Adding Some Fireworks to Your 4th of July

Celebrating the signing of the Declaration of Independence is a tradition with most American families. Many celebrate with a picnic, barbecue, or potluck at the pool, beach or backyard. When it's time to raise the Red, White and Blue, here are some ways to add a few extra "fireworks" to your Fourth of July festivities.

Check out my full column and even more ideas at www.BalloonTime.com.

Invitations -
Declare your Independence Day party with a patriotic "popper" invitation. Write your party details on small white cards and insert them into halved paper towel tubes. Add a few candies or a small American flag. Wrap the tubes with red crepe paper, twist the ends, and tie them off with blue ribbon. You can hand-deliver to guests or send them in mailing tubes.

Decorations -
Use a Balloon Time Helium Balloon Kit to fill the party area with red, white and blue helium balloons. Decorate them with star stickers for extra pizzazz, tie them to the tables and chairs, line them up along the walls and fences, or float them along the ceiling with red, white and blue dangling ribbons.

Games & Activities -
Water Wars: Give everyone - adults and kids - a water gun, and have a water war. Or use double-stick tape and place helium balloons on top of the fence or a table. Have players try to knock the balloons off with their squirt guns.

Refreshments -
Bake a rectangular sponge cake and cover it with whipped cream. Decorate the top to look like a flag, using sliced strawberries for stripes and blueberries for stars. Serve with a side of homemade ice cream.