New Year’s Firecracker Papercraft Wand

I can’t believe another new year is almost here! If you are looking for family-friendly ways to ring in the new year, today’s craft is for you. This craft for a New Year’s Firecracker Paper Wand is especially perfect for younger children to make and enjoy playing with on New Year’s Eve! This craft would also be ideal if you are hosting a New Year’s party  and want an activity to share with the kids who will be there! It’s fun and easy to make and children are sure to love the finished product!

 

What You’ll Need:

1. Colored craft papers
2. Glitter foam sheet
3. Popsicle sticks
4. Craft glue
5. Pencil
6. Scissors

How to Make It:

To get started with this craft, select two different colored craft papers for the paper firecracker pattern. We chose orange and yellow, but you can choose any two colors. Cut out long strips from the selected craft papers. You’ll want two strips, one of each color, for each firecracker wand you plan to make.

The strips you cut from the two different colors should be of the same length. However, keep the strips of one of the colors at least an inch wider than the strips of the other color. For example, the yellow strips below are an inch wider than the orange strips.

Next take one of the strips (it doesn’t matter which one you start with).

Fold the strip, lengthwise, and then fold it in half 2 or 3 times.

Use a pencil to draw a zigzag pattern along the top of the folded paper. Next, cut out the zigzag border that you traced.

Unfold your strip of paper to reveal something like this:

Next, you’ll very carefully fold the strip of paper, accordion-style. This is a great fine motor skill activity for young kids, and it will keep them busy for awhile if you encourage them to fold the strip very narrowly (narrowly enough to match the zigzag border).

When you’ve finished folding the strip, accordion-style, unfold it and and set it upright, joining the open sides together to form a ring.

Carefully flatten the accordion-folded ring by spreading the zigzag border in an outwards direction. To make it easier, hold the flat side of the ring and push it towards the center. Tape or glue the ends of the strip together and glue a round piece of paper on the flattened accordion folded ring to secure the flat pattern.  Remember to keep the zigzag border pointed to the outside.

Repeat the same process with the strip of paper in the other color: folding the strip, drawing/cutting a zigzag border, folding accordion-style and laying it out/securing it in a ring.

Use craft glue to attach the small pattern on the top of the big pattern. Then let it dry.

Attach your layered, firecracker pattern onto a popsicle stick with craft glue and let it dry. Cut out a star pattern from a glitter craft sheet and attach it in the center of the paper firecracker pattern. Your Firecracker Papercraft Wand is now complete and ready to enjoy!

Do you like to celebrate New Years Eve and New Years Day as a family? If so, what are some of your favorite family traditions for this holiday? Let us know if you make this Firecracker Papercraft Wand and how it turns out!