Easy DIY Red White and Blue Party Decoration
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This DIY Red White and Blue Party Decoration couldn’t be easier. This is one the kids can make too!
As Memorial Day approaches with the 4th of July right behind, you need fun, quick and colorful decorations to show your national pride! This bright and easy DIY Red White and Blue Party Decoration takes only a couple minutes to create. You’ll have a fun addition to the celebration in no time.
You’ll only need a few things: red and blue food coloring, white rice, mason jars, (or other glass containers that could work as a candle holder), and some votive candles or small pillar candles. You’ll also need some glass or metal bowls for mixing as well as some spoons too. And since food coloring is involved, prepare any surfaces as needed to avoid and accidental splatters. (I always end up with food coloring on something that it’s not supposed to be on, but maybe that’s just me?)
Once you have all of the pieces and parts, you’re ready to go. Like I said, it’s super easy.
Here’s what you do:
- Separate rice into desired amounts per layer. We used 2 cups of rice for each color.
- Squirt food color into rice, you might need to use the back of the spoon to evenly distribute the food color throughout the rice. We used several drops to achieve a deep color, use more or less for the desired depth of color. Be sure to use metal or glass bowls and spoons as food color can stain some plastics.
- Spread each color on baking sheets to dry (could take about 15-30 minutes depending on humidity).
- Layer in jars for desired pattern and order of colors.
- Gently settle a votive or small pillar candle in the middle of the rice.
That’s it! Time to party and celebrate!
Once the party is over you can save the colored rice to use for your next festive occasion, because recycling is a good thing. Just put a top on the jar and gently store it away.
Happy celebrating, y’all!
These are adorable. I have more than enough jars to do the job.
Wow these are awesome! my son wants to make some for his teachers as end of the year gifts and im going to make them for my sons grad party in his school colors! what an inexpensive way to decorate! thanks!
What a fun activity, too! Thanks for sharing, and have a wonderful holiday weekend.
Love, Love, Love, Love, Love this!
This will be fun to do with the grandchildren (ages 3 thru 9) we will do it outside, so no mess there, make sure to sweep so the birds do not get raw rice. They will each have a task, and share stories. Any occasion can be adapted simply, Yeah.
I’m going to make a couple of these to have at the VA office where I work at, I volunteer one or two days out of the week, while there I going to use battery operated votive candles, neat idea 🙂
Great idea Marian! Those will be great year-round there.
is this water proof?
We dye pasta in our kindergarten class. We do it in a large ziplock bag. We add some rubbing alcohol to the bag along with the food coloring and pasta. The alcohol seems to make the drying process go much faster. We spread the pasta out on old newspaper for a faster clean up. I’m going to give it a try with the rice!
Thanks for the helpful drying tip. That’s great!
We also did the pasta in kindergarten but we also did rice with alcohol and it worked great. Can’t wait to use it with this idea. Thanks!!!
I totally remember doing colored pasta in kindergarten now that you mention it, Wanda. Fun times!
Just beautiful! great idea. I have just started following you and I love your site Amy! HAVE A HAPPY JULY 4TH! 🙂
Found this through Pinterest! It’s an absolutely adorable idea and something that I could actually create. Linking back to your blog in the Tip Yourself email tomorrow. I know we have a lot of users who are looking for crafty ideas for the 4th!
Is the rice cooked or just straight from the box?
Not cooked. Straight from the package.
How far in advance can I make these?
I am curious where everyone put there cute jars once they were created?
Dry cute, what size mason jars to u use for rhis project?
Whatever size you would like to use that will fit a votive will work.
Thanks for posting this so long ago! I am currently doing this project with 2nd-4th graders for summer STEM camp. We are using much smaller jars, but they are still super adorable. They are really loving it! It’s great because my older kids love to help make the colored rice and everyone loves filling their jars. We stuff a little bit of paper towels in at the top so that the rice stays intact during transport. Thanks for such a fun craft.