As the weather gets warmer and the end-of-school is nears, parents everywhere are trying to come up with activities that will be fun and affordable for the kids to be kept busy. Here are some awesome DIY for all ages.
#1. Make bubble snakes.
Cut the bottom of a water bottle. Duct tape a sock on the cut out of the bottle. Pour dish soap, food coloring and water. Blow to create the bubble snake.
#2. Create large flowers to make Hawaiian leis.
Cut large flower shapes in card stock paper and punch a hole in the middle. Cut straws in 1 inch pieces. Cut yarn in desired length. String the flower and straw and tie when completed.
#3. Decorate the street with Kool Aid paints.
Buy a couple of squeeze bottles as the more the merrier. Pour Kool Aid packets and water together. Next add cornstarch and mix. Now enjoy your newly designed sidewalk.
#4. Play music with a pretend guitar.
Take an old box that is still sturdy. Cut the top part of the box where the cut out of the guitar shape will be taped on. Use a paper gift tube and insert it on top of the main box. Use loop rubber bands as the strings
#5. Transform egg cartons into whales.
Cut an egg carton in to sections. Paint them in blue and let it dry. With an x-facto knife cut an x at the top. Place blue pipe cleaners in the x. Cut the whale tail and fins from blue card stock paper. Glue them to the egg carton. To complete your whale, glue googly eyes and draw a happy smile.
#6. Paint some rocks for the garden.
While you plant your vegetables, get the kids to paint the rocks in the garden. Not only is it a fun decoration but also works as plant markers. Wash medium size rocks thoroughly. Use tempera paints and let it dry. Apply a couple coats of outdoor polyurethane varnish.
#7. Add beads to just about anything!
There are only so many necklaces one can make. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Arrange your beads to the design you want on top of a cookie sheet. It takes approximately 10 minutes for the designs to melt. Let it cool. Hot glue the hair pin or earring backings.
#8. Turn the living room into a drive-in movie theatre.
Use a cardboard box large enough to fit your kid. Purchase a couple colors of printed duct tape for borders. Paper plates are used as wheels.
#9. Fashion friendship bracelets using LEGOs.
Take out the old LEGO box out. Find the flat bricks and drill a hole on both ends. Use embroidery thread in a few different colors to put all of the colors together and fold them in half. Thread the loop through one of the holes and braid it. Follow the same process on the other end. Tie together based on wrist size.
#10. Fill a mason jar of fun ideas.
Use a mason jar and label it. Ge the kids in on ideas of things to do when boredom strikes. The kids can pull an activity anytime they run out of things to do.
#11. Make a useful summer fan.
This is a fun craft idea that the kids will actually use when the temperature rises. Pre-cut circles on card stock paper. Use Mod Podge to glue two sides and place craft stick in the middle. Once it dries, it is ready to fan.
#12. Cut and glue dinosaur hats.
Add to the pretend games by making dinosaur hats. Cut green cardboard paper in to strips. Glue two to create a headband. Take another two sheets for the crown of the headband where spike cut outs will be glued on.
#13. Make fun bracelets.
Cut roll papers to fit your kids’ wrists. Apply duct tape in different designs which can be found at any craft store. Cut it in half and it becomes a cool cuff.
#14. Decorate the wall with a washi mural.
This is an easy and fun way to update your kids’ rooms. You can design the look in advance or let them help you. Use washi tape in different colors and designs. The tape can be found at your local craft store.
#15. Adorn a tree with buttons.
Take a blank canvas and paint a tree in basic brown. Use tacky glue to apply the buttons on. Use different colors and sizes.
#16. Paint with a water gun.
Fill water squirt guns with liquid water colors. Place watercolor paper outside and the kids will take it from there.
#17. Put a mask on.
Trace and cut the mask based on size of child’s face in felt fabric. Cut out the shape and holes for eyes. Attach elastic on both sides to hold the mask on.
#18. Turn your child into a space man.
Mirror paper is glued and wrapped around two water bottles. Place a long line of duct tape and tape red, orange and yellow crepe paper on the edge. On the other side wrap it around the bottom of the bottles. Tape the two tubes together while also attaching straps.
#19. Make quirky bookmarks.
The quirkier the buttons, the better. Hot glue the paper clip to the back of your button. Cut a small piece of felt fabric to go on top.
#20. Let kids express their inner Picasso.
Use terra cotta pots and have the kids pour acrylic paint in various colors. Let them dry.
#21. Shield up!
Purchase foam material. Cut a circle about 8” in diameter. Cut a star larger than the circle and glue it on the circle. Apply a felt initial or sign on top of the star. To hold the shield, cut a piece of felt that is long enough to go around your child’s wrist.
#22. Use popsicles to create a stick frame.
Keep all those popsicle sticks. Wash them and paint them with washable paint. Spread glue and sprinkle the glitter on top. Next, create a square with four sticks glueing them on the ends. Repeat with a smaller square. Add your favorite jewels for extra bling.
Yarn Block Printing
All you need for this craft is some yarn, some blocks of wood (or anything block-of-wood-shaped), some paint, and paper. When you’re done, you’ll be left with an awesome piece of modern art.
Giant Sunflower
This is a great way to upcycle those oatmeal containers that typically end up in your recycling bin. I can totally see a bunch of these being used to decorate a kid’s room.
Star Garland
Here’s a dainty garland you can make using only a bit of stone clay, some baker’s twine, and hot glue. Obviously, you could make any shape, so don’t feel limited to stars only!
Flower Pounding Tote Bag
Looking for a way to blow off some steam? Grab some greenery and flowers from outside, tape them to a tote bag, cover them with a light towel, and lightly tap with a hammer. The color and shapes of the flowers will transfer to the fabric, leaving you with a beautiful spring-inspired tote bag (and your stress will be relieved, too).
Lunch Bag Jellyfish Puppets
Here’s another craft that only requires super basic supplies but can provide several hours of fun. Let your kids paint or color some lunch bags, then cut the tentacles (with some pinking shears, if you have them) and put on a jellyfish puppet show!
Egg Carton Wreath
What better way to welcome spring than by creating a floral wreath to hand on your door? If you’ve got some egg cartons and paint lying around, this craft is pretty much free.
Homemade Watercolor Paints
This craft is a double whammy. First, you and the kids can make the paint, then you can create masterpieces with the paint! Double the craft time! Maybe you could split this activity between Saturday and Sunday and make a whole weekend of it.
Paper Cup and Bowl Fairy House
With a bit of paint and imagination, a paper cup and bowl can easily be transformed into a fairy house. No need to stop there — why not create a whole fairy village while you’re at it?
Salt, Glue, and Watercolor Painting
Painting with watercolors is already a lot of fun, but if you really want to take it to the next level, add glue and salt to the mix. Squirt some Elmer’s glue onto your paper, then add a bunch of salt. Shake off the excess (kind of like what you do when you add glitter to stuff), and paint away! When you touch your paint brush to the glue, the salt soaks it up and the color travels through it like magic.
TP Tube Birdfeeder
This craft is for the birds. Literally. It’s for birds.
Smear some peanut butter on a toilet paper tube, then roll it in birdseed.
Hang it up and wait for the birds to come to you to enjoy their treat.
Puffy Slime
Kids are still into slime, right? It’s probably time you got into it too.
This one is puffy and colorful and just all-around magical.
Squirt Gun Painting
This might be the most fun thing I’ve seen all day.
Add some liquid watercolors (and water) to a cheap squirt gun and squirt it at a piece of paper. Brilliant.
Although probably a craft you’ll want to do outside.
Clothespin Foosball Table
For this craft, all you need are some wooden dowels, clothespins, and a shoe box. Get some paint and wrapping paper to take it to the next level.
Borax Crystals
Everyone agrees: Crystals are amazing.
Easily make your own with water, food coloring, and Borax.
For this next craft, you’ll just need a Tupperware container, some dirt, and a few popsicle sticks…
Popsicle Stick Fairy Garden
Isn’t this adorable? Look around your house for little knickknacks and doodads to make your tiny fairy garden as magical as possible. You could even plant some actual herbs in the dirt!
Paper Tube Fireworks Painting
If you still have toilet paper tubes leftover from the birdseed craft, you could cut them, dip them in some paint, and use them to create fireworks. Or flowers! Or random abstract designs.
Paper Cup Kaleidoscope
Here’s another craft that uses paper cups and plates. With this one, you can create an enchanting kaleidoscope that could keep your kids (and you!) entranced for hours.
Twig Rafts
Create a little raft out of twigs and play with them in the bathtub!
Or, find a nearby stream and race them!
Bubble Painting
Here’s one more painting technique that’s a lot of fun and provides you with awesome art, too. Blow bubbles and capture them on a piece of paper!