Summer days are long. Very long.
By the second week, you have heard I am bored more times than you can count.
That is when a good craft saves the day. Something quick, a little messy and fun enough that they want to show it off.
These 25 easy summer crafts for kids work for every age, from babies and toddlers to preschoolers, big kids and teens. Most use things you already have at home.
1Paper Plate Sunflower
Paint a paper plate yellow, glue craft stick petals around the edge and add a green cardboard stem.
It takes about twenty minutes and looks so cheerful taped to a window.
- 20 minutes
- Uses basics
- Window decor
Project Card · 20 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- 1 paper plate
- Yellow and brown paint
- 12 craft sticks
- Green cardstock
- Glue
How to Make It
- Paint the plate yellow with a brown circle in the middle.
- Paint the craft sticks yellow and let everything dry.
- Glue the sticks around the back edge of the plate as petals.
- Cut a stem and two leaves from green card.
- Glue the stem to the back and hang it up.
2Painted Rock Animals
Collect smooth rocks on a walk, then paint them as ladybugs, bees, frogs and fish.
A kids acrylic paint set covers stone well. Seal them with clear varnish and they become little treasures.
- Free rocks
- All ages
- Keepsake craft
My Pick
Kids Acrylic Paint Set
Bright, easy colors for rocks, paper plates and wood crafts.
3Tissue Paper Butterfly
Scrunch colorful tissue paper through a wooden clothespin and fluff out the wings.
Add pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes. Even toddlers can help scrunch.
- Two minutes
- Toddler friendly
- Bright and pretty
Printable Labels
Toy Bin Labels with Pictures
60 picture labels for toys, art supplies and kids' clothes. Kids see the picture and know where it goes.
4DIY Summer Suncatcher
Stick tissue paper squares onto sticky clear contact paper cut in a sun shape, then seal with a second sheet.
Hang it in a sunny window and it glows like stained glass.
- Glows in sunlight
- No glue needed
- Easy for little ones
Project Card · 15 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- Clear contact paper
- Tissue paper in yellow, orange and red
- Scissors
- Black cardstock for a frame (optional)
- Tape
How to Make It
- Cut two matching sun shapes from contact paper.
- Peel the backing off one and lay it sticky side up.
- Press small squares of tissue paper all over it.
- Peel the second sheet and press it on top to seal.
- Trim the edges and tape it to a sunny window.
5Paper Bag Jellyfish
Stuff a paper lunch bag, paint it pink or purple and add googly eyes.
Tape long ribbon streamers to the bottom for tentacles and hang a few from the ceiling.
- Ocean theme
- Fun to hang
- Cheap supplies
6Fun Popsicle Stick Picture Frame
Glue painted craft sticks into a square and decorate with shells, beads and summer stickers.
Use kids craft glue that holds shells well. Pop a summer photo inside and it makes a sweet gift for grandparents.
- Great gift
- Holds a summer photo
- Fun to decorate
My Pick
Craft Glue for Kids
Strong, washable glue for popsicle sticks, shells and paper.
7Handprint Sea Turtle
Press a green painted hand on paper. The palm is the shell and the fingers are flippers.
Draw a shell pattern and add a googly eye on the thumb. So cute for toddlers.
- Toddler keepsake
- Quick and cute
- Ocean theme
8Toddler Bubble Wrap Printing
Paint bubble wrap in bright colors and press it onto paper.
Toddlers love the squish and the surprise pattern underneath.
- Sensory fun
- Toddler approved
- Cool texture
9Baby Footprint Fish
Paint a baby’s foot and press it on card. The heel is the fish and the toes are the tail.
Add an eye and some bubbles. Use baby safe washable paint and wipe feet right away.
- Baby keepsake
- Precious memory
- Super quick
10Preschool Paper Plate Crab
Paint a paper plate red and add eight paper strip legs, googly eyes and a big smile.
Simple enough for three year olds to do almost on their own.
- Preschool friendly
- Cheerful
- Easy steps
11Kindergarten Watercolor Rainbow
Paint a big watercolor rainbow and glue cotton ball clouds at each end.
The soft blended colors look beautiful and kids feel so proud.
- Soft colors
- Learn color order
- Proud results
12Teen Summer Tie Dye
Tie dye is the ultimate summer craft for teens. T shirts, socks, scrunchies and totes all work.
A tie dye kit makes it easy. Do it outside, wear gloves and try spiral, sunburst and crumple folds.
- Wearable art
- Teen favorite
- Every piece unique
13Teen Painted Canvas Tote Bag
Give teens a plain tote and fabric paint and see what they create. Florals, names, summer quotes.
A pack of plain canvas totes is perfect for friends to paint together. Heat set the paint with an iron so it lasts.
- Usable every day
- Personal style
- Great with friends
My Pick
Plain Canvas Tote Bags in Bulk
Blank bags ready to paint. Enough for a whole group of teens.
14Cute Paper Fan
Accordion fold a sheet of patterned paper and pinch the bottom with washi tape for a handle.
Cute to make and actually useful on hot days.
- Actually useful
- Five minutes
- Pretty patterns
15Cute Seashell Wind Chime
Tie beach shells on strings of different lengths and hang them from a driftwood stick.
Paint a few in pastels and leave some natural. It keeps a beach trip memory alive.
- Beach memory
- Pretty sound
- Home decor
16Construction Paper Shark
Cut a gray shark body, add a white belly, a red mouth with paper teeth and googly eyes.
Kids love playing with them once they are done.
- Simple cutting
- Fun to play with
- Ocean theme
17Paper Bag Octopus
Stuff and seal a paper bag, paint it purple and give it a happy face.
Tape on eight curly paper strip legs. Adorable as bedroom decor.
- Quick craft
- Silly and fun
- Great decor
18Outdoor Leaf Print Art
Paint leaves in bright colors and press them onto paper for detailed prints.
An outdoor craft kit gives you extra supplies for a full afternoon of outdoor art.
- Nature art
- Frame worthy
- Outdoor fun
My Pick
Outdoor Craft Kit for Kids
A ready to go box of supplies for crafting outside on sunny days.
19Outdoor Painted Rock Garden Markers
Paint flat rocks and write plant names on them in white paint.
Pop them next to each plant. Kids learn the names and love seeing their markers in the garden.
- Useful craft
- Garden helper
- Learn plant names
20DIY Nature Journal
Staple blank pages inside a card cover and fill them with pressed flowers, leaf rubbings and bug drawings.
For a sturdier book, a journal making kit lasts all summer.
- All summer project
- Nature learning
- Keepsake book
My Pick
Journal Making Kit
Covers and pages for a sturdier nature journal or memory book.
21Budget Tin Can Planters
Wash empty cans and let kids paint them with dots and stripes. Then plant herbs or flowers.
Acrylic paint sticks well to metal. An adult should check for sharp edges first and cover the rim with tape.
- Upcycled
- Almost free
- Grows something
Project Card · 30 minutes · Easy
Materials Needed
- Clean empty tin cans with smooth rims
- Acrylic paint and brushes
- Hammer and nail for drainage holes (adult only)
- Potting mix
- Small herbs or flowers
How to Make It
- An adult checks the rim for sharp edges and tapes it if needed.
- An adult taps a few drainage holes in the bottom.
- Kids paint the outside with dots, stripes or faces.
- Let the paint dry fully.
- Fill with potting mix and plant a herb or flower.
My Pick
Acrylic Paint Set for Crafts
Lots of colors that stick well to tin cans, rocks and wood.
22Cheap Paper Windmill
Cut a square of paper into a pinwheel, fold the corners to the middle and pin it through a bead onto a stick.
It spins beautifully in the breeze. An adult should push the pin in.
- Ten minutes
- Spins in the wind
- Classic craft
23Elementary School Summer Memory Book
Fill a homemade book with drawings, photos, ticket stubs and notes from the summer.
Kids love looking back at it for years.
- Whole summer
- Keepsake
- Writing practice
24Elementary Watermelon Craft
A red paper circle, black seeds and a green rind border. That is a watermelon.
Bright, quick and so summery.
- Quick session
- Very summery
- Easy cutting
25Kids Summer Bucket List Poster
Decorate a big sheet of bright card and write a summer bucket list in the middle.
Add little drawings next to each idea. It gets everyone excited for the weeks ahead.
- Summer plan
- Builds excitement
- Fun to tick off
Frequently Asked Questions
What are easy summer crafts for toddlers?
Handprint sea turtles, bubble wrap printing, tissue paper butterflies and suncatchers are all simple and safe with help.
What summer crafts can teens do?
Tie dye, painted tote bags, seashell wind chimes and summer memory books are great for teens.
What supplies should I keep for summer crafts?
Paper plates, washable paint, glue, craft sticks, tissue paper, googly eyes and contact paper cover most of these ideas.
How can I keep summer crafts less messy?
Craft outside when you can, cover tables with old sheets and use washable paint.
Make This the Best Crafty Summer Yet
The best summer crafts are the simple ones. A paper plate, some paint and a sunny afternoon are all you need.
Pick two or three ideas that fit your kids’ ages and let them get creative. The messier and more colorful, the better.
Amir Ali is the founder and site administrator of HomeDecorEdge, a modern home decor and interior design platform. Since starting the site, he has combined his passion for interior design, practical styling, and color coordination with hands-on content strategy and site management. He guides authors, curates high-quality articles, and ensures readers have access to actionable, visually inspiring, and user-focused home decor advice for apartments, small rooms, and family homes.
