Just because your little ones may be scared of the loud fireworks, or can’t stay awake past 8pm without a serious meltdown doesn’t mean they can’t celebrate Independence Day too. It just means you must find other ways to include your toddlers or preschoolers in the forth of July celebration. We are sharing a few budget friendly ideas for creating a patriotic atmosphere in your young children’s territory: the backyard.

You probably have noticed that other than Instagram, where I post daily, we haven’t been very active on our social media. We haven’t written a blog post for over a month! That is because with the warm weather we are able to push the farmhouse restoration into high gear. Of course, we still have our regular full time jobs and family obligations. This also honestly means money is tight, but a lack of money can actually be a creative stimulant. We are still able to have a beautiful play area for our girls using what we already have in resourceful ways.

Before

You can read the whole story of how we first found this mini fixer upper a few years ago by  {Clicking Here}

Next

The first year we had the playhouse we spent a lot of time just getting it to a usable state and giving it an initial makeover. You can witness that transformation by {Clicking Here}

Today

It’s truly amazing what a little paint and creativity can do to give an exterior new life!

I found this charming rusty hook in our barn and used it to hang my homemade country doorbell. The doorbell is another barn find that I reinvented by braiding an old bolt into a rope looped at the top. Both of the girls get quite a thrill out of dinging that bell! I found this cast iron house number for $1 at a local flea market. It symbolizes that hopefully someday when we are finished with the farmhouse restoration we will be able to adopt a child needing a forever family. Then this tiny farmhouse will be loved by 3 little girls.

I would love to be able to afford elaborate Victorian hinges for the play farmhouse, but since that is not in the budget I used black paint to create the illusion of fancy hinges for $0.

I gave the ugly builders-grade doorknob a similar treatment with paint and tacked a pretend key hole underneath.

We had enough leftover Duck Egg Blue from painting the farmhouse’s front door to give this pint-sized door a new look. I love that even though it is not the same blue as the American flag, it coordinates beautifully. Tucking an inexpensive miniature flag and faux berry sprig into this $5 Goodwill wreath adds a patriotic vibe without screaming in your face. It is true what they say, “Less is more.”

I found this vintage recipe box at a flea market for $1! All I had to do to change its identity was to freehand the word “MAIL” to the front and—voila!—a child sized mail box. The girls feel very important shoving wildflowers or scribblings into this box to send each other mail.

It is so shady in the backyard that we have had trouble getting flowers to grow, but Pumpkin doesn’t mind because he prefers to use this hand-me-down flower pot as a hideout. Pumpkin really admires this sweet American flag we planted in the play house flowers beds. He is a very patriotic barn cat.

Pumpkin’s brother Panda was the runt of the litter which gives him VIP status with Cami Grace and Avee Rose. As you can probably tell, they love anything miniature. This black and white kitten gets many snuggle sessions a day.

The ducks stopped by the backyard to check out the playhouse makeover. I think they especially like the Duck Egg colored front door. I love how it matches perfectly with the old blue Mason jar I made into a porch light.

It didn’t take a lot of money to make the girl’s playhouse ready for the summer festivities—just a whole lot of LOVE.

We are so thankful for our country and the freedoms we enjoy because of those who serve in our military. God Bless America and Happy Independence Day from Bryarton Farm.

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