Eight Really Easy Summertime Crafts

For some added fun this summer gather your kids and take some time to try these craft ideas. They are simple, fun and best of all do not require extensive materials or elaborate crafting skills. Here are some fun summer craft ideas-

1. 1. Paint with Clouds-This is also a great craft to do outside. Start by putting a lump of shaving cream on a piece of finger paint paper. Add just a drop or two of food coloring to the shaving cream for color and let the kids paint with the shaving cream “clouds.”
2. Cloud Painting-Give each child a large cotton ball and tell them to pretend it is a cloud. Have them dip their “cloud” in paint and then use it to make a picture. You may want to ask them, “What would a cloud paint if it could?” This can be a great exercise in changing perspectives, empathy, and thinking about how others might feel. Exactly the kinds of things that kids sometimes have trouble with.
3. Dandelion Chains-Start by picking a large bunch of dandelions with long, thick stems. Attach the dandelions to one another by tying the stem in a knot around the previous dandelion stem where it is close to the flower. Double knots will work best. Have the kids tie the two ends of the chain together when they have reached the desired length. You can also make necklaces, crowns, bracelets, etc. with your dandelion chains. In addition, you can also use grasses and other “weeds” to make chains.
4. Sidewalk chalk and paint-While this may be a free form craft project do not overlook the potential of giving your child some sidewalk chalk or paint and turn them loose to decorate your driveway. It will keep them busy for a long time and the chalk and or paint will wash off when it rains.
5. Outside Sand Pictures-For this craft you will need some kind of container like a pie tin or recycled plastic container. Fill the container with sand (you could also use dirt). Then have the kids collect things from the yard like flowers, leaves, sticks, etc. and push the objects into the sand to create a picture. While this is a project that you would not want to take indoors, the kids can do it over and over again outside.
6. Outside Water Painting-Start by filling up a small container with water and give each child a paintbrush. You may have to show them how they can create designs on a driveway or sidewalk with the water. You can talk to them about what happens when the water “paint” dries and also be sure to try out different brushes for different affects, etc.
7. Confetti Wedding Picture-Print off the picture of a lady wearing a wedding dress off of your computer (or you can get one from a magazine and photocopy it). Give the kids some glue and real confetti to stick over the picture and you have a beautiful wedding picture. You could also stick on tiny petals or circles cut from a hole punch if you did not want to use confetti.
8. Summer Cupcakes or cookies-Kids are always willing to help when there is treat involved for them. You can purchase ready made unfrosted cupcakes or cookies and then set your kids to loose to decorate them. For a fun summer time cupcake or cookie try this: Frost a cupcake with light blue frosting. Put a gummy ring (or any kind of candy that is inner tube shaped) on top. Put a Teddy graham cracker in the middle to make it look like he is floating on an inner tube.