Summer crafts for kids are a fun way to break up that vacation from school! Find crafts and art projects to do indoors and outdoors for creative entertainment. These Summer art projects are perfect for preschoolers through middle schoolers.
Summer Craft Activities
Many of these summer crafts for kids include free printables to make your craft even easier to assemble. Little hands can make easy ideas and put them together on those warm summer days.
When summer comes, kids can complain of boredom, so these Summer craft activities are a good way to keep them creative and learning while having fun!
Sun Handprint Art
Summer sunshine is something we always celebrate!
Parts of a Plant Craft
This one is so much fun to do with kids of any age!
Make Playdough Flowers
This free printable play dough mat is perfect for hot days inside. Also see our weather playdough mats.
Grow Grass In A Cup
Make these adorable crazy-haired faces!
Tissue Paper Butterflies
Each one is unique and beautiful, and kids love butterflies!
How To Make Seed Bombs
This is such a fun way to plant seeds!
Handprint Flowers
Kids love using their handprints for crafts and these flowers turn out so cute!
Geo Flower STEAM Craft
This STEAM craft is so much fun!
Coffee Filter Flowers
Use coffee filters to make beautiful flowers!
Yarn Flowers
Flowers are so pretty in the summer! Make your own yarn flowers!
Tissue Paper Butterflies
Each one is unique and beautiful, and kids love butterflies!
Zentangle Fruit
Grab the fruit printable and create a bowl of summer fruit with fun zentangle patterns.
Paint Rocks
Here’s a classic summer craft to try: painted watermelon rocks! This design is a bit simpler but looks awesome if you pick the right rock shapes!
Outdoor Art Projects
Rain Painting
This is the perfect project for a rainy day, but you can use your watering can if the forecast calls for clear skies. Try rain painting!
Sun Prints
On the flip side…If all you have outside is endless sun, you must make sun prints. We use plain old construction paper to keep this outdoor art project quick and affordable.
Ice Cube Painting
Chilly artwork for a hot day. Hit the freezer and make ice paints to take outside.
Water Gun Painting
What a fun way to paint that’s also a classic summer activity when the weather gets warm. While I don’t suggest a super soaker filled with color, dollar-store water toys will do the trick for this cool water gun painting experience.
Fly Swatter Painting
Nice weather also brings out the bugs… while we don’t need to squash bugs with fly swatters, we can squash paint with fly swatters instead!
Nature’s Paintbrushes
Kids will love to make DIY paintbrushes out of natural materials!
Nature Weaving
Collect pieces of nature such as wildflowers, leaves, and twigs to create this unique woven artwork using simple supplies.
Bubble Painting
Blow bubbles, and create art! This super simple bubble painting idea for kids is perfect to take outside.
Splatter Painting
Grab a canvas and head outside to try this splatter process art technique that kids of all ages can enjoy. This can get messy, but cleanup is a breeze if you’re outside. Find a few different options inspired by the famous artist Jackson Pollock.
Fizzing Sidewalk Paint
This is an awesome way to take science outside and turn it into STEAM! Make your own sidewalk paint and watch it fizz!
DIY Sidewalk Chalk and Homemade Sidewalk Paint
Classic fun for outdoor art activities! Learn how to make your own chalk or paint!
Famous Artist Summer Projects
Kusama Watermelon
This fun printable watermelon art project uses bold, bright colors and dots inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s iconic style.
Escher’s Eye
What do you see? Explore the idea of art, lines, and vision! What images will you include?
Picasso Flowers
Paint a colorful bouquet of flowers based on one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous artworks, The Bouquet of Peace.
Matisse Flowers
Make your own abstract flower “painting” with cut-out shapes inspired by famous artist, Henri Matisse.
Easy Flower Painting
Here is a fun and colorful flower painting project, perfect for a fresh spring day!
Polka Dot Butterfly Painting
Make a polka dot butterfly painting inspired by famous artist, Yayoi Kusama.
Flower Dot Art
Learn about Pointillism with this fun summer art project for kids!
Tulip Art Activity
Try a colorful tulip art project inspired by famous artist, Yayoi Kusama that is perfect for summer art!
O’Keeffe Pastel Flower Art
Learn about a famous artist and make beautiful flower art at the same time!
Warhol Pop Art Flowers
Nothing says summer like bright colors and flowers!
Van Gogh Lemon Still-Life
Grab a bowl of lemons and a few art supplies to explore still-life with famous artist, Vincent Van Gogh.
Mixed Media Strawberry Art
Explore famous art styles with our mixed-media Strawberry Art Project. Summer is the perfect time to dive into exciting art projects!
Frida’s Flowers
Frida Kahlo was known for all her color in art!
Sunflower Art With Vincent Van Gogh
These beautiful flowers are fun to make and you can teach on Van Gogh at the same time!
Monet’s Bridge
Add this Monet bridge painting project to your famous artist study this summer!
Ice Cream Art
Make a fun ice cream art project inspired by several famous artists! Three different scoops of ice cream, inspired by three different artists.
Popsicle Art
This is such a bright and fun art project for kids this summer!
Ocean Art and Craft Projects
Head to the beach this summer with easy and fun ocean theme crafts.
Printable Ocean Animals Craft
Make these cute, printable ocean animal crafts using split pins or brads! They move!
Fish Painting
This fun and easy ocean craft will sure to be a hit with your kids. Paint fish inspired by famous artist Jackson Pollock and his style of ‘action painting’ and abstract art! Free printable included!
3D Ocean Paper Craft
Create an ocean paper craft project that is perfect for older kids too!
Ocean Salt Painting
This cool ocean theme craft is very easy to make with just a few simple materials from the kitchen.
Coral Reef Art
Create a textured painting inspired by coral reefs using simple materials like sponges, bubble wrap, and watercolors.
Glow In The Dark Jellyfish
This ocean craft is a fun and easy way to explore bio-luminescence in living organisms while combining art and a bit of engineering.
Black Glue Jellyfish Art
Black glue art with a watercolor background for an awesome ocean craft and STEAM project!
Shark Newspaper Craft
Create this easy shark paper craft to celebrate Shark Week or add to your ocean theme!
Narwhal Collage Craft
Learn fun facts about Narwhals and create a fantastic Narwhal collage craft with more background ideas to choose from.
Salt Dough Starfish
This easy salt dough starfish craft is sure to be a hit in your classroom or at home to explore these awesome sea stars.
Turtle Dot Painting
Dot painting is a great way to develop your child’s fine motor skills, and strengthen grasp and manual control. Plus, it’s fun!
Bonus Summer STEM Ideas
Of course, you can also check out our collection of amazing Summer STEM activities too! Here are a few of our favorites…
- Build a solar oven
- Make a sundial
- Experiment with water
- Make a bottle rocket
- Engineer a paper helicopter
- Make a kite
- Construct a water wall
Printable Summer STEAM Projects Pack
Perfect summer camp activities for the home, group, camp, or classroom. Check out our Summer ☀️ Fun Bundle for BIG Savings!
WHAT’S INCLUDED:
- 15 Summer science activities with journal pages, supply lists, set up and process steps, and science information. Easy to set up, easy to do, and easy to fit into the time you have available, even if it’s limited!
- 10+ Printable summer STEM challenges that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond and adaptable to many skill levels and developmental needs. Will the boat float and more?
- Also included a summer theme STEM Story with challenges perfect for going on a STEM adventure inside or outside!
- Brick building challenges with a summer theme keep your brick building fresh for the season.
- Even more engaging summer-theme activities include printable sensory play recipes, homemade pinwheels, and spinners!
- Bonus Pull out Packs include Summer Fun, Ice is Nice, Lemon Theme Projects, and Ice Cream! Extra fun activities to keep you busy all season long!
