I am excited to walk you through fun and easy crafts for kids.
Let’s be real kids love getting their hands dirty and what better way to embrace that creative chaos than with some fun and easy crafts.
If you’re trying to keep little hands busy on a rainy afternoon or looking for a screen free weekend activity, crafting is the perfect way to spark imagination and create lasting memories and maybe a little glitter explosion too.
From paper plate animals to homemade slime, I’ve gathered 28 crafts that are simple, colorful, and guaranteed to keep the kids entertained.
So, grab the glue sticks, dust off those markers, and get ready for some crafting fun.
These are perfect for all ages and don’t worry, they’re easy enough for even the least crafty adults to enjoy.
28 Fun and Easy Crafts for Kids
1. Paper Plate Animals
Paper plates are the perfect canvas for creating animal faces like lions, pandas, or even frogs. Start by giving kids a paper plate, some construction paper, glue, markers, and googly eyes.
They can color or paint the plate to match the animal they’re making, then cut out ears, noses, and other features from the construction paper.
Googly eyes add a fun touch, and kids can use pipe cleaners for whiskers or tails. This is one of the best fun and easy craft for kids that encourages creativity and lets children explore different animal shapes and colors.
2. DIY Slime
Slime is an endlessly fun craft that doubles as a sensory activity. All you need is white glue, baking soda, contact solution, and a few drops of food coloring.
For added fun, throw in glitter or tiny beads. Mix the ingredients together until the slime forms, and let kids play with the stretchy, gooey substance.
You can even experiment with different textures by adding shaving cream for fluffy slime or small foam balls for a crunchy version.
Kids love customizing their slime with different colors and textures, and it’s a great activity for tactile exploration.
3. Handprint Art
Handprint art is not only fun but also makes a great keepsake for parents. Spread non-toxic paint on your child’s hand and press it onto a sheet of paper.
Once the handprint is dry, they can transform it into anything they like trees, flowers, or animals such as turkeys and fish.
Use markers or paint to add details like leaves, feathers, or scales. This simple craft helps kids develop fine motor skills and lets them express their creativity while capturing a fun moment in time.
4. Popsicle Stick Puppets
Popsicle stick puppets are an easy craft that can lead to hours of imaginative play. Kids can draw characters on construction paper or felt, then cut them out and glue them onto popsicle sticks.
Add details like googly eyes, yarn for hair, and glitter or markers for clothing. Let the kids create different characters like animals, superheroes, or their favorite storybook characters.
Once the puppets are made, they can put on their own puppet show, encouraging both creativity and storytelling skills.
5. Tissue Paper Flowers
Tissue paper flowers are colorful, easy to make, and perfect for decorating a room or giving as a gift. Stack several sheets of tissue paper, cut them into squares, and fold them accordion-style.
Secure the center with a pipe cleaner or twist tie, then gently pull the layers apart to create a full, blossoming flower. This craft helps kids practice fine motor skills while learning about different shapes and layering techniques.
Tissue paper flowers can be made in a variety of colors, making it one of the best fun and easy crafts for kids to customize their bouquets.
6. DIY Bird Feeders
DIY bird feeders are a fun way to combine crafting with nature. Start by spreading peanut butter onto a toilet paper roll, then roll the peanut butter-covered roll in birdseed.
Thread some string through the roll and hang it on a tree branch outside. Kids will love watching the birds come to enjoy the treat they made.
This craft teaches kids about nature and wildlife while encouraging outdoor activity and helping develop hand eye coordination.
7. Sock Puppets
Sock puppets are a timeless craft that kids can personalize with different materials. Start with an old sock, and use fabric glue or hot glue (with adult supervision) to attach felt pieces, buttons, and googly eyes.
Yarn can be used for hair, and you can add fun details like sequins, pom-poms, or ribbons. Once their puppets are done, kids can put on a puppet show or make up stories for their new sock puppet characters.
This project helps develop fine motor skills, creativity, and storytelling.
8. Homemade Playdough
Making homemade playdough is a great sensory activity for kids, and it’s super easy to prepare. Mix flour, salt, water, and food coloring to create a soft, pliable dough. You can add essential oils or glitter for extra sensory fun.
Let the kids mold and shape the playdough into whatever they like dinosaurs, flowers, or even letters of the alphabet. It’s a hands-on craft that fosters creativity and can help younger children with fine motor development.
9. Paper Bag Puppets
Turn paper lunch bags into fun puppets that kids can use for pretend play. Start by giving them markers, googly eyes, construction paper, and glue to decorate the front of the paper bag.
They can create animal faces, robots, or their favorite cartoon characters. Add details like yarn for hair or stickers for clothing.
Once finished, kids can slip their hands inside the bags and put on puppet shows. These crafts are simple but allows for lots of creativity and imaginative play.
10. Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars
Toilet paper roll binoculars are perfect for pretend adventures. Start by taping two toilet paper rolls together side by side, then let the kids paint or decorate them with markers, stickers, or washi tape.
Punch holes in the sides and attach string or yarn so they can wear the binoculars around their necks. These fun and easy crafts for kids encourage pretend play, where kids can imagine they’re explorers on a jungle safari or bird watchers in their own backyard.
11. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Recycling materials can be both fun and eco-friendly, and egg carton caterpillars are a great example. Cut an egg carton into strips, paint them in bright colors, and let kids glue on googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae.
The segmented shape of the egg carton makes it perfect for resembling a caterpillar, and kids will enjoy personalizing their creations with different colors and designs.
This is one of a superb fun and easy crafts for kids which is a great way to introduce kids to recycling while fostering creativity.
12. Cardboard Box Cars
Turn an old cardboard box into a mini race car for your child. Cut a hole in the top of the box for your child to sit inside, then let them paint and decorate the box to look like a car.
They can add paper plate wheels, a cardboard steering wheel, and even racecar numbers. Once the car is complete, they can “drive” it around the house, turning this craft into hours of imaginative play.
It’s a fun project that recycles materials and sparks endless creative storytelling.
13. Pasta Jewelry
Making jewelry with dried pasta is a fun and easy craft that also helps kids develop fine motor skills. Let them paint dried pasta shapes like penne, macaroni, or rigatoni in different colors, then string them onto yarn to make necklaces, bracelets, or even anklets.
They can mix and match colors or create patterns, making each piece of jewelry unique. This craft teaches patience and focus, and the results are fun accessories kids can proudly wear or gift to friends and family.
14. Yarn Wrapped Letters
Personalize your child’s room by helping them make yarn wrapped letters. Start by cutting large letters out of cardboard either the child’s initials or their whole name.
Let them wrap colorful yarn tightly around the letters, securing the ends with glue. This project helps kids practice fine motor skills and patience, and the finished letters make great personalized decor for their room.
You can also add small embellishments like buttons, pom-poms, or beads for extra flair.
15. Cupcake Liner Flowers
Cupcake liner flowers are an easy and creative way for kids to make colorful, layered blooms. Start by flattening out a few cupcake liners, then stack them on top of each other.
Let the kids glue the centers together, and once dry, they can fluff the edges to create a flower shape. Add a button or pom-pom in the center for the flower’s “pollen.”
Attach pipe cleaners as stems, and you’ve got a vibrant bouquet of paper flowers that can be used as decorations or gifts.
16. Bubble Wrap Stamping
Using bubble wrap as a stamp creates fun, textured designs that kids will love experimenting with. Cut a piece of bubble wrap, dip it into paint, and press it onto paper to create unique patterns.
You can use different colors for a layered look, or cut the bubble wrap into shapes like hearts, stars, or animals. This craft is not only fun and easy crafts for kids but also helps kids learn about texture and pattern making while creating their own masterpieces.
17. Paper Towel Roll Rockets
Paper towel rolls are the perfect base for making mini rockets. Let the kids paint the rolls in bright colors, then add paper fins and a cone-shaped top.
Use markers, stickers, or even aluminum foil for extra decoration. Once their rockets are ready, they can zoom around on imaginary space adventures.
If you are looking for a way for your kids to practice painting, then this is one of the best fun and easy crafts for kids.
18. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough is an easy, non-toxic material that kids can use to make all kinds of ornaments. Mix together flour, salt, and water to create the dough, then roll it out and let kids use cookie cutters to make shapes.
Poke a hole in the top of each shape before baking them at a low temperature. Once the ornaments are baked and cooled, kids can paint and decorate them with glitter or markers.
These ornaments can be used for holidays or as keepsakes, making this craft both fun and meaningful.
19. Pom-Pom Caterpillars
Kids can create adorable pom-pom caterpillars by gluing colorful pom-poms together in a line. Add googly eyes to the first pom-pom and use pipe cleaners for antennae.
This craft is simple yet satisfying and allows kids to create their own fuzzy little critters. They can experiment with different colors and sizes of pom-poms, creating a whole family of caterpillars if they like.
This is a fun, tactile craft that helps develop fine motor skills.
20. Paper Plate Masks
Paper plate masks are a fun craft that lets kids transform into animals, superheroes, or characters from their imagination.
Start by cutting eye holes in the center of a paper plate, then let kids decorate the plate with markers, paint, feathers, glitter, and construction paper.
Attach string or a popsicle stick to the sides for easy wearing. Kids can make a variety of masks and use them for pretend play, encouraging creativity and self-expression.
21. Marble Painting
Marble painting is a fun and messy way to create abstract art. Place a sheet of paper in a shallow box, dip marbles in paint, and let the kids roll them around inside the box.
The marbles create swirling lines and patterns on the paper. You can use multiple colors of paint for a more vibrant effect.
This craft teaches kids about movement and cause and effect while allowing them to experiment with color and design.
22. Nature Collage
Take the kids on a nature walk to collect leaves, flowers, twigs, and other small items. Back home, they can arrange their finds on a sheet of paper and glue them down to create a nature collage.
This craft encourages kids to explore the outdoors and learn about different plants and textures. It’s also a great way to incorporate natural materials into their artwork while fostering an appreciation for nature.
23. Suncatchers
Suncatchers are a fun way to add color and light to a room. Cut out a shape from wax paper or a clear plastic sheet, then let kids decorate it with tissue paper squares, sequins, or glitter.
Once they’ve finished decorating, hang the suncatcher in a sunny window. The light shining through the materials creates a beautiful effect.
This craft is simple but produces stunning results, making it a fun and rewarding activity for kids.
24. Paper Pinwheels
Paper pinwheels are a fun craft that doubles as a toy. Start by cutting squares of colorful paper and folding them diagonally to create a pinwheel shape.
Secure the center with a pushpin or thumbtack, and attach the pinwheel to a pencil or straw. Kids can watch their pinwheels spin in the wind, adding an interactive element to the craft.
It’s a great way to teach kids about simple engineering while allowing them to create something fun and functional.
25. Pipe Cleaner Crowns
Pipe cleaners are easy to bend and shape, making them perfect for crafting royal crowns. Start by twisting pipe cleaners into a circle for the base of the crown, then add loops and shapes to create the crown’s peaks.
Kids can add beads, pom-poms, or sequins for extra decoration. Once their crowns are complete, they can wear them for pretend play, turning into kings, queens, or even superheroes.
This craft encourages creativity and lets kids experiment with shapes and patterns.
26. Button Tree Art
Button tree art is a fun way to combine craft supplies and nature. Start by drawing or painting the outline of a tree trunk and branches on a piece of paper.
Then, let kids glue colorful buttons onto the branches to create the leaves. You can use buttons in different shapes and sizes for a unique, textured look.
This craft helps kids develop fine motor skills and allows them to create beautiful, nature-inspired artwork.
27. Glitter Jars
Glitter jars, sometimes called “calm-down jars,” are both a craft and a sensory tool. Fill a small jar with water, add glitter, and a few drops of food coloring.
You can also add glycerin to make the glitter swirl more slowly. Once the lid is sealed, kids can shake the jar and watch the glitter settle, creating a calming effect.
This craft is perfect for kids who enjoy sensory activities and can be used as a tool for relaxation.
28. Pom-Pom Ice Cream Cones
Pom-pom ice cream cones are a fun and colorful craft that looks good enough to eat! Start by cutting out cone shapes from construction paper, then let kids glue pom-poms on top to represent the ice cream scoops.
They can mix and match colors to create their favorite “flavors.” This 3D craft is easy to make and gives kids the chance to create fun, whimsical artwork.
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