DIY Uncle Sam Hat Candle Holders — Easy 4th of July Terracotta Pot Craft
Create festive Uncle Sam hat candle holders from small terracotta pots — a quick, budget-friendly craft that's perfect for 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any patriotic celebration. These little hat-shaped holders feature red and white stripes, a blue star-adorned band, and a foam brim, finished with battery-operated tea lights for safe, charming tabletop decor.
The instructions below walk you through marking, painting, embellishing, and assembling the hat-shaped candle holders using basic craft supplies.
Materials Needed:
- Small terracotta pots
- Red, white, and blue acrylic paint
- Craft foam
- Star garland (or small star embellishments)
- Battery-operated tea lights
- Craft glue
- Craft scissors
How to Make DIY 4th of July Decorations (Uncle Sam Hat Candle Holders)
Step 1: Draw evenly spaced vertical stripes around the body of an upside-down terracotta pot to mark where the red and white stripes will go.
Step 2: Paint the white stripes first and let them dry, then paint the red stripes between them. Allow the paint to fully dry before moving on.
Step 3: Paint the bottom rim of the terracotta pot (the top of the hat band) with blue acrylic paint and let it dry.
Step 4: Cut individual white or silver stars from the star garland and glue them onto the blue rim using craft glue. Space them evenly for a neat look.
Step 5: Cut a large circle from craft foam, making the inner hole slightly larger than the pot opening so it will fit around the pot. Heat the foam briefly (with a warm, dry iron or by hand-shaping if your foam softens) and bend it to form a curved hat brim.
Step 6: Paint the craft foam brim red and allow it to dry completely.
Step 7: Glue the painted foam brim to the bottom of the terracotta pot. Place a battery-operated tea light inside the pot to complete your Uncle Sam hat candle holder. Use battery lights for a safer display, especially around children and flammable decor.