On Veterans Day, our hearts fill with a deep sense of gratitude for the brave men and women who have served our country. It’s a feeling we all want to share with our children and our communities. 🇺🇸
I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to show our appreciation is to turn it into action. Creating something beautiful with our own hands, especially with our kids, makes that gratitude tangible and visible for all to see. ❤️
That’s why I’ve gathered some of my favorite DIY outdoor decoration ideas for your porch and yard. Each one is designed to be a meaningful family activity that honors our heroes and makes your home a beacon of thanks. ⭐
Our Top 3 Favorite Ideas
- Best for Beginners/Kids: “Yellow Ribbon Welcome” Tree Wrap
- Most Unique: Handprint “American Flag” Flower Pot
- Biggest ‘Wow’ Factor: DIY “Thank You, Veterans” Porch Banner
Handmade Tributes
DIY “Thank You, Veterans” Porch Banner 🇺🇸
I absolutely love this project because it makes the message of the day front and center for the whole neighborhood to see! My son and I made one last year, and it was so heartwarming to see cars slow down just to read our simple, heartfelt message of thanks.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~45 mins (plus drying)
Best For: Making a big, visible statement of gratitude.
Key Materials: Roll of kraft paper or an old white sheet, red and blue craft paint, letter stencils, twine or rope for hanging.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I find that using a set of large, reusable alphabet stencils is a huge help, especially with little ones, to make sure your message is clear and easy to read.
Image-1: A smiling mom and child holding up the finished, slightly imperfect, but charming banner in front of their house.
Flag-Lined Walkway with Kid-Made Stars 🇺🇸
Lining a walkway with American flags is such a classic and respectful display. This project adds an incredibly personal touch that comes straight from the heart. It’s a simple addition that takes a traditional decoration and makes it uniquely yours.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: A classic patriotic look with a personal, handmade touch.
Key Materials: Small American stick flags, wooden or thick cardboard star cutouts, blue paint and glitter, wooden dowels or garden stakes.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Starting with a bulk pack of 12 small American flags for lawns ensures you have enough to create a full, beautiful, and impactful display along your entire path.
Image-2: A low-angle shot looking up a walkway lined with small flags, with a child’s hand placing a painted blue star at the base of one.
“Yellow Ribbon Welcome” Tree Wrap 🇺🇸
Sometimes the simplest gestures are the most powerful. This beautiful project is a perfect way to open up a conversation with your children about the meaning of supporting our troops and welcoming our veterans home. It’s a quiet, respectful, and beautiful tribute.
Details: Difficulty: Easiest | Time: ~5 mins
Best For: A quick, powerful, and symbolic tribute.
Key Materials: Wide, weather-resistant yellow ribbon (satin or nylon), scissors.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: Using a 10-yard spool of 3-inch wide yellow satin ribbon will give you plenty of material to create a big, beautiful bow that really stands out.
Image-3: A close-up of a child’s hands and a mom’s hands working together to tie the final knot of a big yellow bow around a tree trunk.
💬 Quick Question!
Of the ideas we’ve covered so far, which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!
Patriotic Displays
Collaborative Patriotic Ribbon Wreath 🇺🇸
This is one of my all-time favorite crafts to do with kids of any age! It’s a wonderful sensory activity with all the different ribbon textures, and you’ll be truly amazed at how a simple knot-tying project creates such a lush, professional-looking wreath for your front door.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~40 mins
Best For: A fun, sensory craft for all ages and a beautiful front door decoration.
Key Materials: Wire wreath form, spools of red, white, and blue ribbon in various textures, scissors.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: I recommend getting a value pack of patriotic-themed wired ribbons because the wire helps the loops stand up, giving your finished wreath lots of body and a fluffy, full look.
Image-4: An overhead shot of the wreath on a rustic wooden table, with a child’s hands actively tying a piece of ribbon onto the frame.
Handprint “American Flag” Flower Pot 🇺🇸
Oh, this project just melts my heart every time. It’s a craft and a time capsule all in one! You create a beautiful piece of patriotic decor for your porch, and it becomes a treasured keepsake you can bring out year after year to see how much their little hands have grown.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~35 mins (plus drying)
Best For: Creating a cherished keepsake that doubles as decor.
Key Materials: Medium-sized terracotta pot, red, white, and blue acrylic or patio paint, paintbrushes, clear sealant spray.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: To make sure your keepsake lasts for years to come, it’s worth using a set of non-toxic, outdoor-safe acrylic paints that are designed to stand up to the weather.
Image-5: A close-up of the finished pot sitting on a porch step, clearly showing the child’s handprint stripes, with a small flag tucked inside.
Upcycled Jar Luminaries 🇺🇸
This is such a smart and beautiful craft that teaches a wonderful lesson about recycling. We save our glass jars all year for projects just like this! At dusk, these little lanterns create such a warm, magical glow on the porch steps or railing.
Details: Difficulty: Easy | Time: ~30 mins
Best For: A budget-friendly and eco-conscious evening display.
Key Materials: Clean, empty glass jars, Mod Podge or white glue, red, white, and blue tissue paper, battery-operated tea lights.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: For a safe and completely worry-free glow, I always use a 24-pack of flameless LED tea light candles inside our luminaries.
Image-6: A dusk shot of three illuminated jars glowing softly on a porch railing, showcasing the tissue paper designs.
Patriotic Windsock from a Tin Can 🇺🇸
There is pure joy in watching a child’s face light up as they see something they made come to life in the wind! This cheerful windsock is so fun to make from an old tin can, and it adds a wonderful pop of color and patriotic motion to your porch.
Details: Difficulty: Medium | Time: ~45 mins
Best For: A fun recycling project that adds color and motion to your porch.
Key Materials: Clean, empty tin can, blue and white paint, red and white ribbon or crepe paper streamers, strong glue or a drill for holes.
⭐ Nancy’s Recommended Tool: A multi-pack of red and white satin ribbon spools is perfect for this, allowing you to cut lots of long, flowing streamers that will dance beautifully in the breeze.
Image-7: The finished windsock hanging from a porch hook, with the ribbons caught in a slight breeze.
My Top Tips for Happy Crafting with Kids
- Embrace Imperfection: The real goal is creating memories, not a store-perfect item. A crooked star or a smudged handprint adds to the charm and tells the story of your time together.
- Prep Your Station: Before you call the kids over, lay down newspaper or a plastic tablecloth and get all your materials ready. This minimizes mess and keeps the focus on the fun part!
- Assign Kid-Friendly Jobs: Give younger children tasks like sorting ribbons, painting backgrounds, or adding glitter. Older kids can handle stenciling, cutting, or tying knots.
- Talk While You Create: Use this time to explain why you’re decorating. Share a simple definition of a veteran and why it’s so important for us to say “thank you.”
The Meaning of the Yellow Ribbon
You’ll notice we included a yellow ribbon tree wrap in our list. This is more than just a pretty decoration! The yellow ribbon has long been a symbol of support for military members. It represents a hopeful “welcome home” to those serving far away and is a quiet, powerful way to show veterans in your community that you honor their service and sacrifice.
Decorating for Veterans Day is about so much more than just red, white, and blue. It’s about teaching our children the importance of gratitude and respect. It’s about coming together as a family to create a visible “thank you” to the heroes who have given so much for our freedom.
I hope these ideas inspire you to start a new family tradition this year. Making something together is a beautiful way to honor our veterans and fill your home with pride and love.
Which of these ideas will you and your family be trying this Veterans Day? I would love to hear about it in the comments below
