Summer is the perfect time to unleash your creativity and have fun with crafts! Whether you’re looking for activities to do on a rainy day indoors or want to add some flair to your outdoor adventures, DIY crafts using household items are a fantastic way to keep busy and make memories. Plus, you’ll be recycling and repurposing items you already have at home, which is great for the environment too!
First, let’s cover a few tips for crafting fun!
- Safety First: Always supervise children when using sharp tools like scissors or knives.
- Get Creative: Encourage kids to come up with their own variations and designs for each craft.
- Outdoor Fun: Take advantage of sunny days to do messy crafts like painting or planting outside.
- Share and Display: Display finished crafts around your home or gift them to friends and family to spread the creativity and joy!
Here are a few ideas to get the creativity flowing.
1. Paper Plate Sun
Materials Needed:
- Paper plate
- Yellow paint or markers
- Glue
- Yellow and orange construction paper
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Paint or color the paper plate yellow.
- Cut out triangles from the yellow and orange construction paper to create sun rays.
- Glue the rays onto the back of the paper plate.
- Optional: Add a smiling face to your sun for extra cheer!
2. Water Bottle Wind Spirals
Materials Needed:
- Empty plastic water bottles (clear)
- Scissors
- Permanent markers
- String or yarn
Instructions:
- Cut the bottom off the water bottle and discard the cap.
- Use permanent markers to decorate the outside of the bottle with colorful designs.
- Cut vertical strips from the bottom edge of the bottle towards the top to create spirals.
- Attach a piece of string or yarn through the top of the bottle to hang your wind spiral outdoors.
- Watch it spin and twist in the breeze!
3. Rock Painting
Materials Needed:
- Smooth rocks or pebbles
- Acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- Newspaper or old cloth (for workspace)
Instructions:
- Clean and dry the rocks thoroughly.
- Paint each rock with colorful designs, patterns, or even cute animals and creatures.
- Let the paint dry completely before displaying your painted rocks in your garden or around your home.
4. Homemade Bird Feeder
Materials Needed:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Peanut butter
- Birdseed
- String
Instructions:
- Spread peanut butter all over the toilet paper roll.
- Roll the peanut butter-covered roll in birdseed until it’s completely coated.
- Thread a piece of string through the roll and tie the ends together to create a loop for hanging.
- Hang your homemade bird feeder from a tree branch and watch the birds enjoy their snack!
5. Recycled Bottle Planters
Materials Needed:
- Empty plastic bottles (various sizes)
- Craft knife (adult supervision required)
- Acrylic paints or markers
- Potting soil
- Small plants or seeds
Instructions:
- Cut off the top third of the plastic bottle using a craft knife (adults only).
- Decorate the outside of the bottle with paints or markers.
- Fill the bottom part of the bottle with potting soil and plant your chosen seeds or small plants.
- Water your plants regularly and watch them grow in their new recycled home!
These DIY summer crafts are not only enjoyable to make but also provide endless opportunities for kids to explore their imagination and learn new skills. So gather your materials, set up a crafting station, and let the summer crafting adventures begin!
Have a craft idea you have done? We’d love to hear about it!
Live.Laugh.Learn,
Jenn