40 Creative Crafts to Keep Little Hands Busy This Summer
Rain or shine, these crafts will keep the kids busy for hours.
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Whether you're looking to keep the kids busy during summer break, cheer up a little one feeling under the weather, or simply need a delightful distraction from the TV or iPad, these enchanting projects for kids are here to save the day. And let’s be honest—crafting not only keeps tiny hands occupied but also gives you a moment to sip your coffee while it’s still hot. Win-win!
From sparking creativity to building skills, these projects have something for every little artist. Boost fine-motor skills with Stitched Paper Cards and Friendship Bracelets or dive into pure whimsy with pressed flowers and Mason Jar ice cream. Feeling crafty with a purpose? Try making a grilling apron, a picnic blanket, or even bandana-covered pots. And for those “what can I do with this?” moments, we’ve got plenty of ideas using everyday household items—hello, toilet paper roll crafts!
Celebrating a special someone? Explore heartfelt DIY gifts perfect for Father’s Day, DIY gifts for grandmas, or just because you want to show someone you love them (that's a good life skill to have!). These keepsakes are sure to find a place of honor on the fridge or mantel. While younger crafters may need a helping hand (hot glue guns can be scary), there are projects here for every age and skill level.
Unleash the kids’ imaginations and watch the magic happen. And don’t forget to check out our
Camp Country Living program—it’s badge-worthy fun for the whole family!
More Fun Crafts for the Whole Family
Ribbon and Rickrack Sparklers
Whether you want to celebrate the 4th of July or just have a fun object for the kids to run around the yard and twirl, these kid-safe ribbon and rickrack sparklers will fill the bill.
To make: Wrap a 12-inch by 1/8-inch wooden dowel in washi tape. Cut lengths of ribbon and rickrack of varying widths, colors, and textures. Lay ribbons and rickrack flat on a table and tie together in the center with a length of baker’s twine. Wrap baker’s twine around the dowel and hold in place with a dab of hot glue.
Make Friendship Bracelets
Whether your kids love Taylor Swift or just making a million little knots with embroidery thread this is the craft for them!
Fabric-Scrap Flags
Make these in red, white, and blue to wave at the town parade or use any available scraps of fabric and place them in jars to decorate a summer buffet - the kids will love having their handicrafts displayed so prominently.
To make: Cut a 4-by-3-inch rectangle from a red-based fabric. Cut a smaller square of blue-based fabric. Glue the blue square to one corner of red fabric with craft glue. Glue the flag to a wooden skewer or small dowel with a few dabs of hot glue.
Press Flowers
A jaunt through the yard for pretty colorful flowers will provide the supplies the kids need to get started with this project.
Hand-Penned Garden Stakes
Kids will love writing the veggie names and maybe even drawing a cute picture of the fruits and vegetables.
To make: Drill a small hole in the wood handles and tie hand-penned wooden tags through the holes with twine. Insert the pointy tips into the soil so the markers stand upright. *Coat wood with clear varnish to protect the handwriting from the elements.
Watermelon Pinwheels
This is the ideal craft for kids who love to chomp on sweet, crisp watermelon all season long!
Get the instructions here.
DIY Tic Tac Toe
Kids will have so much fun crafting this game and then playing with their friends once it's complete!!
To make: Use craft glue or Steam-a-Seam to attach lengths of ribbon to a small burlap bag. Gather button to use as the game pieces.
Cardboard Tube Binoculars
Whether your child loves bird watching or spying on the neighbors (kidding!) these cardboard binoculars will keep them occupied for hours.
Pillow Remote Control Pocket
With a clever DIY pillow remote pocket everyone in the house will know exactly where to stash the remote. No more "Mom, where's the remote?!"
To make: Hand-stitch or use Steam-a-Seam to attach a rectangle of fabric to a pillow.
Pool Noodle Ponies
Kids can go as crazy as they want decorating their pool noodle ponies. Once finished don't be surprised if the living room turns into a paddock.
Pine Cone Bird Feeders
Kids will love watching all the birds that these pine cone feeders will bring to your yard! Let the fluttering begin!
To make: Wrap a length of string around the top stem of the pine cone. Fill the opening of the pine cone with peanut butter then roll the whole pine cone in bird seed. Hang outside from a tree branch. Remove and refill as needed.
Printed Dishtowels
Kids will have fun searching around the house for objects to stamp on dishtowels or napkins.
To make: Spread a thin layer of fabric paint, or an acrylic paint mixed with a fabric fixative, on a paper plate. Dip found objects, such as flower-shaped cookie cutters and oversized paper clips, in paint and stamp on dishtowels.
Straw Wreath
If you are having a summer celebration, have the kids help you make a welcome wreath. Use red, white, and blue straws if you are celebrating the 4th or a variety of colored straws to make a wreath that works anytime of year.
To make: Attach different lengths of red, white, and blue straws to a craft ring with low temperature glue gun; layering them until the craft ring is fully covered.
Painted Wooden Bracelets
The kids will show up to school looking like a million bucks with their hand-painted bracelets.
To make: Use acrylic paint or paint pens to paint designs on wooden bracelets. Finish with a layer of Mod Podge if desired.
Cookie Tin Banjo
This DIY banjo is constructed from an upcycled cookie tin (or box) and a few junk drawer staples. Get ready for a singalong!
Painted Terracotta Pots
Hand-painted flowers add color and help elevate a hardware store terra-cotta pot. Once they've painted their pots kids will love planting flowers, ferns, or herbs in their artwork.
To make: Use acrylic paint pens to draw and paint flowers on a terra-cotta pot. When dry fill with a fern or an herb.
Mason Jar Ice Cream
The kids won't need any special equipment, just a little elbow grease, to make this super simple and delicious sweet treat.
Seed and Bean Flowers
Take the kids for a quick trip to the kitchen and a stroll around the yard to gather the materials needed to make these perky beans and seed flowers.
To make: Cut flower shapes from cardboard. Use craft glue to glue beans and seeds to the cardboard. Once dry, use hot glue or tape to attach a thin branch to the back of the flowers. Fill small pot with beans and insert sticks.
Handprint Dish Towels
Celebrate the kids through their growing years by memorializing their little hands on a dishtowel.
To make: Sew or use fusible bonding web to attach ribbon to the bottom of a flour sack dishtowel. Spread a thin layer of fabric paint, or an acrylic paint mixed with a fabric fixative on a paper plate. Have kids press their hands into the paint and then onto the towel. Iron to fix the paint per the manufacturer's packaging instructions.
Coffee Filter Poppies
These DIY flowers are made from dyed coffee filters and pipe cleaners. So easy!! Tip: Make these outside—dye can be quite messy and get into and onto unexpected things.
To make: Dip paper coffee filters in Cherry Red Rit Dye. Lay flat on a cooling rack fitted in a rimmed baking sheet or hang over a drying line. When dry, kink and fold the filters so they have a little movement. Use a dab of hot glue or a glue stick to glue the centers of two filters together to create petal layers. Cut a 6-inch piece of black pipe cleaner and roll into a flat circle; use hot glue to glue to the center of the poppy. Twist three green pipe cleaners together; use hot glue to glue to the back of the poppy. Arrange poppies in bud vases.
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