Articles & Guides
What can we help you find?

19 fun and easy summer crafts for kids

Fun, affordable and simple summer crafts for kids and preschoolers of all ages.

19 fun and easy summer crafts for kids

Summer is usually a kid’s favorite time of year, but it can be challenging for all the parents, nannies and babysitters looking for an endless supply of fun activities to keep kids busy — particularly when it’s raining or the pool as lost its luster. The good news is there are a ton of summer crafts for toddlers, preschoolers and big kids that are sure to provide hours of entertainment and learning — and they don’t involve opening a house account with Michaels or hours of clean-up. That said, these simple and cheap crafts will look like a million bucks in the end.

Here are 19 summer crafts for kids that are easy, inexpensive, great for all age groups and perfect to do indoors or out in the summer sun!

1. Popsicle banner

This popsicle banner makes a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Wood Home Adventures/Instagram

Get some markers, paper, popsicle sticks and string to make this colorful popsicle banner by Wood Home Adventures. Seriously, if this isn’t one of the cutest summer crafts for kids, we don’t know what is.

2. Painted rocks

Painting rocks with sayings makes a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via rockfun503/Instagram

Rock painting is a creative craft made from easy-to-find materials; just look in your backyard! These painted rocks from RockFun503 include feel-good messages, but you can paint yours however you’d like for summer. 

3. Tree bark canvas

This tree bark canvas activity makes a fun craft for kids
Image via Learn.Craft.Grow./Instagram

For this creative craft, Learn.Craft.Grow uses eucalyptus bark to create a beautiful tree bark canvas for summer artwork. Many trees or even driftwood found on the beach can provide a beautiful canvas for summer artwork.

4. Clay shell wall hanging

These clay shell wall hangings make a fun summer craft activity for kids.
Image via therainbowtreeblog/Instagram

Turn air-dried impressions of shells into a decorative clay shell wall hanging with this craft from the Rainbow tree.

5. Ice painting

Ice painting is a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via I’m a Good Mom I Swear/Facebook

You don’t need much to have a good time with this ice painting activity, according to Annie at I’m a Good Mom, I Swear. Simple fun for toddlers on hot summer days.

6. Design-your-own shoes

These design-your-own shoes make a fun summer craft activity for kids and teens
Image via kellymwynns/Instagram

Get some plain, white shoes for this colorful design-your-own shoes craftKellymwynns uses Sharpies and rubbing alcohol to create tie-dye-like designs.

7. Summer tic-tac-toe

This summer tic-tac-toe game makes a fun summer craft and activity for kids
Image via rosesandwhiskers/Instagram

Making this summer tic-tac-toe game from Roses & Whiskers is only half the fun. Your artwork becomes a cool game to play again and again.

8. Paper plate apples

These paper plate apples make a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via craftandboogie/Instagram

Kids of any age can craft this easy-to-make paper plate apple from the Craft + Boogie Collective.

9. Ice cream cone craft

PiggieSteps Art Studio offers lots of videos for their crafts, including this one for an ice cream cone craft with pull-string pompoms. One of the yummiest summer crafts for kids indeed!

10. Paper plate sun

These paper plate suns make a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Play Learn Create With Me/Instagram

Want an easy summer craft for your kids to enjoy? You can’t go wrong with sunny paper plate craft from Play Learn Create With Me.

11. Vinyl lacing cards

These vinyl lacing cards make a fun summer craft and activity for kids.
Image via Delia Creates

These cool vinyl lacing cards from Delia Creates are a craft and an activity all in one. 

12. Salt painting

Salt painting makes a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Li’l Crafters/Instagram

Salt painting is a classic activity for all ages and all seasons. Give it a summertime twist with bright colors and designs, like these from Li’l Crafters.

13. Spray paint art

spray paint summer craft
Image via Kristen’s Korner/Instagram

This is super-fun and super-easy spray paint craft is a definite outdoor activity for summertime. The kinder teacher at Kristen’s Korner outlines the kids’ names in Scotch tape and then lets them get creative with paint in spray bottles before removing the tape and admiring their work. 

14. Pipe cleaner flamingos

These pipe cleaner flamingos make a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Artsy Craftsy Mom

You’ll only need a few materials to make this lovely pink pipe cleaner flamingo craft from Artsy Craftsy Mom.

15. Egg carton wreath

This egg carton wreath makes a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Kids Korner Toys/Instagram

Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! And find creative ways to upcycle trash into treasure — for example, you can turn empty egg cartons into a bright and summery DIY flower wreath, a great idea from Kids Korner Toys.

16. Butterfly paper folding

This butterfly paper folding project makes a fun summer craft for kids.
Image via Red Ted Art/Instagram

The end result of these folded paper butterflies is really pretty and easy to hang as summery décor. Get full instructions from Red Ted Art.

17. Pompom dragonfly

These pompom dragonflies make a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via cratopolisng/Instagram

Who doesn’t love googly eye crafts? Make this easy pompom dragonfly by Craftopolisng with kids of any age.

18. Construction paper octopus

This construction paper octopus makes a fun summer craft activity for kids.
Image via Core 4 OT/Instagram

It only takes colored paper and some googly eyes to make this super-cute construction paper octopus from Core 4 OT.

19. Light-up fireflies

These light-up fireflies make a fun summer craft activity for kids
Image via Raising a Legacy Bookshelf/Instagram

With pipe cleaners, googly eyes and plastic eggs, kids can make these cute light-up firefly crafts from Raising a Legacy Bookshelf. Add a mini Solo cup to the bottom, complete with battery-operated tea lights to make them glow like the real thing.