43 Fun Summer Crafts for Kids That’ll Keep Them Busy for Hours
Summer break is here, and I’m already hearing the dreaded “I’m bored!” chorus from my kiddos! Research shows children can lose up to 25% of their academic skills during summer vacation, but engaging in creative activities helps fight this “summer slide” while keeping them entertained. In our blended family with five children ranging from preschoolers to teens, I’ve compiled the ultimate collection of summer crafts that have literally saved my sanity on many hot summer days!
These 43 fun summer crafts for kids aren’t just time-fillers – they actually encourage creativity, develop fine motor skills, and spark imaginative play. I’ve discovered that having a craft arsenal ready to go makes all the difference, especially when we’re facing scorching temperatures outside or those unexpected summer rainstorms that keep everyone indoors. Trust me, these projects will keep your kids happily engaged for hours, giving you a much-needed moment of peace (or maybe even time to enjoy your coffee while it’s still warm)!
Ocean in a Bottle Sensory Craft
Fill a clear plastic bottle with blue-tinted water, baby oil, and glitter. Drop in tiny seashells, beads, and fish-shaped sequins to mimic an underwater scene. Kids can shake it to watch the “waves” move and settle. Use hot glue to seal the lid for safe, mess-free play. A relaxing craft that doubles as a calming sensory bottle.
Rainbow Windsock from Recycled Cans
Start with a clean tin can and paint it with bold rainbow stripes. Attach streamers or ribbons to the bottom and hang it outside to flutter in the breeze. Punch holes and tie a loop of yarn on top to hang it from a tree. Kids can personalize with stickers, glitter, or puffy paint. A whimsical garden or porch decoration that dances with every gust of wind!
Popsicle Stick Bird Glider
Using jumbo popsicle sticks, kids can create a mini glider that actually flies! Paint the sticks in bright summer colors, then glue into a cross shape with a paper tail and wings. Let them decorate with googly eyes and foam beaks to make it a flying bird. Once dry, it’s time for outdoor test flights. A crafty-meets-STEM activity that’s full of motion and fun.
Lemonade Stand Sign Making
Even if you’re not setting up a full lemonade stand, let kids design their own signs using poster board, stencils, and sponge paint. Add 3D touches like foam lemon slices and glitter letters. Hang them in the yard or garage as part of pretend play. It inspires entrepreneurial creativity and gives younger kids a project they can take pride in. Bonus: makes a great photo op!
Nature Faces with Air Dry Clay
Take a walk and gather leaves, bark, pebbles, and twigs. Back home, kids press these natural treasures into round slabs of air dry clay to make fun forest creature faces. Add acorns for eyes and pine needles for hair. Once dry, they can be painted or sealed for outdoor display. A craft-meets-nature scavenger hunt with endless creative outcomes.
Solar S’mores Oven
Using a pizza box, foil, plastic wrap, and black paper, kids can build a real solar-powered oven. Add mini marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers and let the sun do the work! Monitor the “oven” and check when the marshmallows melt. It’s part snack, part science. A fun and delicious solar energy experiment for sunny days.
DIY Sea Glass Art with Crayons
Grate old crayon shavings in shades of blue, green, and white onto wax paper. Cover with another sheet and carefully iron (with adult help) to melt into a swirly, sea glass effect. Once cool, cut out shapes like seashells, dolphins, or sea turtles. Frame with popsicle sticks or cardboard cutouts. A colorful summer window cling that glows beautifully in the sun.
Sponge Water Bombs
Cut kitchen sponges into strips, tie them together tightly with a rubber band or string to form a fluffy ball. Soak in water and toss for a safe, reusable water balloon alternative. These are eco-friendly, easy to make, and perfect for summer playdates. Store them in a bucket next to your kiddie pool for spontaneous splash time. Bonus: no messy cleanup!
Ice Cream Cone Collage Art
Provide construction paper, tissue paper, pom-poms, sequins, and buttons. Let kids design 3D ice cream cones with as many scoops and toppings as they like. Add a realistic touch by drawing waffle textures and glueing cotton balls as whipped cream. Hang them on the fridge or string into a garland. A sweet and imaginative craft that looks good enough to eat.
Shell & Sand Memory Jars
After a beach day, let kids collect sand and shells to bring home. Layer the sand in small glass jars and arrange their favorite finds on top. Decorate the outside with paint pens, ribbon, or vacation labels. Add a tiny tag with the location and date to create a summer keepsake. A nostalgic craft that preserves vacation memories in a jar.
DIY Fruit Slice Fans
Cut paper plates in half and have kids paint them like watermelon, orange, or kiwi slices. Once dry, attach a craft stick handle to create a cute summer fan. Add black seed details with a marker and finish with a glittery edge for sparkle. These are perfect for staying cool during backyard play. A simple, breezy craft that’s both useful and adorable!
Jellyfish Windsock with Bubble Wrap Tentacles
Use an old plastic bowl or sturdy paper cup as the jellyfish head. Paint it bright colors, then attach strips of bubble wrap, ribbons, and yarn as tentacles. Hang it from a tree or porch and watch it dance in the wind. Add googly eyes for extra charm. A mesmerizing ocean-inspired craft with texture and movement!
Ice Chalk Painting
Mix cornstarch, water, and food coloring in an ice cube tray and freeze with craft sticks inserted. Once frozen, kids can use the ice chalk to paint on sidewalks or driveways. As it melts, it leaves behind bright, watercolor-style trails. Great for cooling off while creating messy outdoor art. A vibrant, melt-as-you-go summer masterpiece!
Mermaid Scale Collage Boards
Cut a large mermaid tail shape or fish silhouette from poster board. Kids layer on tissue paper circles, sequins, foil, and glitter to create shimmery scales. Use metallic markers or paint pens for extra details. Hang it up as a sparkly sea-themed decoration. A magical, tactile project that mermaid lovers will adore!
Rainbow Rain Sticks
Decorate a cardboard tube with rainbow stripes using markers or paint. Fill with rice, beads, or popcorn kernels and seal both ends with paper and tape. Tilt it back and forth to hear the sound of gentle “rain.” Wrap with yarn, ribbon, or stickers for added flair. A soothing musical craft that kids can make and play with!
Tie-Dye Bubble Prints
Blow bubbles using bubble solution mixed with food coloring or washable paint. Have kids gently blow them onto white paper — as they pop, they leave unique, tie-dye-like prints. Experiment with different colors and sizes. Let dry and use as wrapping paper or framed art. A messy masterpiece that turns science into summer art!
Garden Rock Caterpillars
Collect smooth, flat rocks and paint each one as a different segment of a caterpillar. Use bright colors, dots, and smiley faces, then glue them end to end. Add pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes to the first rock. Seal with Mod Podge or clear spray for outdoor use. A friendly garden critter kids can proudly display outside!
DIY Nature Press Sun Catchers
Gather flower petals, leaves, and tiny plants from your backyard or walk. Place between two clear contact paper sheets or laminate sheets cut into circles. Frame with a colorful paper plate ring and hang in the window with string. The sunlight makes each pressed element glow like stained glass. A beautiful way to celebrate nature and light!
DIY Fireworks Salt Painting
Use school glue to draw bursts and explosions on black or navy cardstock. Sprinkle with table salt and shake off the excess. Then use liquid watercolor or food-colored water to touch the salt and watch the color travel. It mimics the look of exploding fireworks with a magical science effect. A wow-worthy craft for 4th of July or summer nights!
Cupcake Liner Ocean Creatures
Flatten out colorful cupcake liners and turn them into jellyfish, crabs, fish, or octopuses. Add eyes, glitter, streamers, and fins made of cut paper. Mount them on blue construction paper or hang them as a mobile. Perfect for younger kids practicing cutting and gluing. A sweet ocean-themed craft using budget-friendly supplies!
DIY Shell Frame Decorating
Provide kids with a plain wooden or cardboard frame and a pile of collected seashells, sand, and beach finds. Glue them all around the edges and seal with Mod Podge for durability. Insert a photo from a summer day or vacation for a personalized keepsake. Add a name tag or summer year for memory-keeping. A beachy craft that turns into decor.
Glow-in-the-Dark Firefly Jars
Use clear plastic jars and fill them with glow stick liquid (with adult help), glitter, and sequins. Add tissue paper wings and googly eyes on the outside to create firefly “faces.” Shake them up at night to watch them glow like magic. You can also use battery-operated tea lights for a longer-lasting version. A summertime evening craft that turns into a magical nightlight!
Paper Cup Bug Hotels
Decorate paper cups with bug-themed colors and patterns. Fill with rolled paper, sticks, and dried grass to create little nooks for observing bugs outdoors. Place in a shady garden spot and wait for critters to explore. Add a tag like “Bug Inn” or “Caterpillar Café.” A STEM-inspired summer craft for young nature lovers!
DIY Pool Noodle Creatures
Cut pool noodles into short sections and let kids decorate them with googly eyes, pipe cleaner arms, fins, or wings. Turn them into dragons, bugs, sea monsters, or aliens. Add popsicle stick feet or foam details to personalize each one. Float them in the kiddie pool or line them up for imaginative play. A silly sculpting craft perfect for outdoor messes!
Tropical Fruit Garland
Cut out colorful paper fruits like pineapples, watermelons, bananas, and kiwis. Use paint, markers, and cut paper layers to add juicy details. String them onto twine or ribbon to make a vibrant garland. Hang in a bedroom, playroom, or across the porch. A cheerful, fruity decoration that feels like a summer party!
Rainbow Cloud Puppets
Create clouds from cotton balls glued to cardstock or felt. Attach strips of rainbow-colored crepe paper or ribbon hanging underneath. Add a smiley face and googly eyes to the cloud. Tape to a craft stick for a weather-themed puppet. A cheerful craft that brightens any rainy day!
DIY Bubble Wand Sculptures
Let kids twist and shape pipe cleaners, beads, and buttons into their own custom bubble wands. Try hearts, stars, spirals, or squiggles. Dip into bubble solution and watch their art come to life in floating form. Store them in a painted mason jar bubble station. A whimsical craft that mixes function, play, and design.
Watercolor Popsicle Garland
Cut out popsicle shapes from watercolor paper and let kids paint them with dreamy blends of pinks, oranges, and blues. Add drips, bite marks, or real popsicle sticks. String them onto twine for a summery bunting. Use metallic pens for names or fun phrases like “stay cool.” A refreshing wall or window display that screams summer!
Pineapple Cup Puppets
Use yellow paper cups as the base and add green construction paper leaves poking out of the top. Draw or glue on silly faces, mustaches, or sunglasses. Stick on arms made from paper or chenille stems for full character vibes. Kids can use them as puppets or props in skits. A sunny craft that’s packed with personality!
Nature Crown Parade Craft
Let kids collect leaves, grasses, flower petals, bark, and small feathers during a nature walk. Staple or glue them onto a long strip of paper or felt to create a custom summer crown. Add ribbon streamers or “jewels” for royal flair. Host a “Woodland Parade” or backyard tea party with everyone in their crowns. A magical, earthy accessory made from the great outdoors.
Bubble Wrap Jellyfish Mobiles
Paint bubble wrap in vibrant ocean colors and cut it into jellyfish body shapes. Add streamers, yarn, or ribbons as dangling tentacles. Glue on googly eyes and suspend the jellyfish from an embroidery hoop or stick to create a mobile. Hang it near a fan or in the breeze for movement. A bubbly sea creature craft with floating magic!
Recycled Cup Wind Chimes
Paint old plastic cups in bold, summery colors and string them vertically with beads, buttons, shells, and jingle bells. Tie it all together with yarn or fishing line and hang from a stick or hanger. As the breeze blows, you get a gentle jingle of sound and movement. Kids can personalize each strand with charms, initials, or nature finds. A cheery sound-and-color craft for the porch or garden.
DIY Ice Cube Necklaces
Freeze small items like flowers, glitter, or confetti in ice cube trays with string loops inside. Once frozen, wear the “ice gems” for a cool-down necklace that melts in the sun. Watch how each one reveals a tiny surprise. Great for backyard parties or sprinkler fun. A short-lived but totally magical wearable summer craft!
Cactus Rock Garden
Paint rocks to look like cacti using green paint and white dotted “spines.” Arrange them in a terra cotta pot filled with pebbles or mini sandboxes. Add paper flowers or pom-poms on top for bloom details. Label with silly names like “Spike” or “Sunny.” A no-prick, desert-chic craft perfect for little plant lovers!
Ocean Foam Sensory Bin
Whip together water, dish soap, and a few drops of blue food coloring to make thick, bubbly “ocean foam.” Fill a bin and toss in plastic sea animals, shells, and beach toys. Kids can scoop, swirl, and bubble their way through pretend play. Add a handful of shaving cream “seaweed” or glitter “sand.” A frothy, tactile craft for sensory seekers.
DIY Mini Kites with Straws
Make mini kites using paper, tape, and two straws in a cross shape. Add a tail of ribbon or yarn and let kids design the sail with markers or paint. Fly them on light wind days using string or yarn. Customize with stickers or their initials. A tiny flyer that teaches simple engineering and delivers big smiles.
DIY Campfire with Painted Rocks & Tissue Flames
Paint smooth rocks like logs and red/orange/yellow tissue paper like flames. Glue them together in a bundle to look like a mini campfire. Add cardboard marshmallows on toothpicks for pretend roasting. Perfect for indoor camping or backyard storytelling. A cozy craft that brings camp vibes home—no sparks required!
Paper Sunflower Garden Wall
Cut large sunflower petals from yellow cardstock and layer them around a circular center filled with glued coffee beans, buttons, or seeds. Attach green stems and leaves and mount on a wall or fence to create a blooming garden indoors or out. Add bees made from painted clothespins for extra charm. A joyful nature-inspired display that brightens any space.
DIY Lemonade Cup Necklaces
Use mini clear plastic condiment cups and fill with yellow beads, paper lemon slices, or confetti. Glue on a tiny straw or umbrella and attach to a necklace chain or yarn cord. Kids will love wearing their tiny lemonade charm as a summer statement. It’s a tiny wearable craft full of sunshine!
Popsicle Stick Treasure Maps
Glue popsicle sticks side by side to create a base, then draw a pirate-style treasure map across the sticks. Decorate with X marks, palm trees, and dragons or sea monsters. Pull the sticks apart, mix them up, and let kids reassemble their map puzzle. Add burnt edges with a brown marker for drama. A creative twist on puzzles and pretend play!
Painted Leaf Prints on Canvas
Collect leaves in different shapes and paint one side with bold acrylics. Press onto canvas or cardstock to create a summer botanical print. Layer different colors and sizes for a mixed-media look. Sign the corner for a gallery-style finish. A nature-meets-fine-art project that looks amazing hanging on the wall!
Soda Bottle Fish
Cut a clear plastic soda bottle into a fish shape and decorate with tissue paper scales, googly eyes, and glitter glue. Use string to create a mobile of swimming fish across a window or deck. Add foil fins or beads for shimmer. Lightweight and weather-friendly! A recycled art project that’s fun, funky, and full of movement.
Summer Story Stones
Paint smooth stones with simple icons like sun, waves, flip-flops, watermelon, and sandcastles. Kids can pull one from a basket and create a sentence or story based on the image. Great for group storytelling or quiet-time solo play. Store in a drawstring pouch for easy travel. A creative and portable craft that sparks imagination wherever you go!
With these 43 fun summer crafts for kids, you’ll never hear “I’m bored” again this summer! As a mom in our blended family of five, I’ve personally tested each activity and can honestly say they keep children engaged for hours while building creativity and important developmental skills. The thing I love most? So many of these crafts use stuff we already had lying around the house – making them super budget-friendly options when you need summer entertainment without breaking the bank.
I’ve learned that the goal isn’t Pinterest-perfect results but creating those special summer memories and giving my kids chances to express themselves creatively. Some of our projects definitely didn’t turn out like the pictures, but the giggles and proud faces were worth every bit of mess! So grab your supplies, put down some newspaper (lesson learned the hard way!), and enjoy watching your children’s imaginations take flight with these engaging summer activities. Which craft are you gonna try first? I’d love to see your creations in the comments below – the successes AND the creative disasters!
