Make · Occasion
Summer projects
76 things to make for Summer, sorted by who is making them.
16 projects
Toddlers
Fly swatter painting
A brand new fly swatter dipped in paint and whacked onto big paper for splatter art toddlers adore.
Backyard mud kitchen
Old pots, pans and spoons plus a patch of dirt and water, for mud pies and soup all afternoon.
Flower petal soup
A tub of water, petals and leaves that your toddler stirs into pretend soup.
Sand castle bin
A bin of damp sand and kitchen molds for flipping castles at home.
Big rock painting
Rocks bigger than a fist painted in bright colors, to line the garden path.
Sidewalk chalk paint
Cornstarch and water mixed into bright paint that washes away with the hose.
Sponge water transfer
2 bowls, 1 big sponge and water, so your toddler can soak, squeeze and move water from bowl to bowl.
Ice cube painting
Colored ice cubes on sticks that melt into bright paint as your toddler swirls them on paper.
Fireworks tube painting
A toilet roll tube cut into fringe that stamps out bursts like fireworks.
Frozen toy rescue
Toys frozen in a block of ice, and a toddler armed with warm water to set them free.
Toy car wash
A bin of soapy water and scrub brushes so your toddler can wash every car they own.
Water painting wall
A cup of water and a big brush turn a fence, sidewalk or chalkboard dark, then it dries and they paint it again.
Paper plate watermelon
A half plate painted red and green with fingerprint seeds, looking good enough to eat.
Torn paper fish
A big paper fish covered in torn paper scales, for practicing tearing and sticking.
Toilet roll binoculars
2 painted toilet paper tubes taped together for a backyard bird and bug safari.
Paper plate ladybug
A red plate ladybug with black spots your toddler sticks on.
11 projects
Preschoolers
Nature walk bracelet
A loop of tape sticky side out becomes a bracelet your child fills with petals, leaves and seeds on a walk.
Paper plate jellyfish
A painted half plate with ribbon and crepe paper tentacles that float and wave when you carry it.
Homemade sidewalk chalk paint
A 3-ingredient paint made from cornstarch and water that turns the driveway into a giant summer canvas and rinses off with a hose.
Ladybug painted rocks
Smooth rocks painted red with black spots become ladybugs for the garden or a paperweight gift.
Construction paper sun prints
Lay objects on dark paper in the sun and come back hours later to find their shadows printed on the page.
Sink or float tub
A tub of water and a basket of household objects for guessing, testing and sorting what sinks and what floats.
Shadow tracing
Line up toy animals in the sun and trace their shadows with chalk, then come back later to see how the shadows moved.
Clothespin dragonflies
A painted clothespin with sparkly pipe cleaner wings that clips onto backpacks, curtains and plant pots.
Group paper mural
A long roll of paper on the floor or wall where a group of preschoolers paint together on one big picture.
Ice cube painting
Frozen paint cubes on craft sticks melt into swirly color as your child slides them across paper on a hot day.
Painting with water
A bucket of water and a big brush let your child paint the fence, the steps and the sidewalk, then watch it all disappear.
13 projects
Kids
Coffee filter butterflies
Color a coffee filter, mist it with water, pinch it with a clothespin, and it turns into a bright butterfly.
Paper plate jellyfish
A wobbly paper plate jellyfish with long ribbon tentacles that float when you hang it near a fan.
Spiral tie-dye shirt
Twist a white shirt into a spiral, add dye in pie slices, and unwrap a rainbow swirl the next day.
Pressed flower bookmarks
Press real flowers in a heavy book for a week, then seal them into a bookmark that keeps spring all year.
Nature paintbrushes
Tie leaves, pine needles and grass to sticks and find out what kind of marks each homemade brush makes.
Clothespin dragonflies
Painted clothespin bodies with sparkly wings that clip onto plants, backpacks and curtains.
Friendship bracelets
Knot embroidery floss into a striped friendship bracelet to trade with a best friend.
Toilet roll binoculars
Two toilet paper tubes taped together, painted and strung, for backyard bird spotting and pretend safaris.
Paper plate frogs
A green paper plate frog with a long curly red tongue that pops out of its mouth.
Painted ladybug rocks
Round garden stones painted into ladybugs to tuck into flower beds or give away.
Homemade sidewalk chalk paint
Mix cornstarch, water and food coloring into a paint that dries chalky on the driveway and washes off with the hose.
Homemade bubble solution and wands
Mix bubble solution that makes long-lasting bubbles, then bend pipe cleaners into wands in every shape.
Trash bag sled kite
A real flying kite made from a trash bag, 2 straws and tape that catches the wind on any breezy day.
11 projects
Teens and students
Beach shell wind chime
Shells and sea glass from a summer trip hung on driftwood, a souvenir that clinks every time the window's open.
Spiral tie-dye shirt
The classic swirl tie-dye on a cotton tee, bright and wild and totally yours.
Painted canvas tote bag
A plain canvas tote painted with your own design, sturdy enough for books, groceries or the beach.
Cyanotype sun prints
Deep blue prints made by the sun shining around leaves and lace on special light-sensitive fabric or paper.
Paracord bracelet
A chunky woven bracelet with a buckle that holds about 8 ft of strong cord you can unravel if you need it.
Pressed flower frame
Real flowers flattened and floated in a glass frame, a little piece of outside you can keep.
Clay bead bracelet stack
A stack of flat clay heishi bead bracelets with gold accents, the summer staple everyone trades.
Seed bead rings
Tiny stackable rings made from seed beads on stretch cord, about 5 minutes each.
Reversible bucket hat
A 2-sided bucket hat sewn from a pattern, wear the print one day and the solid the next.
Mason jar herb garden
Basil, mint and parsley growing in jars on your windowsill, for snacks that taste a lot fancier.
Chevron friendship bracelet
The V-pattern embroidery floss bracelet you trade at camp, and the first knot pattern worth learning.
9 projects
Grown-ups
Cast concrete planters
Modern, chunky concrete pots cast in plastic food containers, with a real drain hole for healthy plants.
Regulation cornhole boards
A matched pair of 2 x 4 ft cornhole boards built to standard size, painted your way and ready for every cookout.
Giant tumble tower game
A 54-block yard game cut from 2x4s that stands 27 in tall before the first pull and crashes with a satisfying thud.
Wooden 6-bottle caddy
A sturdy carry caddy with a dowel handle and a built-in bottle opener, made for picnics, sodas or a favorite craft beer.
Pallet vertical planter
An upright pallet lined with landscape fabric and packed with flowers or succulents, a living wall for a fence or patio.
Punched tin can lanterns
Recycled cans punched with star and dot patterns that throw sparkly light across a patio table at night.
Shibori indigo napkins
Deep blue folded-and-clamped indigo napkins with crisp geometric patterns, an old Japanese dye technique that's fun with friends.
Cedar garden arbor
A freestanding cedar arbor with a 4 ft wide walkway and slatted sides, ready for climbing roses or clematis.
Mosaic stepping stones
Concrete garden stepping stones with a tile mosaic pressed in the face, sturdy enough to walk on and pretty enough to gift.
16 projects
Seniors and grandkids
Large bead stretch bracelets
Matching stretch bracelets made with big, colorful beads, one for you and one for your grandchild.
Painted story stones
Smooth stones painted with simple pictures, like a cat, a moon or a boat, that you pull from a bag to make up stories together.
Coffee filter butterflies
Tie-dyed paper butterflies made with markers and a spray of water, bright enough to fill a whole window.
Sponge painted flowers
Bright flower prints stamped with cut sponges, a failure-free painting activity that looks cheerful every time.
Group flower arranging
Fresh grocery-store flowers trimmed and arranged in small jars, a calm, sensory group activity with a beautiful result.
Pressed flower bookmarks
Flat garden flowers sealed onto cardstock bookmarks that keep a little bit of spring in every book you read.
Sun print nature art
Leaves and flowers laid on special paper in the sun, leaving white shadow prints on deep blue in minutes.
Painted birdhouse kit
A ready-made wooden birdhouse painted in your own colors, a satisfying project from a kit that ends up in the garden.
Seashell wind chime
Shells collected over the years strung from a piece of driftwood, softly clicking on a porch or by a window.
Tabletop fairy garden
A tiny garden in a shallow bowl with moss, little plants, a path and a miniature house, built together at the table.
Backyard nature journal
A homemade sketchbook for pressing leaves, drawing birds and writing down what you and the grandkids spot outside.
Tissue paper stained glass
Colored tissue squares pressed onto clear contact paper to make glowing window suncatchers with no glue at all.
Garden stepping stones
Concrete stepping stones pressed with handprints, pebbles and initials to mark the garden spot you share with the grandkids.
Patriotic star garland
Red, white and blue paper stars strung across a porch or dining room for the Fourth of July.
Ice cream in a bag
Homemade vanilla ice cream shaken up in zip-top bags with ice and salt, a summer science lesson you get to eat.
Paper diamond kite
A simple diamond kite made from paper, 2 sticks and string that really flies on a breezy spring day.