I have one last easy Fourth of July DIY idea for you: patriotic surprise balls. While you read this I’m on vacation with my immediate family (16 of us with spouses and kids), and I wanted to bring a simple, portable activity to entertain the nieces and nephew. Surprise balls are perfect — they’re inexpensive (think dollar store finds), compact for travel, and much more fun than handing a child a single gift.
Because we were traveling by car and plane, I focused on small items that would tuck into each ball easily. The kids loved unraveling them to discover each tiny prize inside.
Supply list:
– Red or blue crepe streamers
– White paper and a star punch, or star stickers for decoration
– Glue dots or double-sided tape
– Small surprises: toy cars, hair bows, washi tape, bouncy balls, embroidery thread for friendship bracelets, balloons, and similar small items
How to make a surprise ball:
1. Choose a small item as a core — something round works best to start the shape. Begin wrapping the item with streamer strips, twisting and layering as you go.
2. As the ball grows, add each additional small prize. Place these items strategically so the ball keeps a roughly round shape rather than becoming lumpy.
3. Continue adding streamers and prizes until the ball reaches the desired size.
Finishing touches:
To give the ball a smooth, finished look, use thinner streamer strips for the final layers. Cut a long streamer length in half to create a narrower strip, then wrap it tightly around the ball until it looks neat. Secure the final end with a glue dot.
Patriotic decoration:
To make these Fourth of July–themed, add white stars. I used a star punch on white cardstock and glued a few stars onto each ball. Star stickers work even faster and avoid the need for glue.
Snow cone surprise balls:
I found cute snow cone papers and used them to present some balls as “snow cone surprise balls.” If you’re making a batch for a party, arranging the finished balls in cones or paper cups makes a colorful display and adds to the theme.
The results:
Here are the finished surprise balls. Mine aren’t perfectly round, but kids don’t mind — they care about the fun of unwrapping and the little treasures inside. These are great for road trips, plane rides, party favors, or an afternoon activity.
All photos by Studio DIY
Have you made surprise balls before? What small items would you include?