Summer crafts for kids (and their grown-ups)
Banish summer boredom before it starts with our fun and easy kids crafts and activities. You and the kiddos will have a blast creating cool stuff and making memories together. Just choose your favorite DIY adventures, print the instructions, and start crafting!
Inspired? Create and share by tagging @hallmarkstores.
Totes relaxin' toy hammock
Everybody needs a way to relax—even your favorite itty bittys® characters. Follow these simple instructions to create a decorative hammock for any character or critter in your collection.
Pretty paper tea party
Sometimes summertime calls for a spot of tea! Turn your kids loose designing their own paper tea party, complete with cups, saucers, hats and more. No actual tea will be harmed in the making of this party, so table those fears of spilled milk and soggy teddy bears—and enjoy.
Superhero capes
Calling all heroes! Kids will have a blast transforming themselves into daring do-gooders with this cape and mask craft. Choose from an easy no-sew version using a T-shirt or a durable sewn version with ties at the neck. Design your own logo—or use one of ours—and then add it to one of the capes. No superpowers are required—except imagination, of course.
Fairy beach house
Fairies like vacations at the beach as much as people do, so save your morning breakfast containers to create a beachside fairy house—or village, depending on how hungry your family is! Use yogurt containers, oatmeal canisters, small cereal boxes or whatever you have on hand.
Story-time reading pillow with pocket
Give your kid a cozy way to read with this reading pillow. It features a monogram and a book pocket—so that favorite book will always be nearby when it’s time to snuggle up with a good story.
Flip-flop fun
Add a little flash to the classic flip-flop, and stand out all summer long. With a few simple supplies, you and your crew can make an endless variety of fun footwear.
Get the puppy paw flip-flop instructions
Flag fanfare
Baby, it’s hot outside! Fill up on cool with these easy, breezy crafts—perfect for the 4th of July (or any sizzling summer day). Get our free printables and easy instructions for making all 3 flag crafts.
Dress-up printables
Have thrilling dress-up adventures with our printable hats and accessories suitable for pillaging pirates on the high seas, law-abiding sheriffs and deputies in the wild west, or grand realms ruled by benevolent royalty.
T-shirt totes
Make one of these handy totes to carry around all your summer necessities—from books and magazines to swimsuits and beach towels. You can make one from any of the zillion T-shirts you have lying around. Just make sure Mom says “OK” to cutting it up.
Friendship bracelets
Friendship bracelets are inexpensive and pretty simple to make, so they’re the perfect craft for summer—especially for Best Friends Day on June 8. With some embroidery floss, safety pins and scissors, you can make enough bracelets for all your BFFs. So let’s get started!
Get the braided friendship bracelet instructions (on left)
Jeanne Field enjoys quilting, killer sudoku and washi-tape hoarding in her free time—which she has more of now that her 2 kids are in college. She hopes to live 1,000 or so more years so she can make ALL the quilts.
Megan Haave is a Hallmark writer who forgot to grow out of her childhood loves—making cards, telling stories, creating crafts, playing games and throwing theme parties.
