Add Pizzazz To Your Fourth Of July

Winner of the CBS reality show "Wickedly Perfect," Kimberly Kennedy has some fun and easy crafts to jazz up your Fourth of July.

Find out how to make a roll-up mat, a centerpiece, and an area where kids can write Thank You notes to troops around the world.

Craft Instructions:

To make the roll-up mat you will need:
1 1/2 yards of decorator heavy weight fabric
Sewing machine or Stitch Witchery and an iron
Coordinating thread
1 yard of heavy-weight canvas material for tote handles
1 yard of coordinating ribbon (optional)
Scissors
Velcro cut into four 2-inch pieces

Instructions:

1. Using a sewing machine, hem the edges by sewing all around the piece of fabric with a 3/8-inch seam.
2. If sewing decorative ribbon onto center of canvas handle material, stitch ribbon onto canvas by sewing up each side of the ribbon.
3. Fold mat into thirds and then roll it up.
4. Determine placement of straps to hold roll together when strapped closed.
5. Measure in 4 inches from each side and place a straight pin to mark.
6. Cut strips long enough to wrap around mat when rolled up.
7. Sew one end of each handle strip onto one end of roll where pins are placed.
8. Stitch Velcro on one end of the strip of canvas.
9. Wrap canvas strip around mat to determine where other piece of Velcro should go. Mark with a straight pin.
10. Sew other piece of Velcro in place and repeat with other end's strap and Velcro.
11. Place a strip of canvas from one strap to the next and sew in place, thus creating a carrying handle.

1. If using Stitch Witchery, fold a 3/8 fold on each edge of the fabric.
2. Insert the strips of Stitch Witchery and iron until set.
3. Fold mat into thirds and roll up.
4. Tie roll closed and secure by tying 2 lengths of grosgrain ribbon 4 inches from each edge and finishing with a small bow.

For each Firework Favor you will need:

1 mailing tube with plastic stoppers at both ends
4 inches of rope
1 wooden dowel
2 coordinating sheets of decorative paper
Scissors or paper cutter
Spray Mount adhesive
Double stick tape
Exacto knife
Compass
Pen
Glue gun and glue sticks or single sided tape
Drill or small round punch

Instructions:

1. Using a pen, mark 7 inches (length) on the tube all the way around its diameter.
2. Take the Exacto knife and cut on the pen mark, trimming the tube to 7 inches long.
3. Remove the plastic stopper from cut piece and place it onto the newly cut end of the 7 inch tube.
4. Using a drill or small hole punch, create a small hole in the center of one of the plastic end stoppers.
5. Thread one end of the rope through the hole and knot it off so the knot will be inside the tube once the stopper is replaced.
6. Pull the rope so the knot is close and tight with the stopper therefore creating a "fuse" from one end of your tube.
7. Trim decorative paper so it will cover top to bottom and around the tube without much overlap.
8. Using spray mount or double stick tape, attach the paper around the mailing tube.
9. Using a compass set 3 inches apart, draw a semi circle on the other sheet of decorative paper.
10. Cut out the semicircle and roll it together to create a cone shape and tape in place.
11. Place a strip of double stick tape on the corner edge of the stopper without the "fuse" and place cone on top.
12. Press cone down until it adheres to the double stick tape.
13. Attach a wooden dowel to the tube with a glue gun or tape.
    If you want to re-create her centerpiece, place a brick of floral foam in the bottom of a container. (She used a 3-gallon galvanized tub). If using live wheat grass, fill container with soil and place wheat grass on top. Insert each firecracker's wooden dowel into the foam at an angle.

There is no government agency that provides this service to unnamed soldiers. The organization Kennedy will be using this Fourth of July is "A Million Thanks." The Web site is: www.amillionthanks.org