after applying the glue, sprinkle table salt on top of the paper. Let the excess salt fall to the bottom of the paper and discard. Let the glue dry completely before moving on to the next step.

Step 5

Once the glue is dry, use your watercolor paints (and water) to decorate the fireworks. Be sure to observe the process and what happens to the colors. You will notice that the colors spread out once they come into contact with the salt, as the salt acts a resist of sorts. You may also notice that the area where the salt touches the paper will be lighter in color the salt pushes the watercolor pigment away! This part of the process is really fun! Watch as your kids transform their white, salt drawings into vibrant, beautiful designs.

This part of the process is really fun! Watch as your kids transform their white, salt drawings into vibrant, beautiful designs.

Step 6

Allow your artwork to dry completely and hang them up as a display!
(Note that this sort of project can be on display for a short time but does not last forever as the salt will crumble and come away from the glue, even when dry.)

Once your fancy fireworks are complete, keep the fun going! Your kids’ creative juices will likely already be flowing, so allow them to create bonus artwork using these amazing watercolor paints if they would like to. My daughter couldn’t resist making this vibrant tie dyed work of art once she was done with the fireworks!