Loraine loves arts and crafts and used to volunteer at an elementary art class. She loves sharing fun and easy craft tutorials.
Before the kids can complain about having "nothing to do this summer," have a few summer crafts planned. Kids love to do crafts and the ones the family can do together will make treasured memories.
In this article you'll find summer projects to do in your backyard, at the campsite or beach. Anywhere, and anytime, that you'll be spending time with the kids is a perfect time for summer crafts.
If you are looking for activities to do with a scout troop or projects to make with the kids on rainy days, check out all the craft ideas in this article, activities that will keep the kids interested and occupied for a couple of hours.
I think that, through my Google search, I've found some especially appropriate summer crafts. Each of the crafts that I have listed includes a nice big picture and the site address that will take you directly to the tutorial. I'm sure you'll be able to find some that will not only be fun for the kids, but ones that you'll also enjoy.
Make the Styrofoam cup sea crabs shown above using the directions at CRAFTS BY Amanda.
1. Water Balloon Pinata
There are no real instructions for making the pinatas, but there are tips on the type of balloon and filling them given at Scrap Happy Heather. Wishing you some hot days for having a family water party in your back yard.
2. Water Party Sponge Balls
These sponge balls are a "must have" for your water party. Make plenty of them then have a water blast.
3. Tie Dye Painted Sea Shells
One of the really nice things about doing crafts in the summer, is that you can do them outside. An old tablecloth thrown over the patio table, or on the ground, makes the clean up a snap. To make these painted sea shells, go to East IN Family Fun for the instructions.
4. Fold Up Fans
How much fun this project would be for the kids and Mom and Dad too. See how to make these fans at A Girl and a Glue Gun.
5. Balloon Flip Flops
These little balloon decorated flip flops are so cute. Find the easy to do instructions at LEXIE LOO, LILY BOO & DYLAN TOO!
6. Butterfly Feeder
You can make very attractive butterfly feeder and then watch while the butterflies come to enjoy the treat.
7. Jar Lid Wind Chimes
Making these colorful jar lid wind chimes will be lots of fun for the kids, and for you too. Make your wind chimes a color or colors to enhance your patio or porch. Find the instructions at Crafting a Green World .
8. Leaf Sculpture
This is definitely a project for Dad and Mom to get involved in. The older kids will enjoy making these huge leaves, and the directions suggest how you can make a bird bath, using these instructions at gardenmama.
9. Easy Rock Pets
10. Bug Necklace
Talk about an interesting conversation starter. Imagine what kind of comments you'll get when you wear this necklace. Find the tutorial for making this bug catcher necklace at Whimsy Love.
11. Popsicle Stick Flowers
Make flowers and a flower box using popsicle sticks and the directions from creatively quirky at home. A great scout troop or classroom project.
12. Googly Eyed Bee
This bee has been named Dave, but you can name the ones you make anything you'd like. You'll find out how to make this googly eyed bee at Ninja Killer Cat.
13. Rain Sticks
The kids will love making, decorating and playing with these rain sticks. You'll find the instructions at The imagination Tree.
14. Tin Can Stilts
Tin can stilts have been a great pass time experienced by kids for many, many years. If your children haven't made and used tin can stilts, go to babble dabble do and show the kids how to make the stilts.
15. Huge Bubble Wand
A kid can never make a soap bubble that is too big. Help them make the largest possible by going to the THINK CRAFTS! site for the instructions.
16. Ladybugs
The kids can make a dozen lady bugs from just one egg carton box. See the directions for making these lady bugs at A THRIFTY Mom.
17. Grass Head Monster
It'll be a lot of fun making and then waiting for the monster to grown hair. The Activity village site shows how to do this craft.
18. Paper Boat
Show the kids how to fold a sheet of paper to make a boat. If you need directions for making the paper boat, go to wikiHow.
19. Confetti Rocket Launchers
I really like the looks of these rockets as a decoration for the 4th of July.. I'm not so sure I'd like them launching confetti. The kids will love it though. Find the instructions at Piikea Street.
20. Bubble Wands
See how to make these fancy bubble wands by going to Kleas for the directions.
21. Glow-in-the-Dark Slime
Here's a project every kid, boy or girl, will want to make. Imagine the fun of making glow in the dark slime....well, you can find the instructions on THE idea ROOM.
22. Tin Can Lantern
Anywhere you're having a summer party is the perfect place for tin can lanterns. Think about the beach, the campground and the patio for places to use them. Go to inhabitat to learn how to make the lanterns.
23. Yarn Ladybug
So some days it rains during the summer and the kids have a lot of time on their hands. Help them make yarn ladybugs using the instructions on the Parents site.
24. Recycled Lunch Container Aliens
Just save a bunch of containers, add a variety of craft supplies and let the kids make aliens. See some examples of what to keep at alphamom.
25. Corn Syrup Painting
A beautiful finish can be achieved by using food coloring added to corn syrup. Find the recipe and instructions at eighteen25.
26. Avengers Bookmarks
This project will be lots of fun for everyone in the family. Go to CRAFTS BY Amanda for the instructions, and then have a bookmark making party.
27. Barefoot Sandals
Be one of the first of your friends to hit the beach wearing barefoot sandals that you have designed and made yourself.
28. Insect Diorama
A great classroom project while learning about insects, or a fun summer project just for the fun of it. Find the directions at Art Lessons For Kids.
29. Friendship Bracelet
A friendship bracelet that looks a lot more difficult to make than it is. Find the easy tutorial for making this friendship bracelet at wikiHow.
30. Flower Pinwheel
How about making your own decorations for a birthday or patio party? The directions for making these bright and beautiful flower pinwheels are found at alphamom.
31. Make a Globe
What a great way for the kids to learn about the continents of the world. Imagine, it's summer time and the kids will learn something without their realizing it. See this fun and educational project, and the instructions on how to make the globe, at education.com.
32. Clown Toss
The directions for making this Clown toss game can be found at Craftybug.com. Although the bags can be made no-sew, I think I'd run a line of stitching around them so the kids wouldn't be disappointed with them coming apart during a game. A nice game especially for the really little kids.
33. Make a Kite
Storm the Castle has the directions for making a traditional kite. On this site there is also a video for making a kite.
34. Button and Beads Bracelet
35. Stepping Stones
Let the kids choose what they want to put into their stepping stone, and you'll have them talking about this family activity for years to come. Go to INTIMATE WEDDINGS to see how easy this project is.
36. Sidewalk Chalk
Making sidewalk chalk is easy to do if you follow the directions given on the alphamom site. These particular chalks are red, white and blue.
37. Bead Caterpillars
Even the littlest kids can make these bead caterpillars. You can see how they are made by going to the make and takes sites.
38. Holiday Lanterns
Make these lanterns in any color to enhance your patio party for whatever holiday or non-holiday party that you are hosting. Go to Martha Stewart for the instructions.
39. Giant Water Bed
This looks like the perfect answer for those hot summer days when the kids want to play in water. Learn how to make this giant water bed by following the instructions on Utah county mom.
40. Cardboard Tube Bracelet
The girls will have a blast getting together as a group to make these tube bracelets. The instructions can be found at eighteen25.
41. Wood Wind Chimes
I think this is the kind of wind chimes that I would like the best because the chimes would be a muted sound. Find the instructions for making these homemade wind chimes by going to the happy hooligans site.
© 2013 Loraine Brummer
Does Your Family Enjoy Summer Crafting? - or leave a comment.
Loraine Brummer (author) from Hartington, Nebraska on March 18, 2015:
I like both of the wind chime projects, but imagine the jar lid one makes more sound. Either one would be fun to make with the kids. Thanks for your visit, peachpurple, and your comment.
peachy from Home Sweet Home on March 11, 2015:
the wind chimes craft are cute and affordable, voted up
katlovestrouble on August 29, 2013:
I just finished painting rocks for the yard. Love these ideas and great lens!
RustyDoodle on August 23, 2013:
There are quite a few cool ideas in this lens that I will like to try. Just think the ideas like using corn syrup paint and painting stones are pretty neat even for adults.
Wednesday-Elf from Savannah, Georgia on August 23, 2013:
Wish we'd had the internet and fabulous crafty sites like these when I was a Scout leader back in the day... Would have made coming up with projects so much easier. Great selection of sites.
Rhonda Lytle from Deep in the heart of Dixie on July 14, 2013:
Those are some of the most adorable flip flops ever and I am going to try the corn syrup paint. The recipe is super simple and the finish is really cool looking. Thanks bunches for the intro!
belinhafernandes on April 12, 2013:
Hi!A list of nice ideas! I long for summer all year long! I would like to try the coffee grounds fossils idea! Yes, summer is good for crafts that somehow need to dry like the ones with paper mache. But in winter it's better to stay home and craft than in summer!! We live on the beach. Collecting and painting pebbles is what we do every summer. I think it's time to change that!
