5 Thrifty Things: 4th of July Decorations

When we think of star-spangled celebrations, nothing evokes "bombs bursting in air" in a good way more than shiny things and fizzy drinks. So, this year, we're dedicating our 4th of July decorations to two budget-friendly yet endlessly festive classics: cupcakes & Champagne.

Here are our favorite 5 Thrifty Things to create an Independence Day bash your buds won't soon forget:

DIY 4th of July Decorations (FREE, Twig & Thistle)
Harness that industrious Revolutionary spirit and head to Twig & Thistle for an easy, quick, and modern DIY decoration idea. This DIY instruction kit includes free how-tos for sparkler cards, matchbook wrappers, and straw tags that are sure to spruce up any backyard BBQ. They've provided all the instructions and the free, downloadable templates: you provide the creativity and home-grown inspiration it takes to craft simple, cute, and oh-so-appropriate decorations out of everyday materials you've got in your desk (and some sparklers, of course!).

Americana Cloth Cocktail Napkins & Coasters
(8 for $18, Quietude Quilts on Etsy.com)
Your guests will flip for the Americana flair that these 100% cotton, pre-shrunk table linens will provide to your party. For under $40, you get a set of eight machine-washable cocktail napkins and eight coasters handmade by one of Etsy's top-rated artisans. Let freedom ring this weekend with patriotic prints that salute the troops while remaining well-made and oh-so classy. Plus, you'll be supporting a small American business, which sure sounds good to us! (And just in case you're expecting a messy crowd at your gathering, you can grab a few of these patriotic paper napkins from IKEA; they'll deliver all the cute with none of the laundry cleanup.)

Pinwheel Picks for Sandwiches ($5.95, Crate & Barrel)
Some decorations are just too adorable to deny, and these affordable and sparkly toothpicks are a perfect example. Patriotize your paninis with these shiny faux sparklers from Crate & Barrel that are sure to be a hit with kids and adults alike. And there's no need to stay inside the lines: stick the picks into cupcakes, tartes, finger sandwiches, burgers, even the corks of wine bottles! It's Independence Day — you're allowed to have fun, especially if the fun only costs around seven bucks.

Wilton 6-Mix Patriotic Sugar/Sprinkles ($9.95, Amazon.com)
If the sparkle picks aren't enough decoration for your cupcakes, stay on the decorating train with Wilton's set of six decadent sugars and sprinkles. Toss these red, white, and blue tasties on top of all your desserts: you can bring some life to your brownies or cute up your cupcakes, but whatever you decide to serve at your July 4th festivities, these decorations won't disappoint. And for six different designs under $10, you can keep the patriotism comin' all summer long.

"Midsommar" Red, White & Blue Champagne Flutes
(4 for $2.99, IKEA)
Whet your whistle with IKEA's amazingly appropriate champagne flutes. Coming with a price tag to satisfy any budget, these reusable glasses are made of durable plastic and are dishwasher safe, so you can tuck them away for the next celebration and keep waste out of the landfill. Buy 'em in red, white, and blue and feel comfortable knowing you aren't taking out the Waterford for a party that may or may not include fireworks! Plus, since they're plastic, you can fill them with sparkling apple or grape juice and let the little ones take part in an Independence Day toast.

Story: Copyright 2010, Shoestring LLC. Image: Twig & Thistle, All rights reserved. Katie Siegner, Alexa Trearchis, and Melissa Massello contributed to this story.