Red White and Blue Star Wand Craft

Show your spirit on the Fourth of July and Memorial Day with a patriotic red, white, and blue star wand craft.

This DIY patriotic star wand toy, featuring red, white, and blue ribbons, is an easy, no-sew felt toy perfect for kids and adults alike, making it ideal for the 4th of July and Memorial Day. Making red, white, and blue ribbon wands for the Fourth of July is a safer alternative to sparklers for both children and adults to wave around at parades and parties, allowing them to celebrate in style.

Invite children to help you create these patriotic party favors for any red, white, and blue-themed event with the step-by-step craft project instructions below. First published on June 17, 2017, this post is regularly updated to improve the content. You might also enjoy making Red, White, and Blue Stars Sensory Bottles to add to your festive decor and help calm younger children and those with sensory sensitivities once the fireworks start.

Red, White, and Blue Star Wand 4th of July Crafts:

DIY wands adorned with red, white, and blue ribbons and stars are a fun and festive toy for celebrating the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. These patriotic wand crafts can be created using simple materials, such as wooden dowels, colorful streamers, stiff felt stars, and hot glue, making them an ideal craft for both kids and adults.

Once finished, these simple patriotic toys can be waved proudly during parades, backyard barbecues, or fireworks displays to demonstrate American pride. Whether you’re honoring those who have served or celebrating the nation’s independence, these cheerful wands contribute a spirited, festive touch to your holiday celebrations.

When my daughter and I made these gorgeous rainbow ribbon magic wands with a star, we also made patriotic party favors for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. DIY Star wands with red, white, and blue ribbons are festive patriotic party favors. Red, white, and blue ribbon wands are simple 4th of July crafts that are a much safer alternative to sparklers for children to wave around at 4th of July parties and Memorial Day parades.

For more tips and photos on making a ribbon star wand, check out our rainbow ribbon magic wand tutorial. I made them the same way as instructed in this DIY tutorial, but used rainbow ribbons and gold tinsel cord instead of non-stretch silver cord. However, you can use gold, non-stretch tinsel cord to complete these patriotic star wands if you prefer.

How to Make Red, White, and Blue Ribbon Wands with a Star:

Star wands with red, white, and blue ribbons are fun 4th of July crafts and DIY patriotic party favors! The tutorial below explains how to create these crafts to celebrate the Fourth of July or to express your patriotic spirit at any time of year. Although the star wands in the photographs were assembled with hot glue, the instructions also provide brief directions for hand or machine-sewing them together.

Please note that the directions may vary slightly depending on the craft supplies you choose and whether you prefer to glue or sew them together. For example, you can skip the first step if you use pre-cut felt stars to assemble your patriotic wand crafts. As mentioned above, you can also create magic fairy wands with rainbow-colored ribbons.

Patriotic Star Wand Craft Materials:

Please read through the instructions in the next section before selecting craft materials to make patriotic DIY red, white, and blue wand crafts. This will allow you to make a more informed choice about the supply options to choose from below:

• White stiff felt (or pre-cut stars below)
• Star-shaped cookie cutter or star template (or use pre-cut stars below)
• Fabric marking pen (disappearing ink or use pre-cut shapes below)
  • Alternatively, you can purchase pre-cut 4-inch felt stars in place of stiff white felt, a cookie cutter or star pattern, and a fabric marking pen.
• 3/8 – 0.4 inch (10mm) Red, white, and blue ribbon (or try patriotic ribbon)
• Wooden dowels (1/4 X 12 inches)
• Gold or silver non-stretch tinsel cord (optional)
• Hot glue

Related: How to Start and Finish a Beaded Necklace or Bracelet

Patriotic Star Wand with Ribbons Step-by-Step Tutorial:

Follow the step-by-step instructions below to make these creative crafts for the Fourth of July or Memorial Day. Please read through them before starting these crafts, so you know the steps involved and can make a more informed decision about how you would like to construct them.

1. Trace and cut felt stars:

• Skip this step if you are using pre-cut white felt stars.
• Use a star-shaped cookie cutter (or a star template) and a fabric marker with disappearing ink to trace stars onto the back of the stiff white felt. 
• You will need two stars for each magic wand.
• The ink will disappear in approximately 12-24 hours, or you can use water to remove it.
  • Disappearing ink sewing marking pens even work on white felt!

2. Cut six ribbons in red, white, and blue for each patriotic wand craft:

• Cut six 12 – 14 in sections of red, white, and blue or patriotic ribbons in any color combination you like.
• I used two ribbons of each color (red, white, and blue) for each wand; however, you can choose other colors and designs.
• Arrange the ribbons in the order of your preferred color or design.
• Check out the step-by-step photo collage tutorial below to see how I made the patriotic wand crafts in the photographs.

3. Glue (or sew) the red, white, and blue ribbons onto the felt star:

• Use a low-temperature glue gun or a dual-temperature glue gun on a low setting to attach the patriotic or red, white, and blue ribbons to the inside bottom edge of one of the pairs of felt stars for each patriotic star wand.
• Add a dab of glue to each ribbon, then attach them to the bottom inside edge of one star in each pair.
• Alternatively, you can use a needle and thread to sew the ribbons to one of the stars in each pair.

4. Glue the wooden dowel to the inside of the felt star:

• Place a wooden dowel on one-half of each felt star pair, and glue it to the bottom-middle inside edge of the felt star.
• The star wand photo tutorial below shows how to position and glue the wooden dowel into each pair of felt stars.

5. Glue (or sew) the felt star pairs together with the ribbons and the wooden dowel handle inside:

• Next, glue each star wand together. Follow the steps below:
  • Match the felt stars up for the best fit.
• Glue the stars together with the wooden dowel and ribbons inside, as shown in the photograph below.
• Alternatively, you can hand sew the stars together with a needle and cotton thread using a running, whip, or blanket stitch to finish each red, white, and blue star wand.
  • If you prefer to machine sew the wands together, you can glue the dowel in place before (in step four) or after you sew them.
  • Leave a small 1/4- to 1/2-inch hole at the bottom of the star to insert the wooden dowel rod, if you prefer to glue it in place after sewing the stars together with the ribbons inside.

6. Glue (or sew) the silver tinsel cord to the outside edge of each patriotic star wand (optional):

• Glue the non-stretch metallic gold or silver tinsel cord to the outside edge of each patriotic star wand.
  • Alternatively, you can hand-sew the tinsel cord around the star using a whip stitch.
• Adding a silver tinsel cord along the outer edge of each star wand provides structure and gives the patriotic ribbon wands a clean, professional look.
• PLEASE NOTE: If you decide to add a silver tinsel cord, it is almost impossible not to touch the glue and get it all over your fingers. For this reason, I recommend using hot glue on a low-temperature setting.
• As you can see in the photographs above, I started gluing the non-stretch silver tinsel cord to the star’s backside, underneath the ribbons, and slowly worked it around to the front.
• To finish, cut and glue a small section of silver tinsel cord to the small section of the star on the back that needs it.

For more tips and photos that show how to make a ribbon star wand, check out this DIY rainbow ribbon magic wand tutorial. I made them the same way, but used rainbow-ordered ribbons and gold tinsel cord instead of red, white, and blue ribbons and silver tinsel cord. However, you are welcome to make these festive star wands using any color combination of ribbons and felt you wish!

Related: DIY Monarch Butterfly Peg Dolls

DIY Red, White, and Blue Star Wands:

Show your patriotic spirit with 4th of July crafts for kids and adults! Patriotic DIY Red, white, and blue ribbon wands are fun for both children and adults to wave around at Fourth of July parties and parades. Star wands like these also make fun patriotic party favors! Be sure to check out our DIY Rainbow Ribbon Fairy Wands for more photos and tips on making star wands!

DIY sensory bottles with red, white, and blue stars also make fun 4th of July crafts and patriotic party favors. Click on the link to learn how to make a DIY patriotic sensory bottle with red, white, and blue stars! Also, check out our summer bucket list for fun summer activities for kids and families!

Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author, photographer, and creator of this original Fourth of July craft and Rhythms of Play HERE and HERE!

If you like 4th of July Crafts & Patriotic Party Favors, you may also enjoy:

• Rainbow Peg Dolls
• Fingerprint Art Magnets
• Rainstick Sensory Bottle Craft
• Rock Painting Ideas for Kids
• The Best DIY Building Blocks for Kids