53 Summer Crafts For Kids

Last Updated on June 29, 2025 by Masha Eretnova

If you’re already hearing “I’m bored!” before breakfast, these easy summer crafts for kids will save your sanity when it’s scorching hot outside.

They’re simple, cute, and require more glue than a full art degree (but way less time). Perfect for parents and teachers who want to keep little hands busy without turning the house into a glitter bomb.

Lots of handprint crafts, even toddlers can do and summer-inspired ideas from ice creams to sandcastles!

For patriotic kids’ crafts, see the full collection of 49 Easy 4th of July Crafts for Kids.

Ice Cream Cone Craft

Create a delightful Ice Cream Cone Craft that’s as fun to make as it is cute to display. Perfect for kids, this easy DIY brings soft, sweet charm to any playtime or summer-themed activity.

Tutorial: Ice Cream Cone Craft

Campfire Craft

Bring the cozy vibes of a campfire indoors with this fun DIY Campfire Craft using coffee filters. It’s a simple and creative project perfect for kids and imaginative play.

Tutorial: Campfire Craft

Vacation Memory Box Craft

Capture your favorite travel moments with the “Memories in a Box” DIY vacation keepsake craft. This easy project lets kids and families preserve souvenirs and stories in a fun, creative way.

Tutorial: Vacation Memory Box Craft

Cream Glue DIY Fruit Hair Clips Craft

Add a pop of fruity charm to your hairstyle with these DIY Cream Glue Hair Accessories. This playful craft uses cream glue and colorful designs to create fun clips that kids will love to wear and make.

Tutorial: Cream Glue DIY Fruit Hair Clips Craft

Bubble Printing Jellyfish

Create an underwater masterpiece with this Bubble Printing Jellyfish craft. Using bubbles and paint, kids can bring these whimsical sea creatures to life in a fun and artistic way.

Tutorial: Bubble Printing Jellyfish

DIY Shape Bubble Wands with Cookie Cutters

Turn playtime into a bubbly adventure with DIY Shape Bubble Wands made from cookie cutters. This easy craft lets kids blow fun-shaped bubbles while exploring creativity and sensory play.

Tutorial: DIY Shape Bubble Wands with Cookie Cutters

Paper Plate Flamingo

A pink paper plate, some googly eyes, and a long bendy neck turn into a sassy flamingo ready for summer. Kids love making the long legs extra wobbly.

Best for kids ages 3–6, these fun crafts for kids bring a bit of tropical flair to the kitchen table without requiring a full craft closet’s worth of supplies.

Tutorial: Pink Paper Plate Flamingo Craft

Paper Plate Beach Ball Preschool Craft

A paper plate becomes a colorful beach ball with a little help from bright paint and simple taping tricks to section off the stripes. It’s quick, colorful, and practically mess-proof.

Preschoolers will love this summer crafts for preschoolers activity—and you’ll love that it takes less time to clean up than it did to set up.

Tutorial: Paper Plate Beach Ball Preschool Craft

Handprint Sun Paper Plate Craft

Kids trace and cut their handprints to make sun rays surrounding a bright yellow paper plate sun. Soft orange and yellow colors create a cheerful summer decoration.

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

Tutorial: Handprint Paper Plate Sun Craft

Popsicle Crafts for Kids

With some craft sticks, glue, and paint, kids can turn popsicle sticks into all sorts of mini creations like fences, animals, and tiny summer signs. There’s plenty of room for adding googly eyes, pom-poms, or felt for extra fun.

Perfect for ages 4–8, these easy summer crafts for kids are great for afternoons when you need something simple that doesn’t involve a huge cleanup afterwards.

Tutorial: Cute Summer Popsicle Craft

Cardboard Sandcastles

With just cardboard scraps, scissors, and glue, kids can design mini sandcastles that look like tiny beach creations. Paint, markers, or craft sand add texture and color for unique designs. Each castle becomes a one-of-a-kind creation.

Ideal for ages 5–8, this beach craft for kids idea helps develop cutting skills and encourages creative problem-solving and recycling.

Tutorial: Cardboard Sandcastles 

Paper Bag Ice Cream Cone Sculptures

Paper bags get stuffed, twisted, and painted to resemble colorful ice cream cones in this playful craft. Kids can decorate with sprinkles, cherries, or even create “melting” effects for added fun.

Great for toddlers and preschoolers, this fun craft for kids activity supports sensory play and creativity and keeps little hands busy (exactly what moms need!).

Tutorial: Paper Bag Ice Cream Cone Sculptures

Cardboard Box Satchel

Easy, pastel-colored, and spring-inspired box satchels for kids to play with or collect rocks, twigs, and flowers.

Tutorial: Cardboard satchels

Egg Carton Rainbow Craft for Kids

A perfect way to use a recycled egg carton to make a colorful smiley rainbow and cloud craft.

Tutorial: Egg carton rainbow

Toilet Paper Roll Popsicles

Cardboard tubes get cut, painted, and topped with sprinkles to look like oversized popsicles. The glossy finish gives them a real icy look without any actual drips.

Great for ages 4 and up, these summer crafts for kids are perfect for keeping little hands busy while you’re frantically trying to make actual frozen treats before they melt.

Tutorial: Toilet Paper Roll Popsicles

Zig-Zag Paper Mango Craft

Folded strips of yellow paper create a fun zig-zag mango that pops right off the page. Kids glue on leaves and stems to finish their fruity masterpiece.

Ideal for preschoolers, this summer arts and crafts project is quick to prep and totally forgiving if you’ve got impatient little crafters on your hands.

Tutorial: Zig Zag Paper Mango Craft

DIY Beach Ball Piñata

A balloon and layers of papier-mâché turn into a festive beach ball piñata. Once dry, kids paint bright stripes to mimic a real beach ball.

Perfect for ages 6+, this summer crafts for kids activity teaches patience, layering, and painting techniques while creating a fun party decoration.

Tutorial: DIY Beach Ball Pinata Tutorial

Butterfly Craft for Kids

Using layered paper cutouts and a printable template, kids create colorful butterflies with wings they can decorate however they like. Paint, markers, and a little glitter make each one look totally different.

Perfect for preschoolers, these summer craft ideas for kids are quick to prep and easy enough to pull out when you need a fast project between snack requests.

Tutorial: Butterfly Puppet on a Stick

Bee Craft and Facts

Kids make fluffy little bees out of pom-poms, felt wings, and googly eyes, then learn a few fun bee facts along the way. The fuzzy texture makes them extra adorable.

This summer crafts for preschoolers project is simple enough for younger kids and keeps them buzzing (literally and figuratively) long enough for you to knock out a few emails.

Tutorial: Paper Cone Bee Craft

Clay Pot Frog Craft

A bit of green paint and a few googly eyes turn plain clay pots into happy little frogs with big goofy grins. Kids love adding their own touches like freckles or glittery spots—it’s basically the easiest way to use up leftover craft supplies.

Preschoolers can handle this one with just a little help, and honestly, it’s nice having them busy while you attempt to drink coffee while it’s still warm.

Tutorial: Dollar Tree Clay Pot Frog Craft

Scratch Art Rock Painting

Instead of messy paints, this project uses scratch-off boards stuck to smooth rocks. Kids carve out colorful designs that pop through the black surface like a secret surprise hiding underneath.

Great for ages 6–10, these summer art projects for kids are weirdly calming and keep kids happily occupied. Bonus: you won’t be scrubbing paint out of anyone’s hair afterward.

Tutorial: DIY Scratch Art Rock Paintings 

3D Umbrella Craft

Colorful paper circles are folded and glued into pop-up umbrella shapes on a blue background, creating a dimensional rainy day scene. Simple folds make the umbrellas stand out.

Best for kids ages 5–7, this summer arts and crafts project helps develop folding, cutting, and gluing skills while exploring shapes and color combinations.

Tutorial: 3D umbrella Craft For Kids

Camera Photo Name Craft

Kids build a paper camera and add photos of themselves along with their names on colorful banners. It’s a simple cut-and-paste project that’s super cute for display.

Perfect for preschoolers, these summer craft ideas for kids feel extra special since they feature your little one front and center (and give you another sweet keepsake).

Tutorial: Camera Photo Name Craft

Popsicle Name Craft

Bright popsicle shapes hold the letters of your child’s name, turning spelling practice into a colorful craft. The best part? No real popsicles melting all over the table.

Perfect for preschoolers, these summer crafts for kids are simple to prep, quick to finish, and cute enough to hang on the fridge for weeks.

Tutorial: Popsicle Name Craft

Watermelon Name Craft

Slices of watermelon get turned into name banners with each letter decorating a juicy red slice. The seeds and rind details make it extra cute.

Perfect for kids ages 3–6, these easy summer crafts for kids make learning letters feel more like snack time than schoolwork.

Tutorial: Watermelon Name Craft

Ice Cream Cone Name Craft

Stacked paper ice cream scoops spell out your child’s name, with each letter on a different color scoop. Kids love picking their favorite “flavors” for the colors.

Great for toddlers and kindergarteners, these summer crafts for preschoolers sneak in a little letter practice while feeling totally like playtime.

Tutorial: Ice Cream Cone Name Craft

Torn Paper Sun Craft

Kids tear yellow and orange paper into pieces, then glue them into a big glowing sun. The ripped edges give it a cool, textured look without needing perfect cuts.

Ideal for preschoolers, these summer arts and crafts are great when you want something that looks creative without needing a ton of adult help.

Tutorial: Torn Paper Sun Craft

Summer Paper Plate Wreath

A paper plate ring becomes a sunny summer wreath with the help of cut-out shapes, bright colors, and lots of glue. Kids can add popsicles, sunshine, or beach balls for a fun front door display.

Perfect for preschoolers, these diy summer crafts keep little hands busy and result in something cute enough to proudly show the neighbors.

Tutorial: Summer Paper Plate Wreath

Summer Dot Marker Printables

Dot markers turn simple printable shapes into colorful summer designs like suns, beach balls, and popsicles. It’s fast, mess-free, and satisfying for little hands.

Great for toddlers, these summer crafts for toddlers require zero setup—which is exactly what you need when everyone’s already melting down by 10 AM.

Tutorial: Summer Dot Marker Printables

Watercolor Orca Painting

Kids use watercolors and wax to create a vibrant ocean background for their orca silhouette. The resist technique makes the whale pop against the swirling sea colors.

Perfect for ages 7+, these summer art projects for kids feel fancy enough to frame, even if your child insists on calling it a “killer whale with sparkles.”

Tutorial: Watercolor Orca

Watercolor Shell Painting

With soft watercolors and a simple shell outline, kids create gentle beach scenes that look surprisingly artsy. They can experiment with blending colors to make their shells unique.

Best for kids 6 and up, this diy summer crafts project is calming enough that even you might feel like sitting down and painting alongside them.

Tutorial: Watercolor Shell Painting for Kids

Handprint Crab Craft

Little handprints become bright red crabs with googly eyes popping up from the claws. It’s simple enough for even the tiniest crafters to help paint and press their hands.

Perfect for toddlers, these summer crafts for toddlers make cute beachy decorations—and bonus, those painty hands will eventually wash off (probably).

Tutorial: Handprint Crab Craft

Easy DIY Butterfly Garden Markers

With a few craft sticks, colorful foam sheets, and some paint, kids create bright butterfly garden markers that double as yard decorations. They’ll love picking colors to match real flowers outside.

Perfect for ages 5–8, these diy summer crafts get kids outside and busy, which is pretty much a parenting win when you’ve got weeds to pull or a patio that’s not going to sweep itself.

Tutorial: DIY Butterfly Garden Markers

DIY Floating Spoon Flowers

Plastic spoons get a totally new life in this craft where kids snap, paint, and glue them into colorful floating flowers. A little foam and glue hold the petals together, and the bright paint options make each one unique.

Great for kids 7 and up, these summer crafts for kids are surprisingly easy, and you won’t even mind supervising since it’s not nearly as messy as it sounds.

Tutorial: DIY Floating Spoon Flowers

Summer Handprint Art

Kids turn their handprints into all kinds of summery scenes—from suns to beach umbrellas—there are 10 templates.

Ideal for toddlers, these summer crafts for toddlers make sweet keepsakes, even if you’re already running out of fridge space for handprint art (again).

Tutorial: Summer Handprint Art for Kids

Sun Suncatcher Craft

Using clear contact paper, tissue paper squares, and paper frames, kids create colorful sun shapes that catch the light in windows. The bright colors glow beautifully when hung up.

Designed for preschoolers, this summer art project for kids encourages color exploration and fine motor practice in a mess-free format.

Tutorial: Sun Suncatcher Craft for Kids

Paper Plate Fish Craft Inspired by Rainbow Fish

This craft uses a paper plate, bright tissue paper, and a bit of paint to create a colorful fish inspired by Rainbow Fish. Kids glue on shiny scales, add googly eyes, and cut a fun tail shape. Some versions suggest adding glitter or foil for extra sparkle.

Perfect for preschoolers, this summer craft project builds fine motor skills and lets kids experiment with colors and textures.

Tutorial: Paper Plate Fish Craft

Paper Chain Octopus Craft

Long paper chains become wiggly tentacles hanging below a smiling octopus head. All it takes is a little paper, glue, and patience for looping the chains together.

Perfect for preschoolers, these summer craft ideas for kids are great for keeping kids occupied at the table long enough for you to (finally) clean that sticky kitchen counter.

Tutorial: Paper Chain Octopus Craft For Kids

Ice Cream Handprint Craft

Handprints become the scoops on top of a giant paper ice cream cone. Kids stack up colorful flavors and add little paper sprinkles to finish their masterpiece.

Ideal for toddlers, these summer crafts for toddlers are perfect for those hot afternoons when actual ice cream feels like too much work.

Tutorial: Ice Cream Handprint Craft For Kids

Pirate Ship Craft

Cardboard and paper turn into a full-blown pirate ship complete with sails and a paper ocean. Kids love customizing the flags and crew for their mini adventure.

Best for kids ages 5–8, these fun crafts for kids spark a whole afternoon of pretend pirate play—which might buy you a little extra peace and quiet.

Tutorial: DIY Pirate Ship Craft

DIY Bird Feeders with Thrift Store Finds

Old teacups, jars, and bowls become charming bird feeders with a bit of adhesive and creativity. Each feeder offers a unique way to recycle thrifted items.

Great for kids ages 8+ with adult help, this summer art project for kids encourages recycling, outdoor appreciation, and creative problem-solving.

Tutorial: DIY Bird Feeders

Woven Octopus Craft

Kids weave strips of paper through colorful circles to create soft, textured octopuses with dangling yarn tentacles. The eyes give each one its own personality.

Ideal for ages 3–5, this summer crafts for toddlers project builds fine motor skills and pattern recognition in a fun, tactile way.

Tutorial: Woven Octopus Craft

Mermaid Toilet Paper Roll Craft

Toilet paper rolls transform into glittery mermaids with yarn hair, printable fins, and bright designs. Kids can personalize their mermaids with different hairstyles, colors, and decorations.

Best for kindergarteners and up, this diy summer craft activity strengthens scissor skills and creative thinking and teaches to reuse everyday materials.

Tutorial: Mermaid Toilet paper roll craft 

Sunflower Craft

Yellow paper petals surround a black center to create bright sunflowers. Kids can add stems and leaves from green paper for a full summer flower look.

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, this summer crafts for preschoolers activity helps with cutting, gluing, and learning about nature.

Tutorial: Dollar Store Sunflower Craft

Pipe Cleaner Flowers

Twisting colorful pipe cleaners into blooming flowers is easy and satisfying. A few bends turn simple wires into cheerful blossoms kids can display or gift.

Great for kids ages 5–8, this fun craft project for kids strengthens fine motor skills and lets kids explore color combinations.

Tutorial: Pipe Cleaner Flowers

Check out even more pipe cleaner flower crafts here: 20 Easy & Colorful Pipe Cleaner Flowers

Fluffy Slime

Whip up some fluffy slime with glue, shaving cream, and a little contact solution—it’s squishy, stretchy, and weirdly satisfying to poke. Kids can mix in glitter or food coloring to make it extra fun.

For kids 5 and up, this diy summer crafts project is perfect when you need a quick boredom buster. Just be prepared for lots of “Come feel how soft this is!” every five seconds.

Tutorial: Fluffy Slime

Sharpie Tie Dye Shoes

Plain white canvas shoes turn into colorful masterpieces thanks to Sharpies and rubbing alcohol. Kids scribble their designs, drip on the alcohol, and watch the colors blend into cool tie-dye patterns.

Tweens and teens will love these summer camp crafts because they actually get something they can wear. And hey, one less trip to the store for new shoes.

Tutorial: Tie-Dye Shoes with Sharpie Markers

Paper Plate Fish Craft

With just a paper plate, some colorful tissue paper, and a little glitter, kids create shiny fish with big wiggly eyes. No two fish end up looking the same, which is part of the fun.

Preschoolers love this summer craft idea for kids—it’s fast, colorful, and doesn’t require any complicated prep while you’re already multitasking dinner and snack requests.

Tutorial: Paper Plate Fish Craft

CD Button Turtle Craft

An old CD turns into a shiny turtle shell with the help of buttons, paint, and a little glue. The bumpy button shell makes each turtle look a little different.

Perfect for ages 5–8, these summer crafts for kids use up random leftover craft supplies and give kids something colorful to show off when grandma visits.

Tutorial: CD and Button Turtle Craft

Butterfly Template

This printable butterfly template makes it super easy for kids to cut out perfect shapes for coloring, painting, or even tracing onto other materials. There are multiple sizes to pick from.

Great for kids of all ages, this summer craft idea for kids is a lifesaver when you need something fast to pull out between snack refills and breaking up sibling squabbles.

Tutorial: Butterfly Template

Paper Chain Octopus Craft

Long paper chains make up the twisty legs of these cheerful octopuses. A few snips of construction paper, some glue, and lots of paper linking turn into a super easy craft that even little ones can handle.

Great for toddlers, these summer crafts for toddlers are perfect for keeping hands busy. And if you’re lucky, you might get five full minutes to tackle that never-ending laundry pile.

Tutorial: Paper Chain Octopus Craft

Kumihimo Bracelet

Using a simple cardboard loom and colorful embroidery floss, kids braid smooth, round bracelets in endless color combinations. The rhythmic braiding technique is easy to learn but offers plenty of room for creativity.

Perfect for kids ages 8+, this summer camp crafts project builds focus, hand-eye coordination, and patience.

Tutorial: Easy Friendship Bracelets

3 Beginner Sewing Projects for Kids

Felt, thread, and a plastic needle are all it takes for kids to sew simple shapes like hearts, animals, and bookmarks. The pre-punched holes make stitching way less intimidating.

Best for ages 6 and up, these summer camp crafts are a great intro to sewing without the frustration of tangled threads or stabbed fingers. Plus, it might buy you a quiet moment or two.

Tutorial: Summer Sewing Projects for Kids