How to Make a 4th of July Ribbon Wand

Summer is nearly here and that means your kids will have plenty of free time to play outside, read books, and of course partake in crafts projects. The following is an activity easy enough for toddlers and elementary school aged children to do. Ribbon streamers are great for any festive event and will be especially useful at 4th of July parades and events.

For this project you will need the following materials:

• Paper towel roll tube
• Glue
• Scissors
• Hole puncher
• Ruler
• Roll of red and white candy striped ribbon
• Roll of red, white, and blue ribbon

Instructions

1. Start off by wrapping the striped ribbon around the paper towel tube. Use the glue to adhere the ribbon onto the roll.
2. Once the glue has dried completely, punch out 9 holes on the bottom of the paper towel tube using the hole puncher.
3. Cut three strips of red ribbon, blue ribbon and white ribbon that are each 45 inches long. You should have 9 ribbon pieces in total.
4. Tie a knot at the top of each of the ribbon pieces and pull each ribbon through the holes so that the knot is inside of the tube.

Different types of take out boxes

When you think of take out boxes, an image of a plain white Chinese takeout box or foam clamshell box might come to mind. While a majority of restaurants do carry these types of take out boxes, that’s not to say those are the only types available. In fact, take out boxes come in numerous styles, patterns, and colors. Take for example, the polka dot printed boxes that are perfect not only for carrying food but for presenting favors as well. A friend of mine actually used these at her dinner party. She gave away desserts including brownies, cookies, and other treats packaged in a decorative take out box. Not only did this make it easier for guests to carry the treats home, they also appreciated the presentation and beauty of the polka dot take out box.

If patterned take out boxes don’t suit your style, you can always go with the traditional white or mono-colored boxes. Foam clamshell boxes often feature compartmentalized sections to separate different types of foods. One section can be used for the main entrée, the other for the side dish, and the third for an appetizer or dessert. Best of all, take out boxes come in many sizes to accommodate various types of foods.

Baskets for Organizing

Not only are baskets great for gift giving, they are also useful for organizing items around you house. Any room in your home can benefit from some great looking baskets. Recently, it has become a trend to decorate your house using these nifty organizers. If you have a furniture piece with cubicles, you can insert square baskets into the slots to organize household items.

Baskets are also great for organizing items in your children's rooms. Toys, books, art supplies, and other small items can be neatly tucked away in baskets for safe storing. They can be arranged in the room so that your child can easily reach for the items he or she wants, and then put them away later.

In addition to children's rooms, many people use baskets in their bathrooms to organize toiletries. They are fantastic for keeping your hairbrush, curling iron, straightner, and hair products organized in one place. Choose from oval, square, or rectangular baskets for decorating your home. Although traditional baskets are brown or beige, they can also be found in vibrant colors. For a child’s room, for example, you may want to accessorize with brightly colored baskets. Another option is to layer the inside of the basket with a patterned fabric to add a bit of flair and style to the traditional brown basket.

Paper Mart carries a great selection of woven baskets at wholesale prices that are sure to complement any room in your house.