Barbecues, popsicles, fireworks…yes, July 4th is nearly here! Whether you are marching in a parade or just running through the sprinklers in your backyard, it’s a day to hang out with friends and family and celebrate summer.

Here’s a quick little noisemaker craft that will get the kids in the spirit! This project is easy enough that kids’ can make it on their own or with little supervision. You can also use these noisemakers for other holidays…think green for St. Patrick’s day, red and pink for Valentine’s day, or multi-colored for a DIY Purim grogger!

What you’ll need:

• Small cardboard jewelry box
• Popsicle stick
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun
• Beads, beans, or rice
• Red, white and blue tape (I love this variety set!)

Use scissors to carefully poke a slit in the bottom of the box and press the popsicle stick through. Hot glue it in place.

Fill the box with beads, beans, or rice. (I happened to have star beads, but anything small will do!)

Put the top on the box and use the red, white, and blue tape to seal it shut, making it look like a striped rocket pop!

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Artwork by Chicnawdie. All proceeds from the sale of this print go to RAICES Texas.

At Project Kid we spend so much time thinking of meaningful ways to spend time with kids—creative ways, playful ways…collecting and inventing activities that will help your kids see the world with bigger eyes and more possibility. We love this challenge and we love inspiring families to unplug and create.

But there is always something in the back of my mind that tells me that I need to infuse the real challenges of our world as parents and as global citizens into this conversation. And it’s not just the fact that there are billions of kids without a fancy set of markers and a stocked craft closet, because frankly, you can exercise your imagination with rocks, string, and scrap newspaper. But rather, it’s about the families, both old and young, that are struggling on a wide spectrum of issues. The far right end of that spectrum is the current situation at our Southern borders—families who are coming into our country seeking asylum from gang violence, abuse, and sex slavery who are being met with more division, an extreme lack of empathy, and frankly, soullessness.

There is so much to read and so much confusion on what our best course of action should be—I feel this close to flying down to Texas to parade separated children in front of detained parents. But that is clearly not happening. I found this article on Cup of Jo to be clear and concise, with great actionable items for ways to help. (There’s a follow-up article here since Trump’s executive order to stop the separation of families.)

I know I am not changing the world with this post, nor am I carrying a child on my hip, helping him find his parents at a Walmart detention center. But I’m recognizing that KIDS are our PROJECTS…families are works in progress and we are all responsible for one another. Life can feel really overwhelming…health, money stress, relationships and school worries are real and can loom large when they are hovering in your life. But, as the voice behind Project Kid, if I don’t take the time to join in on these conversations, then the fun stuff—the crafts, parties and beauty—feel meaningless and empty.

I’ve felt nervous to tackle these topics here because I’m not a reporter and I know the trolls of the cyber world can be cruel, but I hope as I start to talk more about bigger issues—and I swear they won’t all be political—I hope you will join in on the conversation with advice for my audience and also for me.

Dads do their best to be role models year round, so this Sunday give them a free pass to satisfy their sweet tooth with a homemade treat. Whether Dad is a candy fan or prefers pasties, we’ve collected ten ideas that will disappear faster than you can post pictures. Sharing sets a good example, but we wouldn’t blame him if he were tempted to keep these sweets to himself.

1. Fitting Dad’s birthday candles may be a tough squeeze these days but a cake of any size will support Oh Happy Day‘s twizzler topper, above. Let Dad have his cake and eat it too.

2.

It’s early, Dad hasn’t had his coffee yet, but if you spell out your love in pop tarts, he’ll be sure to get the message! Whether you fill these home made pastries with fruit or Nutella, they’re guaranteed to be 100 times tastier than a card. (via Studio DIY)

3.

Another festive way to make your feelings clear, frost these rad dad cookies from Tell Love and Party. Use your V cookie cutter upside down for a modern typeface designy dads will appreciate.

4.

For a slightly subtler way to show you care, whip up these delicious vanilla waffles that will secretly give Pops his protein. Lovely Indeed includes vanilla protein powder and superfood chocolate, but Dad will be too busy licking his plate to notice.

5.

Paper and Stitch‘s maple bacon popcorn donuts take a little time but they’re well worth the effort. With maple glaze and bacon baked into the dough, after a bite of these Dad may swear off Dunkin Donuts for good.

6.

Dad’s always ahead of the curve right? At least let him think that by serving him the trendy food mash up of funnel cake ice cream sandwiches. My Recipes makes suggestions but leaves the true innovation of ice cream/candy combo up to you!

7.

Make dad’s his childhood wishes come true with a massive chipwich. Two rolls of cookie dough, a tub of ice cream, and some chocolate chips (plus freezer space) are all you need to construct this larger than life ice cream dream. (via Delish)

8.

Another treat that screams summer without the heat is this upside down s’mores cake from Good Housekeeping. The king of campfire desserts might be willing to share his crown once he gets a taste of this cake.

9.

Reward your Pops with a lollipop award. Though the sweet will soon disappear, he can hang his ribbon proudly for all to see. The House that Lars Built shares the how-to.

10.

And finally, father’s day wouldn’t be father’s day without a pun, or 12. If dad’s on a roll, ketchup to him with these tricky treats. He’ll be sure to relish Handmade Charlotte‘s hot dog eclairs and hamburger cream puffs.

If you had to guess what’s on someone’s mind, how would you break it into seven categories? That’s what the 19th century study of Phrenology was—the belief that different areas of the brain controlled different character traits, thoughts, and emotions. Over the years, this belief has been debunked, but you may recognize famous posters like this one that hold a certain kitschy appeal.

For this last-minute Father’s Day craft, let the kids predict what is on Daddy’s mind with this super-fast craft that uses father-phrenology-project-kid-fill and self-adhesive laminating sheets that allow you to use dry-erase markers. Since daddy’s mind changes day to day, you can easily erase a section and change it!

Say “Happy Father’s Day” and give the gift of helping Dad make up his mind!

What you’ll need:

• Father’s Day Phrenology coloring page
• Colored pencils, markers or crayons
• Self-adhesive laminating sheets
• Felt
• Hot-glue gun
• Two 12-inch dowels
• Twine
• Wooden ring (optional)
• Dry erase pen

Make it!

1. Print out the free template and lave the kids color in the “head space.” The pdf has a fillable field at the top to add his name.
2. Laminate the front and back and trim around the edges.
3. Glue the corners of the phrenology chart to the felt.
4. Glue the dowels to the top and bottom edge.
5. Tie twine or string to the top edges of the dowel and knot or glue to secure.
6. (Optional) To give it that old-school science poster feel, glue a piece twine tied to the wooden ring to the bottom. You can also use a key ring if you don’t have a wood ring handy.

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Golf, neckties, BBQ, and fishing. You know what those four things have in common. Someone once decided that all fathers around the country are represented by these categories. While I love a good rib and some kicked-back fly fishing, I kind of refuse to make this holiday, and the DIY gifts, all about these cliches.

What it’s really about is kids, love, and the appreciation of the men in their lives. With some help from our friends at Kid Made Modern, we made these very simple photo holders, using materials from the Metal Mash-Up Craft Kit and some stones from the backyard.

Set it up with some of your favorite photos and leave it on his desk or bookshelf, or switch out the inserts from time to time with notes, homemade coupons, or new photos.

What you’ll need:

• Metal Mash-Up Craft Kit
• Scissors
• Scrap paper
• Rocks
• Small photos or notes
• Pencil
• Wire cutters

1. Cut out 2 semi-circles and a triangle, about 1 1/2-inches tall, from the adhesive-backed metallic paper. The semi-circles are upper-case Ds and the triangle is the A…all to spell DAD! Set these aside.

2. Cut a 12-inch piece of wire and wrap it 2 to 3 times around the rock. Twist the end tightly to secure. Use a pencil to make a small coil at the opposite end.

3. Trace the Ds and A onto scrap paper. Peel off the backing of the adhesive-backed metallic paper and adhere it to the wire. Use the scrap paper letters to help hold the letters onto the wire by sticking them on the back.

4. Insert notes or photos into the small coils and surprise dad with a beautiful display next to his Sunday morning coffee!