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Watercolor painting is a great activity for kids. It’s simple, not super messy, and there are tons of possibilities with colors and templates. This Fourth of July Watercolor is a fantastic activity for kids of all ages, and it makes a cute little piece of wall decor for July. You can make your own watercolor art using the craft below. Keep reading to see how simple this activity is for everyone.

HOW TO VIDEO:

Materials Needed for a Fun Fourth of July Watercolor

When I say this craft is simple, I mean it! You just need the template and some watercolors. The background pieces and crayon steps are completely optional.

FREE template
Watercolor paints – you’ll need red and blue for this activity
Black and white crayons
Navy or dark blue cardstock
Glue stick

If you use this activity for other holidays or times of the year, use any colors you want! Let the kids get creative with a rainbow of colors on their popsicles. After all, popsicles are super colorful!

Fourth of July Watercolor activity printable on counter with watercolors and cardstock

How to Make a 4th of July Watercolor Painting

After you grab your free download, follow these instructions to complete your craft. This is a great activity to do outside when it’s nice and sunny or indoors on a rainy day. Complete it just in time for Independence Day!

First, print your free template.
Trace around the three popsicles with your black crayon.
Using a white crayon, draw a few stars on the first popsicle. This step is optional but I love the way it looks under the watercolors.
Use your watercolors to paint each popsicle with stripes and a variety of red, white, and blue. I used a peachy brown color for the popsicle sticks.
Trim your watercolor paintings into a square shape and then glue the page down on your blue construction paper.

When I glued the pages together, I left a border that was about 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Instead of construction paper, you can also use blue card stock. Whatever you have on hand works fine. Red is also an option if you don’t want blue paper.

Why Outline the Template in Crayon?

Have you ever painted with watercolors and been frustrated by the colors bleeding across the page? The purpose of the crayon outline is to contain the different colors and keep them from spreading and mixing. I outlined my popsicles so they have a crisp outline.

Tips for Watercolors

Watercolor paints are fairly simple to use, but if you want more vibrant or dulled colors, you can use a few techniques. If you want bright, vibrant colors, use less water on your paint set. You just need a small dot of paint to get it to stick to your brush. You’ll end up with bright colors on your page!

If you want more pastel or dulled colors, use more water. The water will dilute the colors and leave them a bit muted. It’s all up to preference and how you want your color palette to look once the craft is finished.

What if I Don’t Have a Printer

If you don’t have a printer to access the free template, you can have the template printed at your local Staples or paper store. They usually print single pages for mere cents! Just download the template to your phone or a USB and take it to the store. The self-print kiosks there will walk you through how to print out a few copies.

You can also create your own watercolor template by drawing some simple popsicles on paper. Create the outlines you want your kids to decorate, and then let them get crafty! You don’t have to use my template at all.

I hope you and your family enjoy making your own patriotic watercolor art!

For more fun, July 4th ideas, check these posts out:

These ideas are great for family gatherings, summer cookouts, and the 4th of July festivities. Try the tasty treats and enjoy the fun crafts with family and friends in the spirit of all things.