Throw a patriotic party this summer with these firework confetti sticks!
Memorial Day weekend is already here and the 4th of July will follow quickly. This season always gets me excited about patriotic crafts and easy decorations. Over the last few days I’ve been making simple, kid-friendly projects—including these paper straw confetti sticks. The kids absolutely love them. I didn’t invent the idea of filling straws with confetti; I was inspired by an article from Made in Paper magazine featuring The Confetti Bar. Still, these festive confetti sticks are a perfect, low-cost party activity for any celebration. Confetti can be messy, but it’s so joyful and playful.
I recently made a batch for my husband’s graduation party and had to hide them from the kids so they wouldn’t open them early. If I get a moment I’ll share the printable tags I designed for the graduation confetti sticks next week. It’s been a busy couple of weeks with my daughter graduating preschool, my husband finishing his master’s degree, and other school events for my son. I plan to be back with more ideas soon.
How to make confetti sticks
Supplies:
– Thick paper straws (about 1/2 inch wide)
– Confetti
– Sequins (optional)
– Glue
– Small stapler
– Patriotic garland or trim for decoration
Step one: Press one end of the straw closed with your fingers and secure it with a staple.
Step two: Make confetti from scrap paper using fringe scissors or a paper punch. Keep the pieces small so they travel easily through the straw. Fill each straw with confetti and a few sequins if you like. Use a pencil or thin tool to gently push the confetti down if needed.
Step three: Press the top of the straw closed and seal it with glue. Avoid stapling the top so it can be opened easily when it’s time to toss the confetti.
Step four: Glue a short length of patriotic garland or decorative trim around the top of the straw to resemble a firework burst.
To release the confetti, open the top and shake or press it so the contents spill into the air. Another option is to remove the bottom staple and blow through the straw to launch the confetti; if you try this, make sure an adult supervises and takes care to avoid inhaling any small pieces.
For reference, I found the paper straws at Target and used a small Tim Holtz brand stapler. The garland came from Hobby Lobby, but any narrow decorative trim will work for the finish.
