For summer fun without being under the sun!
Every item on this page was chosen by a The Pioneer Woman editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. Pencil Perler Beads
Don't get us wrong—we're all about pool parties, backyard BBQs, and beach days come summertime. But there's only so long you can spend in the sun before the inevitable fatigue sets in. So, once that time comes, how do you keep the kiddos occupied without parking them in front of the TV? By hunkering down with a smashing summer craft! In between all the family beach vacations and outdoor summer activities you already have planned, pull your creative hat out and get your DIY on with these creative summer crafts that are fun for kids and adults alike!
There are plenty of crafts you can create alongside your kids, like sand art terrariums, seashell necklaces, or glow-in-the-dark "fireflies" made from pasta noodles. Many of these projects can also double as activities to keep the whole family entertained, including plenty of DIY outdoor games. Perhaps you’re searching for crafts that’ll make your summer memories even more special, like a watermelon blanket to hold all of your picnic side dishes, or punchy decals to add to your cooler. Or maybe you'd like to freshen up your summer style with a handmade straw clutch or a colorful beach hat. There are even options that could count as DIY 4th of July decorations. No matter which craft idea you choose, it's sure to make your summer that much more fun for everyone involved!
For more ways to unleash your creativity this summer:
Looking for the perfect frame to display your favorite summer snap? This nautical one made of sea shells is just the thing! It's so easy to make using Mod Podge, shells (either from your own collection or the dollar store), glitter, and a plain wooden frame.
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
Sure, you could let the kids pluck a few flowers from your garden, but you could also make paper versions that'll last forever! These genius hyacinth flowers made from paper rolls and tissue paper are so fun to make, plus they make a cute and colorful summer decoration!
Get the tutorial at The Resourceful Mama.
Up your dominoes game (literally!) with this watermelon-inspired resin domino craft. Using green and pink resin and glitter, you can craft your own handmade set of dominoes that look just like the summer fruit you know and love!
Get the tutorial at Artsy Fartsy Mama.
Take inspiration from the creatures of the sea by making a colony of cute underwater figurines from sea shells, air-dry clay, paint, and glue! It's also a great way to use up shells from a past summer beach vacation!
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
Even if you haven't had much luck catching real fireflies this summer, you can still experience the glowing beauty of the iconic insects with these inventive pop-bottle fireflies! Made from water bottles, tissue paper, glow sticks, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes, they're the perfect activity for any summer birthday party or campout!
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
This shark version of the foldable fortune tellers from your childhood is so fitting for summer! It's also a great way to introduce the kids to origami.
Get the tutorial at Easy Peasy and Fun.
You can have your summer fruit and wear them, too, thanks to this adorable DIY. This wearable craft takes inspiration from the bright fruits of the season to yield little beaded gems reminiscent of apples, oranges, and pineapples!
Get the tutorial at The House That Lars Built.
Luscious, tropical monstera leaves are a telltale symbol of summer that'll make the perfect addition to your new favorite warm weather wreath. To create this fun craft, all you need to do is spray paint faux monstera leaves in bright shades and hot glue them to a ribbon-wrapped wreath form!
Get the tutorial at The Craft Patch.
Feed your summer travel bug with an easy DIY pushpin travel map to document all the places you've visited! To start, glue your choice of map (either of the world or the U.S.) to a corkboard. Then, add pins to your map to mark your destinations.
Get the tutorial at Lovely Indeed.
Commemorate the gleeful summer sweet with these precious pom-pom ice cream cones. All you need for this colorful craft is a few balls of yarn for the ice cream scoops, burlap and construction paper for the cone, and red pom poms and a cotton ball for the whipped cream and cherry on top!
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
If your ideal summer looks like selling (or collecting) sea shells by the seashore, why not add these ocean-inspired decor cones to your home? Made up of shells glued to styrofoam cones, it's the perfect way to put use to your coveted seashell collection.
Get the tutorial at Design Improvised.
This vibrant bar soap shaped like the tasty summer fruit looks almost good enough to eat! The colorful watermelon-shaped soaps are made of glycerin and goat milk soaps and infused with a healthy dose of watermelon fragrance oil.
Get the tutorial at A Pumpkin and a Princess.
These beautiful and beachy coasters are the perfect way to infuse the essence of the sea into your home! All you need for these coastal coasters are round wood slices and nautical-colored acrylic paints.
Get the tutorial at Crafts by Amanda.
Gone are the days of guessing which suitcase is yours at baggage claim when you make these gorgeous glitter luggage tags. Using wood tags, glitter and acrylic paints, vinyl or letter stickers, and book rings, this useful craft is so easy to construct!
Get the tutorial at Average But Inspired.
This creative and colorful craft combines two fun summer activities—water gun wars and painting—to yield an adorable, personalized art project. The kiddos can use painter's tape to make their desired design on a canvas and then go crazy with tempera paint-filled water guns, spritzing it with an array of different colors.
Get the tutorial at Somewhat Simple.
Upgrade your porch decor with a light and sound-catching beaded wind chime. Gorgeous glass beads are strung through wind chime tubes, which are attached to a wood slice base in this simple yet stunning craft.
Get the tutorial at Artsy Fartsy Mama.
What better way to ring in summer than with a lively backyard game? This DIY rainbow stacking game is as bright and fun as the summer sun.
Get the tutorial at A Kailo Chic Life.
While you might typically enjoy this hydrating summer fruit straight off the rind, it also makes a great beauty product additive! Combine juicy watermelon flavoring, coconut oil, and sugar to make a grainy lip scrub you’ll use all summer long.
Get the tutorial at A Cultivated Nest.
Channel the natural beauty of twinkling fireflies and beautiful blooms with these pressed flower lanterns. All you need is Mod Podge, pressed flowers, and twine to adorn your glass jar. Press your own flowers (or purchase some), place a tea light in the jar, and there you have it!
Get the tutorial at One Little Project.
Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can still enjoy the colorful blooms of summer with this fun crepe paper craft! Kids and adults will love crafting these colorful tropical flowers.
Get the tutorial at Abbi Kirsten Collections.
45 DIY Fall Decorations That Are Cozy and Cute
12 Best Tropical Plants to Liven Up Any Space
How to Plant and Care for a Clover Lawn
160 Fall Instagram Captions That’ll *Leaf* a Mark
How To Grow Pumpkins at Home
Gather 'Round for These Outdoor Fire Pit Ideas
These Bug Zappers Will Get Those Pests to Buzz Off
200 Dad Jokes to Keep in Your Back Pocket
25 Best Indoor Plants To Brighten Up Your Home
The 12 Best Bedroom Paint Colors of 2024
28 Best Flowers To Grow in the Shade
The Cutest Boy Dog Names If You Adopt a New Puppy
A Part of Hearst Digital Media
We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back.
Thanksgiving Perler Beads ©2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.