15 Easy Lawn Games To Make For 4th Of July Weekend

Supplies For Your Own "Cruel Summer" Taylor Swift Fuzzy Dice:

• Sewing machine
• Pink fleece fabric
• Pink thread
• Pink felt
• Scissors
• Blue rope/cord (I took mine off a loofah)
• Needle + pins
• A copy of Lover to listen to while you sew ;)
• Poly-Fil Stuffing (not pictured)
• Ruler (optional)
• Glue gun + glue gun sticks (optional, use it to touch up your seams if you need)

Instructions:

Start by marking your fleece with the measurements for your squares. Since the size of the dice on Taylor's official website was listed as 3.5", I marked them just above 3.5" so I could leave room for a hem. You'll need 12 squares total.

Next, cut out your squares. I used the first square as a template for the others, then went back in and cleaned up the edges where necessary.

The first image I made was a sun, and I started by drawing a circle on my felt. I used the rim of my thread spool to make sure I had a perfect circle but you can also free hand if you want the circle to be a different size.

Pin your felt to the center of a fleece square.

Sew the circle to the fleece using a regular straight stitch.

Next, move your sewing machine from a straight stitch to a zigzag stitch and decrease your stitch length to a lower number like 0 or 1. This will allow your art to have more of a filled-in border, instead of a messier, chevron finish.

Go back over the rim of your circle with the zigzag stitch to give it that embroidered look. I did this with the fabric right side up, then I did it again with the fabric flipped upside down just to be extra thorough.

After your circle is complete, it's time for the sun rays! Use the same zigzag stitch and 0 stitch length to move from the circle outward. This is where you'll want to add another element: stitch width.

To give the sun rays their triangular shape, adjust your stitch width as you move out from the heart of the sun. While the stitch length ensures your sewing won't have empty spaces, the width will let you move from a wider sunbeam base to a thinner point. I just decreased the width every few stitches as I went along.

Your finished sun will look something like this! I went back in with a needle to clean up loose threads by hand. I waited to trim them until I had threaded them to the back so that the front image had a more polished look.

Repeat the above steps for your devil and angel hearts. There are only a few differences between these and the sun; you'll cut the felt into hearts instead of circles, and to fill in the horns and the wings, I used a straight stitch to give it a colored-in look, reserving the zigzag stitching for the borders.

I know the original dice had "Cruel Summer" lyrics stitched onto these squares, but I ended up leaving them off. It makes the design more minimal and easier to work with.

One thing to note about this step: beware of bunched fabric! Filling in the angel wings brought the edges of the squares in a bit, but I wasn't too upset about it. I think flaws give a craft some personality!

The "Lover" stitching got a little more complicated than the images. I first traced the word with my pen so that I would have some guide as to what the word should look like. Move the stitch width back down to one of the lower settings.

Then instead of just moving the fabric in a circle like I did for the sun, I moved it all around to follow the word I had written in marker. Repeat this a few times until you're satisfied with the thickness. I definitely tried this step a couple different times so don't worry if you don't get it on the first go!

For my final embroidered square, I did a simple "TS," which of course stands for "Taylor Swift."

Before you can sew your squares together, line the edges up and pin them. I used my ruler to mark how far I wanted my hem to go (I did 1/4" at every edge) for a sewing guideline.

I pinned the squares one at a time, checking at each step that they were pinned the right way (especially after I sewed two together incorrectly and had to pick out the stitches. Oops.)

Arrange the images in a similar way to the official dice, or change it up however you'd like! I chose to arrange the squares so that there was a blank in between the images.

Pin and sew your remaining three squares around the middle square so that you end up with a cross.

I continued pinning and sewing the edges to one another until I had an inside-out cube. Here's a tutorial to help you better understand which edges should be sewn together.

I did one square at a time, making sure to focus on the corners and going back in to tighten them up once I was done. You only want one gap, which is where you'll flip the cube inside out and then stuff it.

Once you have a cube, flip the fabric inside out. I used my pen to make sure all the corners and edges were good to go.

Next, stuff your cube with whatever filling you prefer. I didn't stuff it super full because I didn't want it to have a rounded look when I was done.

Ta-da! A little wonky but very cute :)

When you have both dice, cut a small hole in the top for your cord. Knot the ends and stuff them into the holes, then use your needle and thread to attach the cord and the fleece together.

Voilà!

They're soft, fuzzy, and pink. What could be better than that?!

If you don't want to hang these in your car, they also make excellent Valentine's (or Galentine's) decor.

If you need me, I'll be blasting "Cruel Summer" for the rest of the month.

Castello Teak 3-Piece Sofa + Coffee Table

This stunning cushioned set comes complete with one long sofa, an individual seat, and a coffee table so everyone can gather 'round. You can also shop it in three other colors so you get the perfect fit for your space.

Ventura 7-Piece Combo Dining Set

Everyone will have a seat at the table with this luxe dining set. It seats 6 total and ensures the utmost comfort with breezy PVC slings to sit on and weather-tested materials to last you years and years.

Stainless Steel Gas Patio Heater

Chilly nights are no match for this patio heater. Heating up to 250 square feet with gas power, having this tower on your patio or in your backyard means you don't ever have to sacrifice comfort to get outside. Our fave feature is the built-in wheels that make rearranging easy!

Farmhouse 3-Piece Sofa + Coffee Table

This farmhouse-style soft + coffee table set is just oozing comfort and class. Made of durable recycled high-density polyethylene, this set gives the look of painted wood without all the maintenance of painting or staining. All the while, this set resists any food and beverage stains it may come across.

South Beach Chaise Lounge

Who doesn't love a good chaise? This adjustable and stackable lounge chair is fitted with a breathable material suitable for all seasons. It'll be your BFF for springtime outdoor reading sessions, summer afternoons spent tanning, and scorching-hot pool days.

Terrafab Faux Stone Gas Fire Pit

For cooler temps, fire up your very own fire pit! This piece takes the hard work out of starting a fire so you can expedite your way to total comfort. It comes ready with a durable PVC cover and lava rocks for a fun, real feel.

Chateau 3-Piece Bistro Set + Table

This adorable set just whisked us away to the whimsical terraces of Paris! If you're looking to make a magical escape out of your outdoor space, this trio will be perfect. The cast aluminum is lightweight, making any rearranging you want to do super simple. The circular bistro table is even fitted with an umbrella hole that's compatible with any of Fortunoff Backyard Store's umbrella models.

Sonoma Husk 7-Piece Outdoor Dining Set + Table

This 7-piece set is ideal if you wish to seat larger groups for outdoor brunches, lunches, dinners, and more! Each piece is expertly constructed to withstand weathering and UV rays so it looks just as great as they day you bought it. We love that the chairs are also easily stackable for off-season storage!

Tivoli 5-Piece Swivel Bar Set

If a high-top is where your heart lies, you've gotta check out this 5-piece set. It's one of Fortunoff Backyard Store's sturdiest, thanks to the heavyweight sand cast aluminum frame. Decorative by nature, you'll adore just looking at this set just as much as you adore sitting in it!

Espresso Wicker Gas Patio Heater

Delivering even heat with a cylindrical design, this patio heater does it all in style with a sleek wicker tank cover and pyrex glass chamber for visual effect.

Tulum 3-Piece Sofa

Prepped and ready with a one-seater, two-seater, and three-seater, everyone at your family gathering or friend-filled party will be able to enjoy the plush cushions on this sofa set! You can snag it in this calming blue hue or opt for a more neutral tan color.

San Lucas 3-Piece Cuddle Beds Contour Sectional

As a cozy hybrid between a chair and a bed, this sectional is perfect for daytime naps or lounging out by the pool on a summer afternoon. The cushions are resistant to UV rays, fading, mold, mildew, and stains, so they'll always look super stunning.

1. New Music Will No Longer Bring Joy

Whether you grew up in the age of records, CDs, or iPods, discovering new music is always a thrill when you're young. At the same time, the "old" tunes your parents blast in the car seem stale, and they probably scoff at whatever music you choose to listen to.

Yet, as time goes by, something strange happens. The latest chart-toppers will begin to sound like noise, and you'll find yourself defending the music you grew up listening to, claiming it's way better than what younger generations are enjoying now.

Science has an explanation for this shift. As we get older, our brains process dopamine, or the chemical that makes music exciting, less efficiently. That means the songs you once obsessed over still hit you hard, but new ones just don't spark the same joy.

2. Rebellion Won't Be Appealing Anymore

When you're a teenager, it's practically a rite of passage to be rebellious. Rules seem like they're made to be broken, and anything from sneaking out to defying authority figures at school feels like fair game.

However, you won't always be so bold. That's because, as your brain matures, the rebellious streak that once fueled the late nights and questionable decisions of your teenage years and twenties will fade. The same neurological shifts that make teens impulsive begin to mellow out with age, resulting in an increased sense of empathy and responsibility.

So, when you see some newly licensed teens racing down the road in their first car or egging houses on Halloween, you'll eventually start to shake your head at the recklessness, just like your parents.

3. Previously Boring Things Will Bring You Satisfaction

The idea of cleaning out the garage or tending to the garden on a Saturday probably sounds like a boring nightmare to most teenagers. At that point in our lives, our activities were driven by excitement and chasing instant gratification or an "adrenaline" rush.

Yet, as we mature, those previously "boring" hobbies start to feel, well, satisfying. While teenagers crave high-reward and low-effort activities, older adult brains begin to prioritize long-term fulfillment over fleeting joy or excitement.

That's why, out of nowhere, you may suddenly appreciate slower weekend mornings, organizing the bathroom on your day off, and spending hours picking out home decor.

4. You Won't Be Able To Sleep In

Sleeping until noon feels like a basic human right (and quite easy) during your teens or twenties. And back then, when you rolled out of bed in your pajamas halfway through the day, your parents might've called you lazy.

Contrary to popular belief, the shift toward earlier wake-up times in adulthood isn't about discipline; it's biology. Teenagers' bodies naturally produce melatonin later, making it harder for them to wake up early.

Then, as you age, your internal clock gradually changes, making it much tougher to sleep in, regardless of how tired you feel. Someday soon, you might find yourself brewing coffee at the crack of dawn and wondering how you ever wasted so much time lying in bed.

5. Bad News, Men: Your Motivation To Change Will Fade

After you graduated from high school or college, you might've sworn that you'd never "let yourself go." So, you may have hit the gym like it was your second job and chased after promotions like they were candy to further your career.

If you fast forward a couple of decades, though, that drive starts to fade, and testosterone is actually the culprit.

This hormone, which is responsible for muscle mass, motivation, and energy, peaks around age 40 before gradually declining. As it drops, the urgency to push yourself goes with it. You'll no longer be jumping at the chance to stay late at work or stick to your old, grueling six-day workout regimen.

6. Bland Food Won't Seem So Terrible

If you're a self-proclaimed "foodie," you love visiting fancy restaurants, trying new cuisines, and think your palate is only getting more refined as you age.

But if you've ever wondered why older adults seem perfectly fine with eating the same old bland meals every week, science has the answer. You may not know that, as you age, your mouth produces less saliva, which is crucial for breaking down food and bringing flavors to your taste buds.

On top of that, appetite naturally shrinks, meaning dinners are more of a necessity than an experience. Suddenly, some plain crackers and apple juice won't seem so bad after all.

7. You'll Reminisce, Just Like Your Parents

Nowadays, you might roll your eyes when you hear your parents tell the same childhood story (or rant about how things were "so much better" back in the day) for the hundredth time. You may even have a pact with yourself, promising to stay more current and open-minded.

Well, when you get older, your brain actually relies on nostalgia as a sort of built-in natural antidepressant. In other words, reminiscing helps older people counteract the stress and responsibilities of adult life.

This is why long-winded stories about the "good old days" become even more frequent with age, and someday, you'll likely find yourself falling into the same pattern.