The fourth of July is a great time to gather together with family and friends. It is always nice to see some festive red, white and blue décor colors to complete the festivities.

You can find many of your Fourth of July decorations at most retail stores. Party City has a huge variety, all ready for you to use. Or if you and your family choose, you can make your own decorations with a few supplies.

As your guests drive up to your house they can notice a patriotic mail box. You can create this festive mail box by using plastic flag ribbon. Wrap the mail box pole with the ribbon in a circular motion around and around the pole. Or if you prefer you can purchase a “flag sleeve” for your mail box. A nice added touch to your mail box and pole is to stick two medium sized American flags into the ground. Place them at the base of the mail box pole.

As your guests walk up to the front door, have the walkway decorated in the patriotic theme too. One idea is to use clay pots and American flags. Purchase small clay pots and spray paint them red, white and blue. Place the pots along the walkway. Now put small American flags into the ground between each pot.

If you have flowers or flower pots on the porch, porch steps or deck, add a flag to them.

You can add a patriotic rug on the floor in front of the door. Also, you can purchase a patriotic wreath for the front and/or back door. If you choose to make your own wreath, purchase a grapevine wreath. Add plastic patriotic ribbon around and around the wreath. If you can’t find plastic ribbon, you can cut a red, white and blue plastic table cloth into strips. Wrap the strips around the wreath and hot glue the ends to the wreath edges. You might also want to make a red, white and blue bow and attach it to the wreath.

If you can find an “Uncle Sam” wooden or plastic figurine, attach it to the wreath too. You can do so by hot gluing the feet of the figurine to the bottom of the wreath. Now, attach the top Uncle Sam by the use of strong fishing line. Take a long piece of fishing line and find the center of it. Tie the center of the line around the neck of the wooden Uncle Sam. Attach the ends of the fishing line to the edges of the wreath.

You can have a patriotic centerpiece made for your table or you can make your own. If you plan to make one of your own use a medium size clay pot spayed in a patriotic color. Put a block of Styrofoam into the center of the pot. Add an Uncle Sam statue figurine to the center of the Styrofoam and push in into place. Place single red, white and blue silk flowers into the Styrofoam around Uncle Sam. If you do not want silk flowers then add flags instead.

Use red, white and blue napkins and plates to set your table. Napkin rings can ad a cute and decorative flair to your table setting. You can purchase your napkin rings at almost any store. If you prefer to make your own napkin rings, you can purchase a plain napkin ring and dress it up. You can glue red, white and blue beads onto them or you can wrap ribbon around and around the ring to cover the original color of the napkin ring. Another simple craft idea is to make your own napkin rings using empty toilet tissue roles. Cut them in half. Spray the roles with spray glue. Take either a patriotic napkin or plastic ribbon and line the outside and inside of the toilet tissue role. Insert the napkins to complete your look.

Enjoy celebrating our country’s heritage with your family and these colorful decorative ideas.

The decorative ideas I just suggested are meant for the Forth of July. However, you can use the same ideas for any other holiday or theme party by changing the theme décor and the red, white and blue color to the color that fits your occasion.