The Best Budget Friendly Summer Crafts
Keeping kids entertained during the summer doesn’t have to break the bank! With a little creativity, you can turn everyday household items into fun and engaging crafts that spark imagination and keep little hands busy. Whether you’re looking for simple projects using recycled materials or affordable supplies, these 10 budget-friendly summer crafts will provide hours of creative fun without stretching your wallet.
Summer Fun: Pool Noodle Fish Craft for Creative Kids
Looking for an easy, affordable, and imaginative summer craft to keep your kids engaged? Whether you’re a homeschooling parent, a teacher planning summer activities, or a mom managing the long vacation days, this pool noodle fish craft is a perfect blend of creativity, fine motor skill development, and pure fun. Using simple materials and easy-to-follow steps, you can turn ordinary pool noodles into a vibrant school of underwater friends.
Flamingo Handprint Craft for Kids: A Fun Summer Art Project
This flamingo handprint craft makes a fun and easy summer art project for toddlers and preschoolers using pink paint, paper, and simple supplies.
S’more Craft
Looking for a summer craft idea for your kids? Make this cute S’mores Craft! Grab your supplies and decorate it to remind you of your favorite summer treat. They are so easy and adorable to make.
Bottle Cap Crab Kids Craft: A Fun Ocean Craft for kids
Let your kids use their imagination and creativity with this simple Bottle cap Crab Kids Craft. It’s easy, fun, and will have them dreaming of the beach. So check out this Fun Ocean Craft for kids.
Upcycled CD and Ribbon Jellyfish Craft
Summer is the perfect season for creating ocean themed art. In this post, learn how to make a colorful upcycled CD and ribbon jellyfish craft.
Paper Plate Watermelon Craft (+Creative Activity for Kids)
This paper plate watermelon craft is a fabulous sumer craft for kids! It’s super easy and makes a great learning activity.
DIY Bubble Wand
Make your own DIY Bubble Wand using pipe cleaners and pony beads! Personalize them with letter beads and give them as gifts.
Easy Paper Boat Craft for kids – Fun Summer Craft idea with Template
Have an afternoon full of adventure this summer by making this easy paper boat craft. Our printable template makes this sailboat craft super simple for preschoolers and kids of all ages to create. If you are
Easy Campfire Handprint Craft Keepsake For Kids
This campfire handprint craft is a fun and easy activity that makes a perfect keepsake to remember summer camping adventures with family!
Patriotic Paper Plate Craft
Kids will love making this Patriotic Paper Plate Craft for Memorial Day or the Fourth of July! It is so easy to set up too.
Fun Colorful Coffee Filter Dragonfly Craft
These Coffee Filter Dragonflies are so colorful! Planning some fun summer crafts for kids? Then you’ll want to add this coffee filter dragonfly craft to your plans. Easy to make at home or at school.
Paper Plate Handprint Pineapple Craft
Pineapples are sweet, but not as sweet as our Paper Plate Handprint Pineapple Craft. With handprints and fingerprints, too!
More Summer Fun!
- How To Make The Best S’mores Cookie Cups That Are The Perfect Fall Snack
There’s something about the combination of graham crackers, chocolate, and toasted marshmallows that instantly brings back cozy memories of fall evenings around a campfire. These S’mores Cookie Cups take all the flavors of a classic s’more and turn them into a bite-sized cookie that is perfect for parties, after-school treats, or classroom celebrations. - The Preschool Readiness Checklist To Get Your Little One Ready For SchoolStarting preschool is a huge milestone — and not just for your child, but for you too. It’s the beginning of a new chapter filled with discovery, growth, and independence. But let’s be honest: figuring out whether your child is “ready” for preschool can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start? That’s where a Preschool Readiness Checklist becomes your best friend. Think of it as a roadmap, gently guiding you through the skills your child will be using in their new classroom — and how you can support those skills in everyday, joyful ways.
- S’mores Pops Recipe: A Fun and Easy No-Bake Treat for KidsThis easy and fun s’mores pops recipe is made with jumbo marshmallows, chocolate, and graham crackers. A no-bake treat kids can dip, decorate, and enjoy!
- S’mores Board for Kids: An Easy DIY Dessert BoardCreate a fun s’mores board for kids with graham crackers, chocolate, marshmallows, and more. A sweet DIY dessert board for parties or cozy nights in!
- Fruit Roll-Up with Ice Cream: A Viral Treat That’s Sweet, Cold, and CrunchyReady to try the viral sensation that’s sweeping TikTok—and winning over kids one bite at a time? These Fruit Roll-Ups with Ice Cream are an unexpected combination of fruity, creamy, and crunchy that instantly delights the senses. With just two ingredients and three minutes of prep, this fun, fast fruit roll-up snack is perfect for summer afternoons, last-minute dessert cravings, or a treat-after-learning moment at home.
- Sea Life Snack Cups: A Simple and Fun Ocean-Themed Treat for KidsLooking for a quick, creative snack that fits perfectly into an ocean-themed day? These Sea Life Snack Cups are the answer. With only a few ingredients, no cooking required, and plenty of hands-on fun for kids, this is a snack you can make in minutes—but one that feels festive and memorable. Perfect for homeschool units, summer camps, birthday parties, or classroom celebrations, this mix is colorful, crunchy, and packed with playful surprises.
- Mermaid Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwiches: A Magical Summer Treat for KidsReady to bring some enchantment to your summer snack time? These Mermaid Rice Krispie Ice Cream Sandwiches are the perfect combination of texture, color, and cool sweetness—all with a splash of mermaid magic. This treat is easy to assemble, requires no baking, and delivers big visual appeal, making it a favorite for summer parties, ocean unit celebrations, or just a fun afternoon in the kitchen with kids.
- Glow-in-the-Dark Shooting Star Handprint CraftThere’s nothing like the excitement of turning off the lights and seeing your art glow. If your kid loves all things space, stars, or even just anything that lights up, this Glow-in-the-Dark Shooting Star Handprint Craft is about to become their new favorite masterpiece. It’s messy in a fun way, simple enough for little hands, and ends with a glowing surprise that feels like magic every single time.
- Shark Yogurt Cups: A Cool, Creative Ocean Snack for Summer FunLooking for a snack that’s as fun to make as it is to eat? These Shark Yogurt Cups are the perfect combination of tasty, hands-on activity and imaginative play. With just a few simple ingredients and no cooking required, this ocean-themed treat is ideal for summer lessons, ocean units, snack time surprises, or even a themed birthday party.
- Make Beach Crab Cookies: A Creative and Tasty Summer Treat for KidsLooking for a hands-on summer treat that doubles as a craft and a snack? These Beach Crab Cookies are the perfect mix of creative play, edible art, and beachy fun. Whether you’re planning an ocean unit wrap-up, hosting a themed birthday party, or simply trying to keep kids entertained on a hot summer day, this simple decorating activity invites kids to build their own candy crabs and cookie beaches—all while practicing fine motor skills and imagination.
- Make a Splash with Ocean Jello Cups: A Sweet Summer Treat with a Learning TwistLooking for a colorful, hands-on snack that doubles as an activity? These Ocean Jello Cups are the perfect mix of edible fun and creativity. Whether you’re wrapping up an ocean unit, planning a summer party, or just want a themed treat that kids can help create, this simple dessert invites children to explore, build, and imagine while satisfying their sweet tooth.
- Kid-Friendly Watermelon Slushies: A Delicious Summer Drink for KidsCool off with these Kid-Friendly Watermelon Slushies made with fresh fruit, honey, and ice! This easy watermelon slushie recipe is the perfect refreshing summer drink for kids and families.
0