Summer is the perfect time for kids to relax, play, and explore their creativity. But let’s be honest—those long, sunny days can sometimes leave parents wondering how to keep little hands and minds engaged without relying on screens all day.
That’s where these fun and simple craft ideas come in!
This list of 17 easy summer crafts for kids is packed with colorful, hands-on projects that are just right for warm weather fun. Whether it’s a rainy afternoon indoors or a sunny morning in the backyard, these crafts are easy to set up and full of creative possibilities.
From silly monsters and painted rocks to playful paper fans and beachy art, there’s something here for every age and interest. Best of all, most of the supplies are things you already have at home.
So grab the glue, pull out the markers, and let’s make this summer a season full of creativity and smiles!
Realted Posts:
15 Creative Summer Crafts for Adults to Relax and Create
16 Fun & Easy June Crafts for Kids to Kick Off Summer
15 Cardboard Crafts Your Kids Will Love (And You’ll Love Watching Them Make)
1. Paper Plate Sun
A cheerful and simple craft that brightens any space—this paper plate sun is a favorite among toddlers and preschoolers. It helps with color recognition, fine motor skills, and creative confidence.
How to Make It:
Start by flipping a paper plate upside down and painting the bottom a bright, sunny yellow. While that dries, cut out triangle “sun rays” from orange construction paper. These will be glued around the edge of the plate like a radiant sunburst. Once everything is dry, let your child use a marker to draw a big smiling face in the center or stick on googly eyes for added fun.
Why It’s Great:
This craft is fast, low-mess, and ideal for young kids to finish in one sitting. It also makes a sweet seasonal decoration for windows, classroom walls, or even as a gift to brighten someone’s day.
2. Seashell Creatures
Turn your summer beach day finds into whimsical sea creatures with this imaginative and tactile project. It’s great for encouraging storytelling and teaching kids about marine life while using natural materials.
How to Make It:
After collecting seashells (or using clean craft store shells), wash and dry them thoroughly. Kids can pick their favorites and begin transforming them using googly eyes, pom-poms, and paint. Use pipe cleaners for antennae or legs and glue everything securely. For a sparkly touch, add glitter glue or sequins.
Why It’s Great:
This project builds creativity and fine motor skills while also giving kids a lasting memory of a beach trip. It’s ideal for children 5 and up and works well as both a craft and a display piece for summer nature tables.
3. Ice Cream Cone Garland
This colorful, sweet-themed garland is perfect for decorating playrooms, kids’ bedrooms, or summer party spaces. It’s also a fun introduction to crafting with textiles and 3D forms.
How to Make It:
Cut brown paper into cone shapes and roll each one into a 3D cone, securing with glue or tape. Next, let kids glue big colorful pom-poms on top to resemble scoops of ice cream. For extra fun, stack two or three pom-poms on each cone to create a “double” or “triple scoop” effect. Punch holes in the cones and string them onto twine or ribbon to form a garland.
Why It’s Great:
This project encourages color exploration, layering, and pretend play. Plus, it’s mess-free and adds instant joy to any summer-themed space.
4. Handprint Fish
This art-and-craft combo turns your child’s handprint into a vibrant underwater friend. It’s a keepsake that parents love and a great way to celebrate creativity and fine motor development.
How to Make It:
Paint your child’s palm and fingers with bright, ocean-colored paints—like turquoise, coral, or yellow. Press the handprint onto a sheet of blue construction paper or cardstock. Once dry, flip the page so the fingers look like a fish tail and the palm becomes the body. Add googly eyes, draw a smile, and use crayons or markers to create bubbles, seaweed, or other fish friends around it.
Why It’s Great:
It’s sensory-friendly, easy to clean up, and a wonderful way to make a memory. Ideal for ages 3 to 6, and especially popular in summer school and preschool classrooms.
5. Watermelon Fan
Beat the heat with this fun, functional fan that looks just like a slice of watermelon! It’s the perfect blend of art and purpose—ideal for outdoor days, festivals, or just cooling off after a long afternoon.
How to Make It:
Take a sheet of white or light cardstock and fold it back and forth like an accordion. Once folded, paint the top half red and the bottom edges green, with a thin white stripe in between to mimic the rind. Use black paint or markers to add little watermelon “seeds.” When dry, pinch and tape or staple one end to hold the fan shape. Add a popsicle stick or straw as a handle if you like.
Why It’s Great:
Kids will be proud to use what they’ve made, and it’s a great way to teach folding techniques and color blocking. Best for ages 4+ with adult help for stapling or cutting.
6. Tissue Paper Ice Pops
Bright, colorful, and full of summer vibes, these tissue paper ice pops are a hit with kids of all ages. They’re super easy to make, mess-free, and perfect for encouraging creativity with color and patterns.
How to Make It:
Start by cutting a popsicle shape out of cardboard or thick paper. Tear or cut pieces of tissue paper in different bright shades—red, yellow, blue, purple—and let the kids layer them however they want. You can go for color-blocked patterns or create rainbow swirls. Once done, glue a craft stick to the bottom to finish the look. Add some glitter glue or tiny stickers if you want a little extra sparkle.
Why It’s Great:
It’s like making your own popsicle without the sugar! Kids love the freedom to design different “flavors,” and parents love how easy it is to set up and clean up. Perfect for ages 4 and up.
7. DIY Pool Noodle Monsters
Have some leftover pool noodles? Turn them into silly, squishy little monsters that kids can decorate and play with all afternoon. This craft is bursting with personality and full of laughs.
How to Make It:
Cut a pool noodle into 3–4 inch sections. Let kids pick their favorite pieces to become their monster bodies. Use hot glue (with adult help) or strong tacky glue to attach googly eyes, pom-poms, foam shapes, or whatever crafty bits you have on hand. Add pipe cleaners for arms, antennae, or horns by poking them gently into the foam. Kids can even draw mouths, teeth, or eyebrows using markers.
Why It’s Great:
This craft is silly, colorful, and encourages kids to invent unique monster characters with names and stories. It’s also a fantastic way to repurpose old summer toys.
8. Paper Plate Jellyfish
This under-the-sea themed craft is full of movement and charm! It’s a great sensory activity that doubles as cute room decor when you hang the jellyfish up afterward.
How to Make It:
Cut a paper plate in half and flip it upside down. Let the kids decorate the flat surface with paint, markers, or stickers. Glue on big googly eyes or draw eyes and a smile. Then cut strips of ribbon, yarn, or tissue paper and glue them to the flat edge of the plate to create jellyfish tentacles. Once it dries, hang it with string or tape it to the wall or window.
Why It’s Great:
This craft is fun to make, but also fun to watch wiggle and flutter when it moves. It works great for group activities and adds a splash of ocean magic to any room.
9. Nature Paintbrush Art
This outdoor art project combines nature and creativity in the best way. It encourages kids to explore textures and patterns while connecting with the world around them.
How to Make It:
Head outside and collect a variety of natural materials like grass, leaves, flowers, and twigs. Help kids bundle their chosen items and tie them to the end of sticks or pencils to form homemade brushes. Dip the brushes in washable paint and let the kids explore how each one paints differently—some will dab, some will swipe, some will create stunning textures.
Why It’s Great:
This craft teaches kids to see nature as a source of inspiration and tools. It’s fun, messy (in a good way), and full of discovery. Great for all ages and best done outdoors.
10. Popsicle Stick Birdhouse (Mini Version)
Build, decorate, and display! These mini birdhouses are perfect for introducing basic crafting and building skills while letting kids paint and personalize to their heart’s content.
How to Make It:
Line up about 5–6 popsicle sticks side by side to form a base, and glue two sticks across the back to hold them in place. Then, create the walls and roof by stacking sticks into a square or triangle shape. Once the structure is dry and stable, it’s painting time! Use bright summer colors, patterns, or stickers. Kids can also add foam shapes, buttons, or mini flowers to decorate.
Why It’s Great:
This project is hands-on, takes a little patience, and gives kids a sense of accomplishment when it’s done. It’s perfect for quiet afternoons, and the finished birdhouses can be displayed on shelves or used in imaginative play.
11. Painted Rock Garden Buddies
Turn ordinary backyard rocks into adorable garden friends! This craft is relaxing, colorful, and lets kids use their imagination while creating something that can be displayed outside or gifted to family.
How to Make It:
Start by washing smooth rocks and letting them dry completely. Then give the kids acrylic paints in bright colors and let them turn the rocks into anything—ladybugs, bumblebees, smiley faces, or even silly monsters! After the first coat dries, they can add details like wings, eyes, and patterns. For extra flair, glue on googly eyes or use glitter paint. Seal with a waterproof clear varnish if you want to display them in the garden.
Why It’s Great:
This craft is calm and creative, and it gives kids something lasting to show off. Plus, it’s very budget-friendly since you only need rocks, paint, and imagination!
12. Bubble Wrap Print Art
If your kids love to pop bubble wrap, wait until they find out you can paint with it too! This sensory-rich activity creates textured art that looks amazing—and it’s addictive in the best way.
How to Make It:
Cut bubble wrap into small square pieces. Let your kids brush or dab washable paint on the bumpy side. Then press the painted side onto white paper to create beautiful dotted prints. Repeat with different colors or shapes and let them layer the textures for a colorful masterpiece.
Why It’s Great:
This is a sensory craft that’s full of color, creativity, and fun for little hands. It’s especially great for preschoolers and early elementary kids who love messy, tactile play.
13. Cupcake Liner Butterflies
Cupcake liners aren’t just for baking—turn them into fluttery butterflies that are as easy to make as they are adorable!
How to Make It:
Take two colorful cupcake liners and flatten them out. Fold each one in half to create wings. Pinch them together in the middle and twist a pipe cleaner around the center to make the butterfly’s body and antennae. Let kids decorate the wings with stickers, markers, or glitter glue for extra sparkle.
Why It’s Great:
This craft is quick, simple, and so satisfying. You can make a whole collection of butterflies and even turn them into a hanging mobile or window display.
14. Paper Cup Crabs
These goofy, lovable little crabs are fun to build and even more fun to play with afterward! It’s the perfect project for a beach-themed day or just some creative pretend play.
How to Make It:
Flip a red paper cup upside down to be the crab’s body. Add googly eyes to the top or glue them to the ends of pipe cleaners to make them wiggle. Cut out claws and legs from red construction paper and attach them to the sides. Use a marker to draw on a funny little crab face if you want.
Why It’s Great:
Kids love giving their crab a name and a personality. It’s great for storytelling, themed crafts, or decorating a summer play area.
15. Fruit Stamp Art
This craft turns snack time into art time—and it’s a great way to teach kids about patterns and textures while having a lot of fun.
How to Make It:
Slice fruits like apples, lemons, or oranges in half and pat them dry with a paper towel. Dip the cut side into bright, washable paint and stamp it onto paper. Try making repeating patterns or mix different fruits and colors for a wild, summery look. Watermelons and kiwis also work great!
Why It’s Great:
It’s a hands-on way to explore shapes, colors, and natural textures. Plus, kids love the idea of using real food to paint!
16. Foam Cup Boats
If your kids love water play, this floating foam cup boat craft is a must-try! It’s a creative building activity with a big splash at the end.
How to Make It:
Take a foam cup and cut a small slit in the bottom. Insert a straw to act as the mast and tape it in place. Then cut a paper triangle or rectangle for a sail and slip it onto the straw. Kids can decorate their boats with markers, washi tape, or stickers. Once it’s ready, float it in a tub, bucket, or kiddie pool and watch it sail!
Why It’s Great:
It combines crafting and water play—two things kids love! It’s great for outdoor afternoons and perfect for toddlers through elementary-aged kids.
17. Summer Memory Collage
Wrap up the season with a craft that helps kids reflect on all their favorite summer moments. This one’s thoughtful, personal, and makes a great keepsake.
How to Make It:
Give your child a large piece of cardboard or poster board as the base. Let them decorate it with summer drawings, magazine cutouts, printed photos, stickers, ticket stubs, or anything that reminds them of their favorite summer adventures. They can also write captions like “my beach day” or “lemonade stand fun” to tell their story. Add glitter, washi tape, or foam shapes for texture.
Why It’s Great:
It encourages memory-making, storytelling, and creative thinking. And when it’s done, you have a meaningful piece of art that captures their summer in one place.
✂️ Ready to Get Crafty?
Whether it’s a quiet afternoon indoors or a sunny weekend outside, these easy summer crafts are a great way to make memories with your little ones. No pressure to be perfect—just enjoy the giggles, the glue, and the joy of creating something together.
👉 Tried one of these crafts?
We’d love to see it! Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram [@YourHandleHere] or share your favorite in the comments below.
📌 Don’t forget to save this post for later — perfect for when the next “I’m bored” moment strikes!
💌 Want more creative ideas?
Subscribe to our newsletter and get fresh, fun activities delivered straight to your inbox.
Let’s make this summer one to remember—one handmade moment at a time.
0 Comments