Red, White and Blue Decorating Ideas on a Budget
Go all out this 4th of July with these patriotic party decorations.
![Budget-Friendly Party Decor](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/video/0/02/029/0297/0297673.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.1280.720.85.suffix/1661832417571.jpeg)
![](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/editorial/profiles/editors/Ryan-Reed/headshot.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.91.91.85.suffix/1466446545805.jpeg)
The 4th of July is perhaps the biggest outdoor entertaining event of the summer and if you happen to be hosting a soiree at your place this year, we have a few tricks to help you decorate on a budget.
Red, White and Blue Streamers
![4th of July Streamers 4th of July Streamers](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-23b.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672560069.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Materials
- plastic drink cups
- hole punch
- scissors
- string
Save yourself a trip to the party store and make your own festive streamers instead.
Start at the top of the plastic cup and use scissors to cut in a swirl pattern until you reach the bottom.
![4th of July Streamers 4th of July Streamers](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-2c.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672558292.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Use a hole punch to make a hole at the top of the plastic strip you just cut out and attach them to the ceiling using string.
![4th of July Streamers 4th of July Streamers](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-4.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672558298.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Decorative Balls
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-10.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672560713.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Materials
- Styrofoam balls
- decoupage
- paint brush
- bamboo skewers
- decorative napkins
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-5.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672558303.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Open a decorative napkin and remove the reinforcing layer of the napkin from the side with the pattern.
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-6.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672558743.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Cut the napkins into various-size squares.
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-7a.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672558977.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Insert skewers into Styrofoam balls.
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-8.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559074.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Coat the Styrofoam ball with decoupage and then add the squares of decorative napkins. As you add several squares, make sure you coat them in decoupage as well and continue until the ball has been covered completely.
![4th of July Decorative Balls 4th of July Decorative Balls](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-9c.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559635.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Add the decorative balls to a glass vase and set them on a table to be admired.
Yarn String Lights
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-22d.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559950.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Materials
- yarn
- water balloons
- petroleum jelly
- school glue
- needle (to pop balloons)
- string lights
- bowl
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-11.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672560656.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Cut strips of multi-colored yarn into strips long enough to nearly cover an entire water balloon.
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-12c.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672560872.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Use petroleum jelly to coat the exterior of the water balloons.
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-14a.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672560918.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Pour school glue into a bowl and add water for an equal part mixture. Stir.
Add yarn to the bowl so that it is completely soaked in the mixture and then wrap the glue-coated yarn around the balloon in all different directions.
![Add yard to the bowl so that it is completely soaked by the glue and water mixture.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-18.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672568008.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
![Wrap the glue-coated yarn around the water balloon in all different directions.](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-19b.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559121.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Allow the balloon to dry on a baking sheet nearby.
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-20.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559781.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
After a few days, the yarn should be completely dry. Use a needle to pop the balloon and remove it from the dried yarn ball.
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-21a.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672559333.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Add the yarn balls to the string lights.
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-22b.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.924.85.suffix/1522672560047.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions
Hang them up or wrap them around a table where you are serving food to your guests. You can’t go wrong!
![4th of July Yarn String Lights 4th of July Yarn String Lights](http://hgtvhome.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/hgtv/fullset/2018/4/2/0/Original_Loch-and-Key_EDI900-4th-of-July-Hacks-23c.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.411.85.suffix/1522672560464.jpeg)
Andy Vinson of Loch & Key Productions