This pretty firecracker is perfect for celebrating the New Year! It's easy to make from a cardboard tube, and kids will enjoy making their own sparkly firecracker to ring in 2010.

For more great New Year's ideas, be sure to check out our New Year's craft page, New Year's coloring pages, and our New Year's clip-art.  Also check out ideas for Chinese New Year.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

1. Lay the cardboard tube onto white construction paper. Roll the construction paper around the tube, trim when needed and tape together.
2. Trim excess paper at both ends of tube.
3. Trace the shape of the round opening of the tube onto the light blue construction paper.
4. Use a pair of scissors to cut out the circle adding a 1/2” border around the circle. Repeat to create another one.
5. Put a generous amount of white craft glue all the way around the rim of the cardboard tube. Place one of the blue circles onto the end of the tube. Repeat for the other side.
6. Allow them to dry for about five minutes. Use a cotton swab or your finger to wipe away any dripping glue.
7. Cut small slits in the circle, creating tabs, going all the way around, cutting them about ½” apart from one another.
8. Apply glue to the insides of all of the tabs that you just cut. Press one tab down to glue it to the side of the cardboard tube. Skip the next tab, then press down the tab after that. Continue alternating until all tabs have been pressed down along the side of the tube. Repeat for both ends of the tube.
9. Use a toothpick to gently poke a small hole into the center of the top circle. Insert the silver chenille stem until it stops. Trim the exposed end of the chenille to about an inch or so.
10. Use your finger or a paintbrush to spread blue glitter glue all over the top light blue circle and on the sides of the blue paper. Put some blue glitter glue on the side of the bottom blue circle as well.
11. Use white glitter glue to draw a squiggly design down the sides of the tube and allow them to dry completely.
    

Tips:

• Save cardboard tubes in a brown grocery bag to use for future projects.
• Store glitter glue bottles upside down so you don’t have to wait for the liquid to reach the tip!
• Use these pretty crafts as a table decoration. Make several and place in a pile.