4th of July Americana Decorations - Vintage Firecrackers

Oh, my gosh! I love these 4th of July Americana vintage firecrackers! This project started before the 4th but was set aside. You know how it is! They will be perfect for Labor Day, which is just around the corner!

These are inspired by a post on Country Living. The examples in that post are paper towel tubes with crepe paper and printouts of Victorian postcards. You can find some of the vintage graphics here ►Country Living Vintage Graphics. Some of the images are courtesy of VintageHolidayCrafts.com.

You can choose the graphics you like. For these, I tried to enlarge the graphics to roughly 3″ x 5″. Using PicMonkey, or your favorite editing tool, you can add three to a page easily. Print one for each of the firecrackers.

[ctt template=”8″ link=”08tzf” via=”no” ]You’ll love these 4th of July Americana vintage firecrackers! This easy DIY craft will be perfect for Labor Day, which is just around the corner! [/ctt]

Paper towel tubes and toilet paper tubes are bigger around and some are so flimsy these days! I like the smaller diameter of the Reynold’s Wrap and the Saran Wrap. That is what you will see in this post. You will have to figure out the measurements for the larger rolls if you use those.

Supplies Needed

Print-outs of vintage 4th of July postcards
Empty Tubes from Reynold’s Wrap or Saran Wrap
Vintage Americana Cardstock
Paper cutter or Cutting mat and X-Acto knife
Tacky Glue
1-inch Styrofoam balls
* Wooden Skewers
Scissors
Serrated knife for cutting the cardboard tubes in half

* These are the heavier wooden skewers, which are about 3/16″ in diameter and 12″ long.

Directions

Cut decorative paper to wrap around the cardboard tube roll. — Cut decorative paper to wrap around the cardboard tube.

First, cut the cardboard tubes in half. Then, you should have two 6-inch tubes. Measure the length of the cut tube and add a couple of inches to the measurement. (8 inches in this case.) Measure around the tube and add an extra 1/2″ for overlap.

Using the measurements, cut a piece of patriotic paper.

Glue The Patriotic Paper To The Tube

First, apply a bead of Tacky Glue along the edge of the paper, leaving an inch on both ends with no glue. Lay the cardboard tube in the glue. Make sure you have the paper straight on the roll. Hold it firmly for a minute or so until it holds firmly. The Tacky Glue sets up quickly. Once it sets up, add more glue to the rest of the paper, again avoiding the excess on both ends. Wrap the cardboard tube with the decorative cardstock, leaving an inch overhang on both ends.

4th of July Americana Decorations - Vintage Firecrackers — Glue the paper to the cardboard roll.

Be sure not to glue too close to the edge. You want the glue to go to the edge of the paper when it is pressed down but you don’t want an excessive amount that will make a mess. Be ready with a damp paper towel just in case a little bit squishes out from under the printout.

Hold the paper firmly along the cut edge until the glue holds. The Tacky Glue sets up quickly.

Finishing Both Ends of the Firecrackers

To finish the ends, use sharp scissors to cut roughly 1/4-inch slices in the ends of the decorative paper all the way to the cardboard tube. The slices need to be close enough that the tabs will wrap over the end easily without tearing.

Then, wrap all of the tabs over the end and to the inside. With your finger, smooth the tabs with the glue onto the inside of the tube. Repeat on the opposite end.

Glue The Vintage Graphic To The Firecrackers

Cut out the graphic. Run a line of glue on the backside of the cut graphic. Center the graphic lengthwise and place the long edge along the visible cut edge of the paper wrapped on the roll. Smooth down the edge.

Lay the edge of the graphic along the cut edge

Then, apply more glue to the back of the graphic and smooth the graphic around the tube.

Adding The Cone-Shaped Top

Cut a 3-1/2 – inch circle from coordinating or contrasting paper. Cut a line from the center to the edge of the circle. To make sure all the cones are the same size, make a mark that measures 3 and 1/8 inches from the cut edge to the outside edge of the circle.

Cut a 3.5 - inch circle from coordinating paper. — Cut a 3.5 – inch circle from coordinating paper.

Apply glue to the decorative side of the cut edge. Glue to the back edge of the circle, placing the cut edge on the 3-1/8″ mark, and roll into a cone. Hold the edge of the paper securely for a minute until the glue is set. Then, lift the loose edge, apply glue underneath, smooth, and hold until set.

Then, lift the loose edge, apply glue underneath, smooth, and hold until set.

Adding The Skewers To The Firecrackers

Sometimes real fireworks have the wooden pick lined up along the edge of the tube. That is not the look I want. So, it took a little bit to come up with an idea to keep the skewer in the middle of the tube. Remembering that there are some 1-inch Styrofoam balls in my stash, a plan is born. Here it is…

Push the skewer through the middle of one of the 1-inch Styrofoam balls. You want the skewer end to reach the opposite end, keeping the Styrofoam ball at the bottom. Position the pointed end of the skewer in the middle of the tube. Push another foam ball onto the pointed end, leaving about half of the ball exposed.

Apply glue to the end of the tube and the Styrofoam ball.

Place the cone on top of the glue, and hold it firmly while the glue sets. With the Tacky Glue, it only takes a minute. You can display these in a festive bucket or tin decorated with a patriotic ribbon! I’m planning to fill in around the firecrackers with some patriotic pinwheels made with the Cricut.

If you want, you can add pieces of trim to decorate the top and bottom of these vintage firecrackers, but I personally, like the fireworks just like this! Insert a pipe cleaner ‘wick’ if you like. but you know, I don’t think they need it.

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7 comments / Add your comment below

Dee | Grammy's Grid says:

2021-06-25 at 9:44 AM

What a cute idea! Thanks so much for linking up with me at A Themed Linkup 62 for All Things American and Patriotic. Pinned!

1. Debra Jerry says:
  
  2021-06-25 at 10:27 AM
  
  Thanks, Dee!
  
Dee | Grammy's Grid says:

2021-07-03 at 6:39 AM

CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at A Themed Linkup 63 for Home Décor Printables from my previous linkup for All Things American and Patriotic!

1. Debra Jerry says:
  
  2021-07-04 at 3:37 AM
  
  Awesome! Thanks, Dee!
  
Dee | Grammy's Grid says:

2022-08-30 at 8:15 AM

Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at A Themed Linkup 115 for All Things American and Patriotic. Pinned.

1. Debra Jerry says:
  
  2022-09-01 at 5:33 AM
  
  Thanks again for pinning, Dee!
  
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4th of July Americana Decorations – Vintage Firecrackers