Summer is the time of escape, freedom, and fun. You're out of school and you're on family vacations. It's hot. You're swimming. You're getting out into nature, hiking and camping. That's on the clear, sunshiny days though. What do you do on the stormy days, when it's raining and lightning? Indoor Summer crafts, of course!
Here's a list of some of our favorite Summer Crafts, each calling to mind an element of Summer.
Paper Plate Sun
Color a paper plate yellow, add eyes and a smile. Then, cut orange and yellow construction paper into triangles to add around your plate as the sun's rays. Want to spice it up? Have the kids create different mouths and change the sun's expression. Happy sun? Surprised sun? Sad sun?
Sponge Bomb
Cut some sponges into one-inch wide strips. Combine about 8 of the strips (in different colors to add pizzazz), and secure them together using a rubber band in the centers. Now dunk your sponge bomb in water and throw at one of your unsuspecting children. Better than a water balloon and reusable.
Beach Crab
Paint the kids' hands red. Have them stamp a piece of paper with two hand prints, in opposite directions with palms overlapping. Add googly eyes for eyeballs. A thick line of glue across the bottom with sand or crushed cheerios sprinkled on it makes the crab look like he's walking on the beach!
Water Gun Painting
Equal parts washable tempura paint and water is mixed before being loaded into your water gun. Now hand it to your kids and let them start spraying colors a their paper. Multiple guns/colors create quite a painting! Great outside activity as long as everyone is wearing paint-safe clothing.
Popsicles
Take the beverage of your choice (aka your kid's favorite) and pour it into Popsicle mold. These can be picked up at the dollar store for - well, a dollar. The next day, you'll have Popsicles the kids will really enjoy! Try your favorite juice, fruit punch, or lemonade, and layer for a fun twist!
Watermelon Slice
Cut a paper plate in half. Color the plate part red and the rim green. Add some black dots sporadically throughout the red portion as seeds (unless you're a seedless watermelon fan - then add them anyway...lol) and you have a watermelon slice. A true sign that Summer is here!
Jellyfish
Cut an orange in half and add eyes to your half. Feel free to use a tangerine, or a grapefruit, or a lemon, or a tangelo, or etc, etc. The eyes can be drawn on or glued on. Then, use pipe cleaners as the tentacles by sticking them into the flat side of the fruit. Wave it around like it's swimming!
Pine Cone Pineapple
Just in case it hasn't already been hard enough for your kid to keep the words "pine cone" and "pineapple" straight...throw this summertime craft their way. This cool craft makes a pine cone look like a pineapple by painting the edges of the pine cone yellow and putting some "greenery" on top.
Hand Flamingo
Trace your kid's hand on a pink piece of paper and then cut the tracing out. Add pink clothespins (or in lieu of pink, use red ones like we had to) to create the legs and neck. a pipe cleaner, or piece of construction paper makes a great beak, and then add a googly eye to finish it.
Kite Craft
When you can't go fly a kite outside, making this craft comes in a close 2nd. Cut out your kite shape and decorate it however you wish. Then add your kite string coming out of the bottom end. Want to make your kite "fly"? add clouds and a background so people can see how high it got!
When you're finished with your Summer crafts, make sure to check out our Summer Activities and Summer Movies to continue the Summer theme.
Make sure and share photos of your finished Summer crafts with us, or post them on Facebook or Instagram, and tag GriswoldDad!