Easy Summer Craft Projects
Many of these projects use everyday craft supplies, while others encourage little ones to head outdoors, get inspired by nature or even discover a new favourite book. Whether your child loves painting, sticking, colouring or collecting treasures from the garden, these screen-free summer craft ideas are designed to keep creativity flowing all holiday long.
1. Fork Flower Painting
Who says paint brushes are the only way to paint? Using a fork to stamp flower shapes is an easy and mess-friendly activity that's ideal for younger children. Let them experiment with different colours to create their own summer garden masterpiece.
Why Parents Love It
This simple painting activity uses basic craft supplies and delivers impressive results with very little setup. It's a great way for young children to explore colours, patterns and creativity while developing fine motor skills.
Full Tutorial
2. Book Buddies
Turn reading time into crafting time by helping children create a character to accompany their favourite story. Whether it's a superhero, animal or magical creature, a handmade book buddy can encourage a lifelong love of books.
Why Parents Love It
Book Buddies help make reading feel more interactive and exciting, especially for reluctant readers. Parents love that the craft continues to support literacy long after the glue has dried.
Full Tutorial
3. Colourful Bookmarks
Simple, quick and useful, bookmarks are a fantastic craft for younger children. Decorate with stickers, drawings, stamps or glitter and create a personalised accessory for every summer read.
Why Parents Love It
Quick, affordable and easy to personalise, bookmark crafts can be completed in a short amount of time while encouraging children to feel excited about books and reading.
Full Tutorial
4. Refillable Keyrings
Perfect for using up leftover sequins, stickers and colourful paper scraps, this easy craft allows children to create a personalised accessory they'll be proud to carry around.
Why Parents Love It
This is an excellent stash-buster project, making use of leftover stickers, sequins and embellishments. Children love creating something personalised, while parents love the minimal waste and maximum creativity.
Full Tutorial
5. Handprint & Fingerprint Thank You Cards
Turn little handprints and fingerprints into colourful keepsake cards that teachers, grandparents and loved ones will treasure. From fingerprint flowers and bumblebees to handprint butterflies and sunshine designs, this simple craft is a wonderful way for young children to get creative while making something meaningful.
Why Parents Love It
These keepsake crafts capture a moment in time and create meaningful gifts that family members and teachers will treasure. They're simple to make and often become cherished memories for years to come.
Full Tutorial
6. Kid's Books TBR Jar
A DIY TBR (To Be Read) jar is a fun way to get young children excited about story time over the summer holidays. Decorate a jar with stickers, paints, colourful paper and drawings, then fill it with slips of paper featuring books, stories or reading challenges.
Why Parents Love It
The fun doesn't end when the craft is finished. Parents love that a TBR jar helps motivate children to read independently and turns choosing a book into an exciting activity.
Full Tutorial
7. Create a Tiny Bug Hotel
Encourage little explorers to learn about nature by building a miniature bug hotel. Collect small sticks, leaves and twigs from the garden, then arrange them inside a small container. It's a great way to combine crafting and outdoor learning.
This one will require adult help!
Why Parents Love It
Combining crafting with outdoor discovery, this project encourages children to spend time in nature and learn about the world around them. It's a fantastic screen-free activity that gets little ones exploring the garden.
Full Tutorial
8. Design a World Collage Adventure
Let imaginations run wild with a colourful collage. Using old magazines, stickers and craft paper, children can create their own fantasy world complete with animals, castles, jungles and oceans.
Why Parents Love It
Collage crafts encourage imagination and storytelling, allowing children to create their own worlds from everyday materials. It's also a brilliant way to reuse old magazines, catalogues and paper scraps.
Full Tutorial
9. Garden Crafts
Transform stones, cardboard tubes or recycled materials into ladybirds, butterflies and bees. These colourful creatures look great hidden around the garden or displayed indoors.
Why Parents Love It
Perfect for using recycled materials and everyday craft supplies, these playful creations encourage imaginative play and can be enjoyed both indoors and outdoors.
Full Tutorial
10. Decorate Animal Masks
Bring favourite animals to life by printing out a selection of animal masks and letting little ones decorate them however they like. From colourful jungle creatures to wild safari animals, children can personalise their masks using pens, pencils, paints, stickers, glitter or craft gems before putting on their own imaginative play show.
Why Parents Love It
This activity combines crafting and imaginative play in one fun project. Children can enjoy decorating their masks and then continue the adventure through storytelling, role play and games long after the craft session is over.
Full Tutorial
Let the Summer Making Begin!
With a few simple supplies and a little imagination, summer crafting can turn ordinary afternoons into colourful adventures. Whether your little one is painting, sticking, collecting treasures from the garden or creating something special for a loved one, these easy craft projects are a wonderful way to enjoy quality time together while keeping screens switched off. So grab the craft box, embrace the mess and get ready to make, create and explore all summer long.
If your little makers aren't ready to stop creating, browse our Make & Create arts and crafts range for kids for colourful supplies, fun craft kits and creative essentials. You can also find plenty more free activity sheets to keep children entertained with screen-free activities all summer long.
