Need to keep your kids busy? Well, you’re in the right place. There is nothing like some crafting in the summertime. Try these summer crafts for kids and get the whole family involved!

It’s summertime, and you know what that means. Yup, sun, fun, and having your kids around all day for the next couple of months till school starts.

It won’t be that bad, you tell yourself. They’re great kids, and you’re happy to be spending time with them.

All. That. Time.

Admit it; you need a distraction. For yourself and the kids.

Craft time!

Why not make a day of it? Have your kids go out and play, collect pretty flowers, leaves, and twigs, and then settle down inside, with a glass of lemonade, for craft time.

Here are 31 summer craft ideas. That should keep them occupied for a good long time…right?

1. Perler Bead Bubble Wands

Credit: homemadeheather.com

Bubbles from a bottle are the best invention since sliced bread, and you can’t convince me otherwise. Why not make your own bubble wand using Perler beads?

I’m sure you have Perler beads at home for this craft. No? You can find some here. Why? To make a Perler bead bubble wand. You’ll also need:

• A pegboard.
• An iron.
• Parchment paper.
• Home-made bubble mixture: warm, soapy water.

All that’s left for your kid to do now? Blow some bubbles! Check out more kids’ crafts here.

2. Sidewalk Foam Paint

Credit: conservamome.com

I remember drawing on the sidewalk by my house many, many summers ago with my friends. We’d draw hopscotch boxes, rainbows, and everything under the sun.

Here’s a summer craft for your kids to try: foam painting on the sidewalk. You’ve probably already got flour, water and, shaving cream at home.

So just pick up some food coloring here, some squirt bottles here, and you and your child are ready for craft time!

3. Water Gun Painting

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It’s time to pull out the big guns: water squirt guns. The mission: squirt gun painting. The place: your backyard. The time: craft time!

For under 10 dollars, your kid can have a whole day of fun in the sun, squirting colored water from toy guns onto a canvas.

What you’ll need:

• Canvas
• Water guns
• Acrylic paint, or tempura(it’s more washable).
• Vinyl sheet
• Water
• An Easel

Let the painting begin!

4. Ice cream painted rocks

Credit: projectswithkids.com

What says summer like an ice cream cone, and what says summer crafts like rock painting ice cream on rocks?

Your kids will need some paint, brushes, and a few flat, smooth rocks.

Once they’re done with craft time, you can all drive down to the nearest ice cream parlor and pick out a real ice cream cone to end a perfect summer’s day.

5. DIY Headband

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Do you have an old cotton shirt lying around? Even some scraps of cloth would do.

Yes?

Then sit your kid down and get started on this DIY knotted headband.

It all comes down to the material you use. If it’s to keep hair away from the face, cotton, or any stretch, breathable and sweat-absorbing fabric.

You’ll also need a trusty glue gun like this and a pair of fabric scissors for you to help your kid cut the fabric into long strips.

6. Marbled Sea Shell Craft

Credit: projectswithkids.com

Look at all those pretty shells. Think of all the swirls and patterns you can paint on them.

It’s summer, which means you’ve probably already been to the beach. So I bet your kids have a stash of seashells lying around somewhere.

While you’re searching for that, grab some shaving cream from dad, food coloring and some paper towels from the kitchen, and some bamboo skewers from here.

I’d lay out newspapers if I were you. This craft project might get messy.

7. Garden Fairy House

Credit: projectswithkids.com

I don’t know about you, but when I was around 8, I  spent many dreamy hours in the garden, playing make-belief fairy games.

The pots were the fairy homes, petals from flowers, their wings, and the blades of grass were what they used to fashion their skirts out of.

I never thought to actually paint some of the pots into real fairy homes, but your kids can. The only thing missing is some glitter to pass off as fairy dust.

But if you don’t want your kids to drag glitter through your home, then use these fairy drops instead.

8. Nature Crafts For Kids

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Why not get your children interested in nature by having them fashion a tree on paper but using real leaves and flowers?

A good romp in the park will get you most of the supplies you’ll need for this project: different colored leaves, real flowers and petals, small twigs, and anything else your kids find.

No creepy crawlies, though.

Now all you need to do is get them some paper, pencils, and paint.

9. DIY Fruit Fans

Credit: agirlandagluegun.com

What do you think of summer fruits? Melons, oranges, lemons, pineapples…you know which ones smell like edible summer.

They’re the perfect craft inspiration. Why not have your kids make some fruit fans?

You’re going to have to supervise the drill, of course. A few more steps and you’ve got your fruity fans all done!

10. Fish Craft For Kids

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Don’t put away those popsicle sticks just yet; you’ll need them for this project. What you’ll also need is your glue gun and some scraps of felt cloth like this.

Dig into your craft supplies and see if you can find some googly eyes like these for the fish…oh, didn’t I tell you we were making fish sticks?

No, not for dinner, for craft time. Unfortunately, these are inedible, but they do look great hanging in your kids’ rooms.

11. Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft

Credit: easypeasyandfun.com

No, no, don’t get the ice cream out of the freezer. You’re not eating them on a paper plate. But I promise you we’ll get to that part in a bit.

But now, it’s craft time, and with the promise of the proverbial carrot—or ice cream cone as the case is—dangling above them, your kids are going to love working on this paper plate ice-cream project.

You’ll need plenty of sprinkles like these, though, to use for the project and to top your real ice cream.

Check out more paper crafts here.

12. Puffy Paint Ice Cream Cone Craft

Credit: craftymorning.com

I worry about all the ice cream we end up eating after craft time. But, it’s summer and what happens in summer stays in summer… and around my waist, unfortunately.

You’ll need that can of shaving cream again—maybe you should get stock in them—and some paint.

Keep an eye on your kids, though. Colored shaving cream looks an awful lot like ice cream, and you know how that’s going to end.

13. Ocean Animal Coffee Filter Craft

Credit: alittlepinchofperfect.com

Do you know what a suncatcher is? Aren’t they absolutely breathtaking?

Your kids can make some using plain old coffee filters you have at home and this downloadable Ocean Animal Pattern.

Pin finished suncatcher up on your kids’ bedroom window and watch how the light catches as the sun comes down.

14. Bugs On A Branch Craft

Credit: craftsbyamanda.com

This is the only, and I repeat, the only time I’ll let creepy-crawlies—even pretty ones like ladybugs— in my house. It’s a one-off, seeing as how they’re made from plastic spoons.

What you’ll need:

• Plastic spoons
• Felt paper
• Craft paint
• Tools: sandpaper, paintbrush, toothpick, scissors, hot glue gun, green marker

You can print the leaf pattern right here.

Loving the craft? Here’s a bunch of ladybug crafts if you’re interested.

15. Chalk Ice

Credit: thebestideasforkids.com

It’s time you bought your kids a popsicle tray like this. Make that two trays: one for popsicles and the other for this craft project.

You’ll also need colored chalk and some of those popsicle sticks leftover from one of the earlier projects. From your kitchen, you’ll need a whisk, a measuring spoon, cornstarch, and water.

Remember, like real ice, chalk ice, too, will melt fast. So, use them up real quick.

16. Paper Bag Kite

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We’ve all made a paper bag kite when we were kids ourselves, and it’s time to pass on the not-so-secret knowledge to the next generation.

You already have everything you’ll need in your craft supplies; I’m sure of it.

Perfect, now go on ahead and make a colorful kite from a paper bag.

17. DIY Fingerprint Glass Magnets

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Here’s a craft project that will help display other craft projects on your refrigerator: fingerprint glass magnets.

Your kids can get their fingers messy with paint and leave a thumbprint on the glass cabochons like this. Next, you can help them squiggle on some doodles to transform the thumbprint into bugs, spiders, and even an easter egg if that’s where the wind takes you.

Pop the dome on, attach the magnets and pin them to your refrigerator.

18. Pipe Cleaner Bubble Wand Craft

Credit: redtedart.com

Here’s another bubble wand craft project, only this time, instead of just Perler beads, we’ll be using:

• Pipe cleaners
• Cookie cutters
• Scissors

I hate to be the one to burst your bubble(see what I did there?), but you won’t be getting any shaped bubbles, I’m afraid.

The cookie cutters just refuse to shape your bubbles; something to do with the Laws of Physics.

19. Handprint Shell Keepsakes

Credit: artycraftykids.com

Won’t your kids love seeing what they made displayed on the mantle or your kitchen island?

You can control the craft zone to your kitchen table as most of the supplies you need are in there. The only other thing you’ll need is your kid’s handprint, and you’re ready to begin.

20. Bookmarks

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I was wondering when we’d get to the bookmarks, and here we are! Not just any bookmark, but a cute felt cutout of a bird perched atop a paperclip.

Isn’t that just clever? If you’ve been following this list, then you already have most of what you’ll need for this bookmark—all except, perhaps, the paper clip.

Just look here, or pop over to the nearest office supply store and buy some extra-large-sized paper clips.

Check out these amazing DIY bookmarks for kids.

21. Popsicle Stick Pool Lounge

Credit: gluedtomycraftsblog.com

I find this craft project equal parts adorable and hilarious. I guess this is the closest I’ll get to a stick-figure summer body, but I’ll take it.

What you’ll need for this project:

• Blue Cardstock
• Popsicle sticks
• Tan pipe cleaners
• Sharpie pens
• A stick of glue
• Large paper cupcake liners.

The cupcake liners will be the pool ‘float.’ So feel free to go wild and crazy with the color and pattern—something like this, perhaps?

22. Tie and Dye Beach Towels

Credit: learningresources.com

No summer holiday is complete without a tie and dye craft session, and every man, woman, and child in the vicinity will have a tie and dye article of clothing at the end of it.

This project calls for a beach towel. Imagine all that color against a backdrop of a sandy white beach. Looks great, doesn’t it?

You can find a tie and dye kit right here.

23. Paper Pinwheels

Credit: onecrazymom.com

Oh my, doesn’t that take me back? I can’t tell you how long it’s been since I saw—or made—a paper pinwheel.

You don’t need much by way of supplies, just some colorful cardstock paper, a couple of pushpins, and a stick.

You can switch out the stick with an unsharpened pencil, which will work just as well with this project.

24. Curly Caterpillar Craft

Credit: iheartcraftythings.com

Another creepy crawly, but the saving grace is that caterpillars turn into pretty butterflies. Oh well, this caterpillar isn’t going anywhere.

You’ll need to find a hole punch for this project, but most of the other supplies you’ll need—including the googly eyes you bought earlier—should already be in your craft drawers.

25. Gone Camping Craft

Credit: simplylearningkids.com

What a pretty cut and paste craft for your child to fiddle with on a lazy day. Don’t you love that picture of your own kid inside the paper tent?

They might be too young to go camping, but that doesn’t mean they should imagine spending a night under the stars. Let’s not forget the toasted marshmallows on a stick.

You’ll need to sit with them and help them cut out all those designs. So once you’ve downloaded the template, grab a pair of scissors, a bag of marshmallows—and graham crackers— and get started.

26. Felt Popsicle Stick Craft

Credit: darice.com

In the end, we’re all simple creatures, aren’t we? We all search for happiness…and iced popsicles on a hot summer day.

If your kids are leaving around felt ‘popsicles’ on a stick lying around the kitchen for you to find, then it’s time you take a hit. Go and buy them some popsicles.

27. Popsicle Stick Tent

Credit: gluedtomycraftsblog.com

In continuing with both the popsicles and the camping-themed crafts, this here is a simple stick tent project.

You can hang it up next to your child’s bed lamp or, you can cut out a piece of black chart paper and stick the ‘tent’ on it.

They can stick up some golden stars and cut out bits of brown and orange paper to ‘build a fire.’

28. Shimmering Fairy Wand

Credit: whereimaginationgrows.com

Fairies really do make me happy. No matter how old I am, I’ll always be down to make a fairy wand.

I bet your kids do, too. So, here’s what you’ll need.

• A stick
• Paint
• Hot glue gun
• Sequins, buttons, embellishments.

I think that a fairy wand that doesn’t sprinkle glitter is just a fancy stick.  But I bet you don’t want to find glitter in your food or mouth for the next three years.

So, why not attach a few sparkling ribbons to one end, and call it a day?

29. Leaf Painting For Kids

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You’ll be amazed at how intricate the veins on a leaf are. You can’t always see every line, but they’re there. Why not try imprinting those patterns on paper?

Once again, a project that allows your kid to go out into the great wilderness—or the backyard or a park, would work just as well— collecting fallen leaves.

Then, set your kids up with some paper and paint and let them enjoy discovering all those delicate veins.

30. Paper Plate Flower Craft

Credit: craftsyhacks.com

If you can’t say it with words, display it on a plate. And doesn’t this plate just spell summer?

Do you know what I see? A combination of paint, paper cutouts, marker drawings, and oodles of creativity.

So get your kids settled in for a long craft session, with all the supplies they’ll need to get started. Cookies and lemonade can keep them going.

31. DIY Firefly Light-Up

Credit: apartmenttherapy.com

We’ve been talking an awful lot about summer days, but what do the summer nights remind you of?

Sweet, balmy breeze? A glass of cold chocolate milk before bed? Stumbling around in the dark trying to catch the light bugs in a mason jar?

So why not have your kids make their own flameless LED fireflies?

You’ll need a plastic Easter egg like this or two and mini LED lights like these, but that’s it.