Summer crafts: 8 classic ideas that never get old

Summer is the perfect season to dive into crafting, offering endless opportunities for creativity and fun. Whether you want to decorate your outdoor space, create personal gifts, or enjoy quality crafting time, these eight unique and innovative craft ideas will inspire you.

From eco-friendly projects to easy-to-make decorations, there's something for everyone to enjoy this summer.

1. Mason jar solar lights

Materials needed: Mason jars, solar light lids, glass beads 

Difficulty level: Easy 

Sustainability tip: Reuse jars from your pantry instead of buying new ones 

Step-by-step tutorial

1. Clean your mason jars thoroughly.

2. Fill the bottom of the jar with glass beads.

3. Attach the solar light lid.

4. Place in direct sunlight during the day and enjoy the glow at night.

2. Hand-painted garden stones

Materials needed: Smooth garden stones, outdoor acrylic paint, sealant 

Difficulty level: Medium

Sustainability tip: Collect stones from your local area instead of purchasing.

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Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Wash and dry your stones.

2. Paint your designs with acrylic paint. Let dry.

3. Apply a sealant to protect your design from the elements.

3. Homemade beeswax wraps

Materials needed: Cotton fabric, beeswax pellets, parchment paper, iron (requires adult supervision)

Difficulty level: Medium 

Sustainability tip: Use leftover fabric scraps 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Cut fabric to desired sizes.

2. Sprinkle beeswax pellets evenly over the fabric on parchment paper.

3. Adults: Melt the beeswax into the fabric using an iron (adult supervision is recommended for using the iron).

4. Let cool and use to wrap food.

4. Macrame plant hangers

Materials needed: Cotton macrame cord, wooden beads, potted plant 

Difficulty level: Medium 

Sustainability tip: Use organic cotton cord 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Cut your macrame cord into lengths.

2. Follow a basic macrame knot pattern to create your hanger.

3. Add wooden beads as desired for decoration.

4. Insert your potted plant and hang.

5. Recycled bottle bird feeders

Materials needed: Plastic bottles, paint, wooden spoons, string 

Difficulty level: Easy 

Sustainability tip: Repurpose plastic waste 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Clean and dry the bottle.

2. Cut holes for wooden spoons to fit through as perches.

3. Decorate the bottle with non-toxic paint.

4. Fill with birdseed and hang from a tree.

6. T-shirt yarn basket

Materials needed: Old T-shirts, crochet hook 

Difficulty level: Medium 

Sustainability tip: Upcycle unwearable clothing 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Cut t-shirts into strips and stretch to create yarn.

2. Crochet the yarn into a basket using a simple stitch.

3. Use the basket for storage or as a decorative piece.

7. Seashell wind chimes

Materials needed: Seashells, driftwood, string, drill (adult operation and supervision required)

Difficulty level: Medium 

Sustainability tip: Collect shells and driftwood from the beach 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Adults: Drill small holes in the shells.

2. Tie shells to driftwood using different lengths of string.

3. Hang and enjoy the gentle chime in the breeze.

8. Nature-inspired sun catchers

Materials needed: Clear contact paper, collected leaves and flowers, embroidery hoops 

Difficulty level: Easy 

Sustainability tip: Use fallen leaves and flowers 

Step-by-step tutorial 

1. Arrange leaves and flowers on one side of the contact paper.

2. Place another piece of contact paper on top, sealing the nature items inside.

3. Trim to fit within an embroidery hoop.

4. Hang in a window to catch the light.

Summer craft pro tips and clever parenting hacks

Easy clean-up

Items like old newspapers, puppy pads, waterproof sheets, plastic tablecloths, silicon craft mats, and even an old sheet or towel can save you hours of clean-up for especially messy projects.  

Organize supplies

Use a toolbox or caddy to keep all your crafting supplies in one place, making it easy to grab and go for impromptu craft sessions. 

Save money

Instead of buying new crafting supplies, get creative and re-purpose items you already have at home. Empty jars, cardboard boxes, and old t-shirts can all be transformed into useful craft materials. If you're outside, think leaves, twigs, flowers, shells, and anything else your kids find visually interesting.

Encourage creativity with open-ended projects

Instead of providing step-by-step instructions, give children the freedom to use their imaginations and create whatever they want with the materials provided. This fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. 

Take it outside

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to get crafty outdoors. Enjoy fresh air, natural light, and less mess by taking your crafting activities outside. Plus, there's no limit to the space you have when creating outdoors! 

These eight summer craft ideas offer a wonderful mix of indoor and outdoor activities that are not only fun and creative but also promote sustainability. Whether you're crafting alone or with family, these projects are sure to add a touch of handmade charm to your summer. The best part about crafting is making memories and enjoying the process, so don't worry about perfection. Happy crafting!

Visit the Greenlight Learning Center for more guides and top tips on family finances and raising money-savvy kids and teens.

This blog post is provided "as is" and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice. Some content in this post may have been created using artificial intelligence; however, every blog post is reviewed by at least two human editors.