| |
Easy Summer
Crafts
Easy summer crafts are great summer activities for
the entire family. Summer days can easily become long, hot, and boring
but our easy summer crafts are creative ways to entertain the whole
family and turn your dull days into mini adventures. Our summer crafts
are age specific so you can find the perfect craft for your
family.
Painting
Shells (ages 4+)
This is a fun, easy craft that is great to do after a day at the beach
or in a beach house.
For this craft you will need:
- Seashells (white shells work best)
- Watercolor or acrylic paints
- Paintbrushes
- A container of freshwater
Rinse the seashells off with freshwater. Let them dry. Paint
pictures on the inside of each seashell. Use one color at a time so the
colors do not blend together. Wash your brush with water in between
each color. Let the seashells dry in the sun. The seashells make great
decorations for a fun summer feel. In addition, the seashells make
creative presents. Encourage each person to be creative and create
their own unique designs. You should plan ahead before doing this craft
so that way you can collect the shells one day at the beach and then
are free to do the craft any day in the future.
Postcards (ages 5+)
Personalized stationary comes in handy for writing to people who are
away for the summer. For a fun yet simple craft, go to the
craft store and buy several blank cards and envelopes as well as
colorful scrapbook paper, stickers, markers, and glue. Have children
create a collage on the front of each card using a variety of stickers
and papers. Encourage them to draw their own designs on pieces of paper
and add it to the collage. Grandparents and other relatives love
receiving these cards. You can also decorate a box with colored paper
and other designs and put the cards and envelopes inside and give it as
a nice gift.
Make Your Own Clay
It is best if an adult prepares the clay. Then the children are free to
sculpt and create with it.
For this craft you will need:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 1 cup water
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Food coloring
- One saucpan
- Mix the flour, water, salt, oil, and cream of
tartar in a saucepan.
- Cook the mix over medium heat until it holds
together. Continously mix the mixture wiht a spoon to keep it from
sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Once the clay has cooled, knead it on a floured
surface.
- Divide the clay into smaller blls.
- Add a different shade of food coloring to each
ball.
- Store in an airtight container.
- Mold the clay and create. Have fun!
Children can get impatient waiting for the clay to be made. Having
children sitting around rushing the adult making the clay could cause
the adult to rush and not let the clay cool properly. We have found it
is best to make the clay before craft time so that way you can take it
out right away and let the kids have fun. This craft, along with our
other easy summer crafts, can be done by children young and old alike.
SourceFamilyFun Crafts
FamilyFun Magazine
|
