Summer break kicks off with so much excitement — but give it a few days and you will hear those two little words: “I’m bored.”
This collection pulls together 50 simple craft ideas that are colorful, fun, and easy to set up with basic supplies most families already have at home.
Some suit toddlers, some challenge older kids, and plenty can move outside so the mess never reaches your kitchen. Whether you need a rainy day activity, a playdate project, or a quick boredom buster, something here will work.
Summer Crafts Kids Get Really Excited About
These are the projects kids jump at right away: bright, hands-on, and perfect for filling long summer days.
1. Sidewalk Chalk Paint
Stir cornstarch and water together with a few drops of food coloring, and kids get a bright, brushable paint for decorating the driveway.
2. Water Balloon Splash Art
Fill balloons with thinned-out paint, then toss them at big sheets of paper outside and watch the splatter art appear.
3. Spray Bottle Tie Dye
Fill spray bottles with tinted water and let kids mist coffee filters to create tie-dye patterns.
4. Painted Rock Animals
Turn smooth stones into ladybugs, turtles, bees, or little frogs with a few dabs of paint.
5. Nature Sun Catchers
Press petals and leaves between clear contact paper for pretty window art.
6. Popsicle Stick Bird Feeders
Glue craft sticks into a frame, spread on peanut butter, and press it into birdseed.
7. Sponge Water Bombs
Tie strips of sponge together and you have water balloons you can reuse all summer.
8. Pom Pom Ice Cream Cones
Ice Cream Party Craft Kit
Glue fluffy pom poms onto paper cones to make pretend scoops of ice cream.
9. DIY Bubble Wands
Bend pipe cleaners into stars, hearts, and circles to blow bubbles with.
10. Paper Plate Sunshine Craft
Sunshine Paper Plate Craft with Visual Instructions
Paint a plate golden yellow and glue construction paper rays around the edge.
Nature Crafts for Kids
Summer is the best season for turning outdoor finds into art.
11. Leaf Collage Art
Leaf Art Collage Visual Picture Cards
Collect leaves on a walk and glue them onto paper to build nature scenes.
12. Flower Press Art
Pressed Flower Jar Bookmarks
Flatten flowers inside heavy books, then glue the pressed blooms onto paper.
13. Stick Picture Frames
Glue gathered sticks together into rustic little frames.
14. Pinecone Animals
Pinecone Kid’s Craft Kit
Turn pinecones into owls, hedgehogs, or squirrels with a few felt pieces.
15. Painted Seashells
Bulk Shells + Paint
Give plain shells a makeover with bright summer colors.
16. Nature Bracelets
Wrap tape sticky-side-out around a wrist and stick on tiny leaves and petals as you explore.
17. Twig Stars
Lash twigs together with yarn to form star shapes.
18. Acorn Creatures
Stick googly eyes on acorns to create tiny woodland characters.
Recycled Crafts Kids Can Make
Everything in this section starts with stuff already around the house.
19. Toilet Paper Roll Butterflies
Butterfly Toilet Paper Roll Craft Kit
Paint empty rolls and attach colorful paper wings.
20. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Snip egg cartons into sections and decorate each bump as a caterpillar segment.
21. Milk Jug Watering Can
Punch holes in a milk jug lid and it becomes a kid-sized watering can.
22. Cereal Box Puzzle
Draw a picture on a piece of cardboard and cut it into chunky puzzle pieces.
23. Bottle Cap Art
Bottle Cap Turtle
Glue bottle caps onto cardboard to build patterns and pictures.
24. Plastic Spoon Flowers
Paint plastic spoons and arrange them into flower shapes.
25. Cardboard Binoculars
Tape two toilet paper rolls side by side and decorate your own binoculars.
26. Tin Can Planters
Recycled Can Planters
Decorate clean cans and plant a flower in each one.
Cute Summer Crafts Kids Love
These bright, cheerful projects are especially fun for younger kids.
27. Handprint Flamingos
Summer Flamingo Handprint Art
A pink painted handprint becomes the body of a flamingo.
28. Cupcake Liner Flowers
Flatten cupcake liners and layer them into cheerful flowers.
29. Popsicle Stick Popsicles
Decorate craft sticks so they look like real ice cream bars.
30. Tissue Paper Rainbows
Glue scrunched bits of tissue paper into rainbow arcs.
31. Pom Pom Caterpillars
Line pom poms up in a row and finish with googly eyes.
32. Fingerprint Ice Cream Art
Ice Cream Fingerprint Art
Use stamped fingerprints as the scoops on an ice cream cone.
33. Paper Straw Fireworks
Dip cut paper straws in paint and stamp them into firework bursts.
Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
Paper plates are one of the simplest supplies you can stock.
34. Paper Plate Watermelon
Paint the plate red and dot on little black seeds.
35. Paper Plate Rainbow
Paint rainbow stripes across the plate and glue on cotton ball clouds.
36. Paper Plate Fish
Add colorful paper fins and a big googly eye.
37. Paper Plate Turtle
Paint the shell, then attach little paper legs.
38. Paper Plate Jellyfish
Hang yarn or streamer tentacles from the edge of a painted plate.
Easy Crafts for Toddlers
Simple, low-mess projects made with little hands in mind.
39. Sponge Painting
Cut sponges into shapes and let toddlers stamp them in paint.
40. Sticker Collages
Give toddlers a page and a pile of colorful stickers to stick wherever they like.
41. Dot Marker Suns
Sun Dot Marker Activity
Dab dot markers all over a sun drawing to fill it in.
42. Q-Tip Painting
Dip Q-tips in paint to make dotted artwork.
43. Handprint Art
Summer Handprint Art Templates
Turn painted handprints into animals, flowers, and summer scenes.
Creative Crafts for Older Kids
These projects give bigger kids more room to design their own thing.
44. Friendship Bracelets
A summer camp classic that kids never get tired of making.
45. DIY Slime
Stir glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution together to make stretchy slime.
46. Summer Memory Jar
Decorate a jar and drop in notes about the best moments of summer.
47. DIY Dream Catchers
Weave yarn around hoops and finish with beads.
48. Painted Canvas Art
Hand over a small canvas and let each child paint a summer masterpiece of their own.
49. Homemade Kites
Decorate paper kites, then take them outside to fly.
50. DIY Wind Chimes
String together sticks and beads to make a wind chime.
Craft Supplies to Keep on Hand
Crafting stays easy all season when you keep one simple bin stocked with the basics:
- construction paper
- washable paint
- glue sticks
- googly eyes
- pipe cleaners
- pom poms
- popsicle sticks
- paper plates
- markers or crayons
- stickers
With a small stash ready to go, it is easy to say yes the next time the kids want to make something.
Save These Summer Crafts for Kids
Bookmark this list so you always have an idea ready the moment boredom strikes during summer break.
Rainy day, hot afternoon, or slow morning at home — these projects keep kids busy, happy, and creating all season long.