Hello, wonderful families! As November approaches, my heart always turns to our nation’s heroes and how we can show our gratitude. 🇺🇸
Teaching our children about the importance of Veterans Day is one of the most meaningful things we can do. I believe the best way to do that is by creating something beautiful together. ❤️
That’s why I’ve gathered my favorite budget-friendly and super easy Veterans Day decoration ideas. Each one is designed for little hands and big hearts, using items you likely already have or can find at the dollar store for under $10! ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: Handprint Flag Poster
- Most Unique: Plastic Bottle “Wind Twirlers”
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: Clothespin “Patriot” Wreath
Upcycled & Recycled Creations
Toilet Paper Roll “Thank You” Poppies 🇺🇸
This is my favorite way to teach kids about important symbols while using something we’d normally just throw away! Turning trash into a treasure that honors our veterans is such a beautiful lesson.
Details: Easy | ~30 mins
Best For: A quiet afternoon craft that opens up a conversation about remembrance.
Key Materials: Empty toilet paper rolls, Red and black paint, Scissors, glue
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that using a multi-pack of kid-safe, non-toxic red acrylic paint ensures the poppies are a vibrant, respectful red and safe for the littlest crafters.
Image-1: A child’s hands holding a finished red poppy made from a toilet paper roll, with a few more in the background.
Glass Jar “Flag” Luminaries 🇺🇸
My kids and I love making these! They look so magical glowing on the windowsill at dusk. It’s a wonderful way to talk about the meaning of our flag’s stars and stripes as you craft.
Details: Easy | ~25 mins
Best For: Creating a warm, patriotic glow for your front porch or window.
Key Materials: Clean, empty glass jar, Red, white, and blue tissue paper, Mod Podge or watered-down school glue
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For a safe and long-lasting glow, I always use a pack of battery-operated LED tea light candles instead of real flames.
Image-2: A finished jar luminary glowing on a windowsill, with a battery-operated tea light inside.
Newspaper “Veteran” Stars 🇺🇸
I just adore how these turn out! The texture of the newspaper print showing through the paint gives these stars such a wonderful, heartfelt look. They feel rustic, respectful, and completely unique.
Details: Easy | ~20 mins
Best For: Making a simple, meaningful garland to hang on the mantel.
Key Materials: Old newspaper, Star-shaped cookie cutter (for tracing), Paint, string
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a set of star-shaped cookie cutters in various sizes makes tracing perfect stars a breeze for kids.
Image-3: A close-up of a few painted newspaper stars hanging in a row against a plain wall.
Cardboard “Honor” Wreath 🇺🇸
I love this project because there are absolutely no rules—it truly lets your child’s creativity shine through! It’s a beautiful way to show that honoring our heroes comes from the heart, not from a fancy store.
Details: Easy | ~45 mins
Best For: A group activity where every child can contribute to one big project.
Key Materials: Cardboard box, Red, white, and blue craft supplies (paint, paper, etc.), Glue
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A value pack of red, white, and blue construction paper is perfect for tearing into mosaic pieces to decorate this wreath.
Image-4: A proud child holding up their finished, colorful cardboard wreath.
Plastic Bottle “Wind Twirlers” 🇺🇸
This is such a fantastic craft for a slightly windy day! My son was mesmerized watching his creation spin and dance in the breeze. It brings a little bit of patriotic joy to the whole yard.
Details: Medium | ~35 mins (adult help needed for cutting)
Best For: A fun outdoor decoration that adds color and movement to your porch.
Key Materials: Empty 2-liter plastic bottle, Permanent markers or acrylic paint, String
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To make sure the colors don’t wash away in the rain, I recommend using a pack of red, white, and blue permanent markers.
Image-5: A painted plastic bottle twirler hanging from a tree branch and spinning in the breeze.
Egg Carton American Flag 🇺🇸
The little cups in an egg carton are just perfect for holding paint, making this one of the least messy flag crafts out there! It’s a simple project with a wonderful, textured result that kids are so proud of.
Details: Easy | ~20 mins
Best For: A quick painting project for toddlers and preschoolers.
Key Materials: Empty cardboard egg carton, Red, white, and blue paint, Paintbrush
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Having a set of assorted paintbrushes suitable for kids gives them the right tools to neatly paint inside each little egg cup.
Image-6: The finished egg carton flag sitting on a table, showing off its unique bumpy texture.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Dollar-Store Finds & Crafts
Clothespin “Patriot” Wreath 🇺🇸
This project is such a great fine-motor-skill activity for little hands. It looks surprisingly professional when it’s all put together and makes a wonderful, welcoming decoration for the front door.
Details: Easy | ~45 mins (includes paint drying time)
Best For: A statement piece for your front door that kids can proudly say they made.
Key Materials: Wooden clothespins, Wire wreath form, Paint
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: You’ll need quite a few clothespins for a full wreath, so grabbing a 100-pack of wooden spring clothespins is the most affordable way to go.
Image-7: The finished clothespin wreath hanging on a front door.
Pool Noodle “Firecracker” Bundles 🇺🇸
This is easily the quickest craft on our list and it makes such a big impact with almost zero mess! My daughter loved decorating these with sparkly star stickers. They make a perfect centerpiece for the dinner table.
Details: Easy | ~15 mins (adult help needed for cutting)
Best For: A super-fast decoration for a mantelpiece or party table.
Key Materials: Red or blue pool noodle, Patriotic ribbon or washi tape, Star stickers
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I love using a roll of patriotic star-spangled washi tape because it’s easy for kids to tear and stick without any glue.
Image-8: A bundle of three decorated pool noodle “firecrackers” sitting on a mantel or table.
Paper Plate “Thank You, Veteran” Banner 🇺🇸
What a wonderful way to incorporate writing and spelling into a fun decorating activity! It’s a craft that carries a clear, beautiful message of gratitude that everyone who sees it will appreciate.
Details: Easy | ~25 mins
Best For: A personalized banner to hang in a window or across a doorway.
Key Materials: White paper plates, Markers, crayons, or paint, String or yarn
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To make a nice, long banner, it helps to start with a bulk pack of plain white paper plates from the dollar store.
Image-9: A finished paper plate banner hanging across a doorway or on a wall.
Handprint Flag Poster 🇺🇸
This is such a classic, and for good reason! It’s a snapshot in time of just how small your little one’s hands were. Don’t forget to write your child’s name and the date on the back—you’ll cherish this one for years to come.
Details: Easy | ~15 mins
Best For: Creating a heartfelt keepsake that you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
Key Materials: White poster board, Red and blue washable paint, A willing child’s hands
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Messes are part of the fun, but cleanup is easier with a set of red and blue Crayola washable kids’ paint.
Image-10: A close-up of a child’s blue paint-covered hand making the star section of the flag.
Popsicle Stick Star Ornaments 🇺🇸
These little stars are so simple and so versatile! For extra sparkle, let the kids add some glitter while the paint is still wet. We hang ours on doorknobs and houseplants to spread patriotic cheer all through the house.
Details: Easy | ~30 mins
Best For: Making small ornaments to hang in windows or on doorknobs.
Key Materials: Popsicle/craft sticks, Red, white, and blue paint or markers, Glue, ribbon
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: You can make dozens of these stars when you buy a jumbo box of 1,000 craft sticks, which gives you plenty for future projects, too!
Image-11: A collection of three finished popsicle stick stars hanging from the branches of a houseplant.
Tissue Paper “Stained Glass” Star 🇺🇸
This craft is absolutely perfect for toddlers because it involves sticking things, which they love to do! The result is a beautiful, colorful star that looks stunning with the sunlight streaming through it.
Details: Easy | ~20 mins
Best For: A mess-free craft that makes a beautiful suncatcher for a sunny window.
Key Materials: Clear contact paper, Red, white, and blue tissue paper, Scissors
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: The magic ingredient here is a roll of clear self-adhesive contact paper, which acts like a mess-free glue sheet for the tissue paper.
Image-12: A finished tissue paper star taped to a window with sunlight streaming through it.
Nancy’s Quick Tips for Crafting with Kids
- Tip 1: Cover Everything! Before you start, lay down an old newspaper or a cheap plastic tablecloth from the dollar store. It makes cleanup a breeze and lets the kids be creative without you worrying about spills.
- Tip 2: Prep for Little Hands. For younger kids, pre-cut complex shapes (like stars or wreath forms) ahead of time. This lets them jump right into the fun part: painting and gluing!
- Tip 3: Embrace Imperfection. The goal is fun and togetherness, not a perfect Pinterest photo. A slightly crooked star or a smudged handprint is what makes the decoration a cherished memory.
- Tip 4: Use a Muffin Tin for Paint. Pour small amounts of red, white, and blue paint into the cups of an old muffin tin. It prevents spills and keeps the colors from mixing together accidentally.
Talking to Your Kids About the Flag’s Colors
When your little one asks what the colors mean, you can share this simple explanation! The Founding Fathers chose these colors carefully. Red is for courage and being brave, like our veterans. White stands for being pure and doing the right thing. And Blue represents justice and working hard. It’s a colorful way to remember the amazing values our veterans protect.
I hope these simple, affordable ideas inspire you and your family to create something special this Veterans Day. Taking the time to craft together is more than just making a decoration; it’s about making a memory and planting a seed of gratitude in our children’s hearts. It’s a small way to say a big “thank you” to the brave men and women who have served our country.
Which of these heartfelt decorations will you and your family try first? Let me know in the comments below
