15 Fun DIY Summer Crafts to Stay Busy and Creative

As we begin the summer season, now is the perfect time for fun DIY summer crafts. Summer-themed crafts offer a delightful way to spend time with your loved ones, spark imagination, and learn new hobbies. I have 15 DIY summer crafts for crafters of all ages and levels.

Are you wondering how to keep you and the kids occupied and productive during the lazy days of summer? How about finding new crafts to make?

Let’s discover a collection of DIY craft ideas to transform ordinary summer days into enjoyable sessions of creativity.

Whether you’re looking to beat the heat with indoor activities or make the most of the great outdoors, here are 15 fun DIY summer craft projects that will appeal to both kids and adults.

These DIY summer crafts will not only keep your hands busy, but you can also fill your home with the laid-back spirit of summer. Learning a new skill through crafting can be a great way to while away the summer.

Staying Busy This Summer and Having Fun

Put on your creative cap and take a look at these summer-themed crafts. They can become the highlight of your summer season!

First, let’s look at some summer projects, in general, and the supplies that you can use in them.

What Type of Summer Projects to Make?


• Easy outdoor crafts
• Summer table accessories
• Beachy home decor projects
• Nature-inspired art ideas
• Upcycled garden decorations
• Fun pool party accessories
• Eco-friendly crafts using recycled materials
• Patriotic crafts for summer holidays
• Handmade summer fashion and accessories

What Summer Ingredients Can You Use?

  • Seashells
  • Dish towels
  • Popsicle sticks
  • River rocks
  • Beads
  • Straw hats and tote bags
  • Mason jars
  • Dried flowers
  • Flower pots
  • Paper and crayons
  • Tin cans
  • Old bottles and jars
  • Anything you have to recycle

Welcome to Bluesky Browsing #189.

In case you are new to Bluesky at Home, what fabulous finds do I share at Bluesky Browsing?

  • ideas to help you in your home decor efforts
  • fun holiday decoration ideas
  • ideas for better organization and efficiency
  • a yummy recipe or cocktail
  • fun DIY projects
  • the latest trends in home decor
  • a quirky new find or two
  • outdoor decorating and gardening

Stay Busy This Summer with Fun DIY Craft Projects

These craft projects for summer will hopefully inspire you. I hope to also encourage you to experiment with new DIY methods you’ve never tried before..

The beauty of crafting is that it’s new and challenges you to try new skills.

fun DIY summer craft collage

DIY Projects for Summer Productivity

Here are some ideas for using summer-themed crafts to create a fun family activity. Teenagers might like forming teams to have a craft competition:

  1. Host a family craft night. Set up different craft stations with supplies for various summer-themed crafts like seashell art, paper plate suns, or painted rocks. Let family members rotate between stations.
  2. For teenagers, create a summer memory book or scrapbook together. Gather photos, ticket stubs, and other mementos from summer activities. Work as a family to decorate pages and add captions.
  3. Have a backyard craft day. Set up tables outside and do messy crafts like tie-dye shirts, sand art, or watercolor painting. Being outdoors makes cleanup easier- use a hose and slip-and-slide to clean up the kids.
  4. Make summer-themed decorations for your home as a family. Create paper flower wreaths, seashell wind chimes, or painted mason jar lanterns to display.
  5. Organize a neighborhood kid craft swap. Have each family create summer crafts to trade with other families. This allows kids to show off their creations and get new craft ideas.
  6. Turn crafting into friendly family competitions. See who can make the best sandcastle out of Legos or create the most creative summer-themed games and toys together..
  7. Go on a nature walk to collect materials like leaves, flowers, and pebbles. Then use the found objects to create nature collages or pressed flower art.

The key is to choose projects that appeal to different age groups and skill levels in your family. Focus on the process of creating projects together. With some creativity, summer crafts can become cherished family bonding activities.

summer DIY painted lavender-painted mason jars

Flower-Painted Mason Jars

Lavender is an iconic summer herb. Linda of It Started with Paint uses it beautifully to make these pretty lavender-inspired painted mason jars.

summer diy pressed flower project

Pressed Flower Art

Jayne of Chalking Up Success shares her version of pretty pressed flower art. This flower art evokes a sense of summer nostalgia.

DIY for kids thumbprint painted flower pot

Finger Print Flower Pot

Amanda of Crafts by Amanda created this simple kid art project. his sweet fingerprint flower pot can be made with supplies you probably have on hand. This project will easily engage kids from 3-10 years old with a lot of creative steps and makes a perfect project for Spring!

DIY tote bag made with tea towels

DIY Tote Bag with Tea Towels

Patti of Hearth and Vine shares how to make this pretty tropical beach bag. It can be made from a beautiful tea towel or dish towel. And it’s easy enough for beginner sewers or someone who hasn’t used a sewing machine in a while.

flower garden suncatcher wind chime

Garden-Inspired Suncatcher Wind Chime

Shelly of Welcome to Nanas shows how to use fresh flower blooms to make a DIY Garden Suncatcher Wind Chime. An easy summer kids craft on contact paper framed in Mason jar lid rings!

kids' wedding coloring book

Wedding Activity Book for Kids

So many weddings take place in the summer. Chelsea of Lovely Indeed created this printable wedding activity book as the perfect resource to keep kids entertained during a wedding. If you have a wedding this summer, use it at the wedding or the reception the little ones pleasantly occupied.

summer craft floral tin can caddie

Make this Caddy for Your Next BBQ

Here’s an addition to your summer table you’re going to love! Marianne of Once a Duckling made this caddy on a budget. It’s a lot of fun to make for your next summer party.

DIY decorated sunglasses for kids

DIY Friendship Bracelets

If you’re looking for a few boredom busters, these DIY beaded sunglasses are perfect for older kids and teenagers to make with friends! This easy project by Lilly of Kids Kubby would also be a unique activity for a small birthday party or sleepover.

DIY crafts fruit-inspired coasters

Fruit-Inspired Drink Covers

These adorable drink covers are a fun summer craft for kids that bring back all the memories of your childhood. Lynsey and Denay of Salt Sister Moms made this little drink cover craft that can be the spark for hours of bead creations for kids. 

DIY beach lantern centerpiece with glass jars and sand

DIY Beach Lantern Centerpiece

Marianne of Songbird Blog suggests that if you have a collection of seashells, then create some beachy decor to preserve summer memories with easy DIY coastal candle holders. These three beach lanterns are the perfect beach centerpiece for a summer table.

colorful friendship bracelets

DIY Friendship Bracelets

Debbie of One Little Project – This round friendship bracelet is easy to make, and all you need is a scrap piece of cardboard and some embroidery floss. This adjustable bracelet is a great summer craft, perfect for sleepovers, summer camp, road trips, or any time you want to keep the kids busy on their summer holidays.

summer craft painted tote bag with pompom


DIY Painted Tote Bag

Haeley of Design Improvised used an
inexpensive straw bag to make a fun summer bag for going to the pool or beach. As long as they have a flat woven pattern like this one, a straw bag is a prime candidate for painting.

summer diy straw hat

Floppy Painted Straw Hat

Kelly of Studio DIY shows how easy it is to make the cutest straw hat to protect you from the summer heat. It looks so professional but is very easy.

summer crafts painted rocks project

Easiest Summer Craft: Rock Photo Holders

Last summer when my granddaughters were here visiting, they spent hours painting many of the river rocks in our backyard. Debbie of One Little Project took this idea one step further with this project kids will love.

DIY watermelon coasters

DIY Watermelon Coasters

Katie of Made to be a Momma shared these perfectly summer DIY watermelon coasters that are the perfect diy accessory for any summer party! Great to serve with punch, soda or your other favorite beverages. 

Here are some of my own summer DIY projects that you’ll enjoy. That actually brings the grand total of summer DIY crafts to 28.

Want to save all these summer craft projects ? Be sure to PIN to keep these ideas handy. You might want to check my Pinterest Boards, Summer DIY Crafts and DIY Projects.

Use some of these fun projects to fill your summer days. Whether you or your kids or your grandkids are making one of these, enjoy the experience and the resulting project.

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15 fun DIY summer craft projects
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