Summer Craft Activities

What kinds of crafts do you suggest for the summer months? I was thinking that it would be a good idea to come up with a list of craft projects that would produce items that could be used for decorating for summer holidays, like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. Any suggestions?

PICNIC TRAYS

This project is easy and works for any summer gathering, from a 4th of July picnic to family reunion. Collect cardboard soda can flats from local grocery stores. Either paint them and then cover with clear lamination paper or simply use the papers you put in the bottom of your drawers/cupboards that are in a nice pattern. They make perfect trays for carrying all of your picnic/potluck plates, silverware and glasses, and can be easily wiped off and used at least once or twice more.

For the kids, get out the staple gun and attach small rope loops at each end to make it easier. Tie the ends in knots, staple once or twice above the knot, then cover.

That’s a very good question, since I don’t normally decorate for the summer holidays. I may have to change my mind this year, though. After doing some rearranging in my home, red-white-blue seasonal decor would blend in quite nicely.

Here are some ideas I’m considering:
* Colored candles made from broken crayon bits
* Origami flower bouquet
* Folded paper stars for the windows
* Wooden picture frames decorated with vacation memorabilia
* Seasonal wreath

Sand and seashells always look nice around the summer. You can half-fill a hurricane lamp with sand, stand a taper candle in it, and place some seashells around the base for a quick centerpiece, maybe even outdoors on a picnic table.

Scattering some shells around the table or on other indoor surfaces can tie the whole thing together nicely.

We’re all about the flowers and the fruits during the summer. This year should be interesting, my daughter and I are setting up an art space for her so that she can work on still lifes—drawings, painting and more.

We’re all about bugs at our house during the summer. Outside, I created a space in the backyard for my son to catch and play with his bugs. Craft-wise, we do a lot of painting, clay/playdoh and baking. I have a great recipe for ladybug cupcakes!

We picked up a sketchbook and a book on drawing pets yesterday. She’s been working on sketching a husky. It’s pretty cool.

I despise bugs of all types, so anything involving creepy crawly creatures isn’t happening at my house! The comment about flowers and plants made me think of how I used to enjoy pressing flowers and making plant rubbings when I was in junior high. That might be a good idea for posters with older children.

Yeah, I’m not big on bugs and I hate snakes. This spring, we planted more gerber daisies (her favorite) and a rose bush of her own. She took the first bloom off the rose bush and pressed it in wax paper to keep as a memento.

Ewe - I don’t like bugs or snakes either. But more then them I do not like slugs! and we have a ton of them. I have no idea what to do to keep them away from the house

A fun summer craft for kids is making pinwheels. They are great to take to the beach or make a patriotic one and take it to the Memorial Day parade.

Simple directions are on dot.com Woman

I like the picnic tray ideas. We used to something with old milk crates when I was a kid. We’d thread ribbon through the holes to make them more colorful and then use them for summer porch decorations—usually for gathering recycling or yard trash. My daughter uses one to keep her rock collection safe.