Must-know, last-minute DIY party hacks for your Fourth of July bash
It's not too late to get into the patriotic spirit with these easy party hacks.
Fourth of July is America's birthday, which means it's time to party.
If you find yourself hosting a party but don't feel at all prepared, fear not, because "Good Morning America" teamed up with the DIY lifestyle team at Brit + Co to round up some last-minute party hacks that are sure to take your Fourth of July bash to the next level.
Plus, for those who only fire up the grill once or twice a year, we tapped a few female grill masters to share some of their wisdom. Here are some of their top tips and tricks to keep in mind if you are planning on grilling today.
So round up your friends and family, fire up the barbecue, and get into the patriotic mood with these easy ways to throw the ultimate party in the USA.
Light it up with these DIY starred-and-striped candle holders
There's a ridiculously easy way to create some last-minute holiday decor for your July Fourth bash, using items you likely already have around the house or can easily acquire.
What you need: Mason jars, red, white and blue spray paint, 1/4-inch masking tape and star-shaped stickers.
The end results look like something straight out of Pinterest.
Create last-minute patriotic attire from head to toe
Can't find anything red, white and blue in your closet today? Don't worry -- "Brit + Co" has a step-by-step guide for how to create some patriotic garb with a regular T-shirt, jean shorts and white sneakers you likely already have lying around the house.
First off, transform a simple white T-shirt into a stars-and-stripes tee in less than 10 minutes with this DIY guide.
What you need: Their template, a white tee, iron-on transfer paper, an iron, scissors and a piece of cotton fabric. Follow Brit + Co's ten minute, step-by-step guide on how to make the festive T-shirt here.
Next, a super simple way to upgrade your plain denim shorts or plain white sneakers into festive Fourth of July party wear is to use some fabric paint.
What you need: Plain denim shorts, plain white sneakers, fabric paint in assorted colors, a large paintbrush and a small detail paintbrush.
Follow Brit + Co's patriotic patterns for your shorts and shoes here.
Make a rocket pop pinata
Nothing says summer like the classic red, white and blue rocket popsicles that have become a Fourth of July party staple over the years.
Use the iconic design as an inspiration for a fun pinata to take your party to the next level.
Making a pinata from scratch is actually way easier than it sounds and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
What you need: Red, white and blue crepe paper streamers, two 3-foot tall pieces of cardboard (can easily use a couple of old boxes), scissors, liquid glue, marker, a box cutter and masking tape.
To learn how to put it all together, click here.
Make your party pop with homemade confetti poppers
The Fourth of July is all about fireworks. While handheld fireworks or sparklers are fun, if you are hosting a party with children, or live in an area with strict firework restrictions, then these confetti poppers are the perfect fun alternative to make your party pop.
What you need: Origami paper, glitter, cake push pops, scissors, spray paint and permanent markers.
Grilling tips from female grill masters
While many view grilling as a man's terrain, these boss female grill masters are proving that misconception wrong. Here, two female grill masters shared their top tips to remember when firing it up outside this Fourth of July.
Michelle Cerveny, 30, of Canton, Ohio, beat out 5,000 grill masters to win the Longhorn Steakhouse Steak Master Series Championships this year, becoming the first woman to do so.
"A lot of people are intimidated by the grill. I think people need to treat it like it’s another appliance in their kitchen, only its outside," she told "GMA."
Make sure your grill is 'super clean'
Cerveny said her No. 1 tip is to "make sure your grill grates are super clean."
"A lot of people don't take the time to scrape them off or clean it off," she said, adding that this rookie mistake can have a big effect on taste.
Use fresh, not frozen, meat and season heavily
Next, Cerveny says to be sure everything you put on the grill is "always fresh and never frozen."
Finally, when grilling, she recommends to not shy away from seasoning.
"A lot of people are scared of using too much seasoning," she said. "But I always recommend to boldly season what you put on the grill, a lot of the seasoning will fall off through the grates."
Cerveny will be operating a Fourth of July grill hotline, similar to Butterball's Thanksgiving turkey-cooking hotline, to answer any questions that might arise when you fire up the grill today.
Use your grill to do some baking
Christie Vanover, the founder of Girls Can Grill, told "GMA" that one tip many people don’t know about is that you can also double up and use your grill for baking.
This is especially handy if you didn't get a chance to make desserts ahead of time and don't have time to run in and out of the kitchen.
"In order to bake on a grill, you need to distance your cookie sheet or muffin pan from the heat source," she told "GMA," adding that this will ensure the bottoms of whatever you're making don't burn.
"To do this, place a pie tin, metal pan or veggie grill basket on the grill grate, and then place your baking sheet on top," she said.
You can get Vanover's original recipe for grilled cupcakes here.
Use foil to clean your grill grates
Another tip she had is that if you don't have a grill brush but need to clean your grill grates, an easy substitute is to "crumble foil into a ball to make a grill cleaner."
Simply rip off a sheet of foil, ball it up, and scrape it along the grill grates.
"The foil will mold in between the grates to clean leftover residue," she said. "And it's sturdy enough to hold up for the toughest messes."
Use winter gloves to make pulled pork
Finally, if you are making pulled pork this summer, Vanover recommends using winter gloves with latex gloves over top to protect your hands.
"The winter gloves will keep your hands from burning, while the latex gloves will keep your winter gloves clean," she added. "I prefer pulling pork by hand because it allows me to feel the meat and separate out any fatty pieces."
This story was originally published on July 4, 2018.
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