Easy Fireworks Craft for July 4th

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Are you looking for the perfect boredom buster while the kids are on summer break? Learn how to turn an ordinary household item into a spectacular fireworks craft! In less than 5 minutes, you and your kids can create festive paper fireworks to spark joy and imagination.

Two paper fireworks and paper fan in a planter with flowers.

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How to Make Paper Fireworks

Scrapbook paper is the one craft material I cannot resist. If there’s a sale, I will fall prey! That’s because it’s easy to transform scrapbook paper into something magical. There are so many possibilities!

I’ve used decorative paper to make everything from rustic patriotic signs to garden stakes. These DIY paper fans top the list of budget-friendly crafts too. (Plus, they come in handy when battling this disrespectful summer heat.)

Two patriotic wood signs resembling a U.S. flag with stars and stripes motif sitting next to plant on table — Americana wood signs

Decorative garden stakes with Americana patriotic theme sitting in flower pot - DIY tutorial — Americana wood signs

To make this fireworks craft, you’ll only need a few supplies, and it’s easy enough to involve the whole family. It’s a great project to use up scraps from past projects too!

Supplies

Scrapbook paper
Toilet paper rolls or paper towel rolls
Wooden dowels
Paper trimmer or scissors
Hot glue, school glue, or tape roller

Note: Instead of hot glue, use school glue or tape to make this kid-friendly.

Step 1: Decorate the roll with scrapbook paper

Steps showing how to cut scrapbook paper and glue it onto a paper towel roll to make a fireworks craft.

Wrap the scrapbook paper around the paper towel roll to mark a cut line, ensuring the paper will overlap slightly.
Use a paper trimmer or scissors to trim the paper to size.
Attach the paper towel roll to the scrapbook paper along one edge using a glue gun or another adhesive.
Wrap the paper towel roll completely in scrapbook paper and glue the remaining edge closed.

Tip

If you’re using toilet paper rolls, join them with tape to make your fireworks longer before covering them with scrapbook paper.

I used both 8.5 x 11-inch scrapbook paper and 12 x 12-inch scrapbook paper sheets since those are the standard sizes sold at most craft stores. You can also find scrapbook paper packs online with coordinating patriotic patterns.

The benefit of using standard letter paper is that most paper towel rolls measure about 11 inches in length. That makes the trimming a little easier and leaves little waste.

Step 2: Add a topper to the fireworks

Steps to cut the pointed top of a paper firework and glue it to a paper towel roll using scrapbook paper and hot glue.

Use a household object to measure a circle about four inches in diameter.
Cut out the circle, and make a slit the length of the radius toward the center.
Fold the circle until it forms a cone shape. Glue the cone in place.
Attach the cone to the cylinder using hot glue or another adhesive.

Step 3: Add a wooden dowel

If you plan to use your fireworks craft to decorate for the 4th of July or Memorial Day, add wooden skewers with hot glue or tape. For more glitzy details, you can add streamers or ribbons to the end of the fireworks. Let your imagination run wild!

Adding a wooden dowel to a fireworks craft with a hot glue gun.

These festive fireworks look great in a floral centerpiece as table decorations. You can coordinate them with paper fans to complete the look.

For more patriotic inspiration, check out these July 4th outdoor decor ideas next, and don’t forget to pin this for later down below!

More Summer Activities

For more activities to keep the kids busy this summer, grab my free printable summer bucket list. It has plenty of budget-friendly ideas for the whole family, including crafts, indoor activities, outdoor excursion ideas, and more.