The theme this week for Discover & Explore is 4th of July: Red, White & Blue. We are inviting you to share your favorite patriotic activities, crafts, tips, and resources for kids at the end of this post.
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I’ve seen beautiful jar candles all over Pinterest, and I’ve always thought they were fabulous but not quite age appropriate for my preschooler and toddler just yet. Then I read in The Garden Classroom just how super easy they are to make, and I decided we could definitely make some for the Fourth of July.
FIND EVEN MORE 4th of July THEME ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE AMERICA LESSON PLANS.
We gathered some glass jars from the recycling bin. Ours are pizza sauce jars, but you could use any size you like. Then I set up some white glue thinned a bit with water, a paint brush, and some festive sequins. There are also some great suggestions in the book for using other embellishments based on your own style preferences or the holiday you are creating jar candles for.
The girls easily covered the jars with glue. Then I held the jar on its side while they sprinkled sequins all over. We just kept spinning the jar and sprinkling sequins until they were happy with their creations.
Then we let them dry, popped in a battery operated tea light and that was it! I absolutely love them, and so do the girls.
I envisioned placing them outside to decorate for Fourth of July. And the girls let me borrow one just long enough to take this blurry picture (sorry, I haven’t quite figured out nighttime photography). But so far the girls have claimed them as nightlights for their bedrooms.
MORE 4th of July FUN WITH PRINTABLE SUMMER THEME LESSON PLANS
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Preschool America Theme Lesson Plans
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Laura Drew Bailey
Hi I am planning on doing this craft with a group of 6 kids. Can you tell me what size jars you used as well as the approximate amount of sequins you used so I make sure to purchase enough. LOVE THEM! Thanks!
Shaunna Evans
Any size jar will work! These are pizza sauce jars…maybe about 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide.
The sequins are the standard sequin size (7 or 8 mm). Here again there is no “right” type. Smaller ones will work too. The only thing I would stay away from is going too big with the sequins because they may not hold as well to the jar.
Mary Catherine
I’ve already pinned this, and I just love how yours turned out! My son and I are eager to try out something like this soon. ๐ Thanks for sharing at Stress-Free Sunday — I’m featuring you this weekend!
Lisha
This is SUCH a lovely idea – hope to try out at home with my boys and also to share on my parenting page on Facebook one day soon. Please do come and check out our parenting tidbits and tips at http://www.facebook.com/ConsciousParentingApproach – see you there! ๐
Elizabeth @ Rocks, No Salt Mommy
This is beautiful when it’s all lit up! What a great craft that allows kids to get involved and create a usable finished product! I tried my hand at a crafty how-to today for the first time. I hope you can stop by and let me know what you think!
Shaunna
Thank you! It turned out to be a great project. And your shakers are lovely!! Thanks for sharing.
jaime
featured you this week on moms library!
Shaunna
Thank you!
Krissy @ B-Inspired Mama
So beautiful! I’ve scheduled to share it tomorrow on FB. ๐
Shaunna
Thanks! ๐
Deceptively Educational
Stunning! I love this … and it’s great fine motor skills for kids too. I’m stopping over from the TGIF Linky Party. I’d love it if you’d share this (and your other great activities for kids) at the After School Linky Party on my blog each Monday: deceptivelyeducational.blogspot.com. Thanks!
Shaunna
I’m so glad you like them. Thanks for the invitation!
Kirstylee
Those turned out so cute and I had no idea they were so easy to make. Thanks for sharing.
Shaunna
Isn’t that always a nice surprise? So easy!
chelsey
Love the candle! It looks so beautiful, and especially gorgeous all lit up!
Shaunna
Thanks, Chelsey! It really does look pretty lit up…wish my photography skills were a little bet to do it some justice ๐
Ann @ My Nearest and Dearest
These are so pretty! ๐
Shaunna
And so easy!! ๐