Your 4th of July guests will be delighted by these whimsical table centerpieces. Best of all no one will realize how easy they are to make. You can use the basket to hold silverware for your 4th of July barbeque or favors for your guests to take home after the last of the fireworks! Be sure to use red, white and blue ribbons, balloons and crepe paper to stay with the patriotic theme.

What you will need:

•Ribbon
•Helium-filled balloon
•Basket
•Crepe paper
•Double-sided tape

Instructions for the project-Begin by taping the ends of two 6-foot-long pieces of ribbon to the top of a helium-filled balloon making sure the tape is secure since the balloon will fly away if it is not. Tie or tape the ends of the ribbons to a basket. Keep in mind that you are making a hot air balloon. To decorate the sides of the balloon and basket use your crepe paper to make fan-shaped bunting. To do this bunch two 7-inch strips of crepe paper, one narrower than the other, into a fan shape. Use double-sided tape to attach the layers and to stick the bunting to the balloon and basket.

These festive luminaries let you light up the night right in your own front yard. Be sure that an adult takes care of the lighting of the candles.

What you will need:

•Cardboard
•Tissue paper (red and blue)
•Brown-paper lunch bags
•Star-shaped stickers and star punch
•Sand
•Tea light or votive candles

Directions for the project-Cut a star from cardboard and use it as a template to cut other stars from red and blue tissue paper. The star can be whatever size you want. Glue the stars that you cut from the tissue paper to the insides of lunch bags with a dab or two from a glue stick. If you wish to really jazz up your luminaries you can add other small star-shaped stickers on the inside and perforate the sides with a star paper punch. Fill each of the bags with 2 to 3 inches of sand and sink a tea light or votive candle into the sand. Place the luminaries in a spot outside where you can keep an eye on them, and light the candles. From inside the bags, the tissue paper stars will cast a red and blue glow guaranteed to shine on long after the twilight's last gleaming.

Tip-To avoid scorching your forearm you can light a piece of uncooked spaghetti and use it to light the candles.

Welcome to Independence Day Fun, the newest of my holiday sites. The others are Fun Halloween, and Santa Claus Fun. I've been having fun making them, and it's a bit different for me, making sites that will only be visited, basically, one month out of twelve.

My plans for Independence Day Fun are to include some American history ... so stay tuned.