School’s out, the sun is shining, and it’s the perfect time to get crafty!

Whether you’re at home, on vacation, or running a summer camp, these easy summer crafts for kids are a great way to keep little hands busy and imaginations soaring.

 

Popsicle Stick Picture Frames

Let kids collect memories by making their own picture frames. All you need are popsicle sticks, glue, markers or paint, and decorations like stickers or pom-poms. Add a favorite summer photo and voila—instant keepsake!

Paper Plate Sunflowers

Brighten any room with sunshine-inspired paper plate sunflowers. Paint the plates yellow, glue sunflower seeds in the center, and attach a green paper stem. It’s cheerful, simple, and mess-friendly.

Ocean in a Bottle

Bring the beach home with this calming sensory craft. Fill a plastic bottle with water, blue food coloring, glitter, and a bit of baby oil. Add seashells or small plastic sea animals for an extra ocean vibe.

Tissue Paper Suncatchers

Use contact paper, tissue paper scraps, and scissors to create colorful suncatchers. Kids can cut out shapes like stars, hearts, or suns and hang them in a sunny window.

DIY Nature Bracelets

Wrap a piece of masking tape (sticky side out) around each child’s wrist. Then go on a nature walk and stick on flowers, leaves, and small treasures for a unique, wearable craft.

Painted Rock Creatures

Find smooth stones and let kids turn them into ladybugs, bees, frogs, or even monsters using acrylic paint and googly eyes. They make great garden decorations or keepsakes.

Bubble Painting

Mix paint with bubble solution and let kids blow bubbles onto paper using straws or bubble wands. When the bubbles pop, they leave behind colorful splatter patterns—fun and messy in the best way.

Shell Creatures

If you’ve been to the beach, don’t toss those shells! Turn them into silly creatures with a bit of glue, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners for arms or legs.

Campfire Handprint Art

Trace kids’ hands in red, orange, and yellow paint on paper to make the flames of a campfire. Add a few brown painted craft sticks for logs, and you’ve got a fire that’s fun and flame-free.

Happy crafting!