Fourth of July Tablescape

I love setting the table for festive occasions. When I was a child, setting the table on a daily basis was one of my designated chores. I'm sure there were some days I complained about having to prepare the table for dinner, but usually I didn't mind it--especially for holidays. It ended up being good practice for the countless tables I would set and the rolls of silverware and napkins I would put together for the jobs I held during the high school/college years. Today my challenge isn't setting an entire dining room in under 30 minutes though. Now the goal is laying out a tablescape that is both festive and kid-friendly. Here are some fun ideas for your Fourth of July celebration that I'm sure the kids will love...

Interactive Placemats
Chalk cloth can be turned into placemats that will serve as entertainment for the kids. I bought my chalk cloth from Raspberry Creek Fabrics. Cut the cloth down to the size of a placemat. Tip: Just like you would prime a regular chalkboard, chalk cloth needs to be primed too. Simply rub a piece of chalk over the entire surface in both a horizontal and vertical direction. Then clean the chalk off. Now it is ready to be drawn on.

Napkins
Tie some baker's twine around cloth napkins. I get my twine from Hobbies from the Heart.

Add pops of color by layering napkins.

Table Confetti
Gather a hole punch and foam sheets. Most craft stores carry foam sheets. You just may need to look in the the kid's craft section to find them. Use to hole punch to make small foam circles--confetti! The kids will love helping with this step and the next step which is to sprinkle it on the table.

Festive Glasses
These glass jugs are perfect for parties and holiday celebrations. There is actually a funny story behind them that you can read about here. Just a few simple red, white, and blue items dress them up perfectly for the Fourth of July.

Traditional desserts served in unique ways always adds a little fun! Like...cake in mason jars or push-up pop containers.

Happy celebrating!