20 End Of Summer Crafts for Kids

Summer is almost over, the big outings are winding down, and your kids may already be asking what they can do next.

Simple end-of-summer crafts can fill those slower days. They can paint, cut, glue, and turn familiar summer favorites into something fun.

In this article, you’ll discover easy end-of-summer crafts for kids that make those final sunny days feel worth celebrating.

Could Sunshine, Ice Cream, and Popsicle Crafts Keep Summer Fun Going?

Sunshine, ice cream, and popsicles are things kids already connect with summer, so turning them into crafts can make those final days feel more fun.

Build an ice cream cone from simple craft supplies, or create colorful popsicles. Use these projects to talk about favorite summer memories.

Choose supplies you already have, such as paint, cardboard, craft sticks, yarn, or tissue paper, so the activity stays easy and affordable.

Younger kids are joining, prepare any tricky cutting first and let them focus on coloring, gluing and decorating.

The goal isn’t a perfect finished craft. Give them room to choose colors and details and each project becomes part of their last summer memories.

Smiling Suns

Bring one last burst of sunshine indoors with cheerful sun faces kids can personalize before summer ends. Cut a large yellow circle for the center.

Surround it with colorful triangle rays made from cardstock. Let kids draw different patterns across every ray and add their own silly facial expressions.

Sequins or small stickers around the edges add extra sparkle, making this an easy choice for an afternoon craft table or classroom display.

Fruity Cups

Turn colorful cups into pretend summer drinks when you need a simple craft for a classroom, playdate, or slow afternoon.

Let kids choose a fruit theme, then glue on small lemon, watermelon, pineapple, berry, or kiwi cutouts with paper ice cubes.

Finish each cup with a bright straw. Display everyone’s creations together afterward for a playful end-of-summer juice stand or craft wall.

Woven Watermelons

Give kids a little cutting and weaving practice while turning a favorite summer fruit. Cut slits across a pink watermelon shape.

Weave darker paper strips over and under to build the checkered center. Add a green rind around the edge and scatter black paper seeds.

This works well for older preschoolers or elementary kids who can handle simple paper weaving with some guidance.

Beach Collage

Save the feeling of one more beach day with a layered collage kids can build from simple colorful paper.

Start with blue waves and a sandy shoreline, then add favorite summer details such as an umbrella, sailboat, beach ball, or starfish.

Slightly folding or overlapping some pieces creates extra dimension, making this a fun end-of-summer project for home.

Citrus Slices

Turn juicy summer fruit into bold art by letting kids draw one oversized slice instead of worrying about tiny details.

Sketch a large lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit or watermelon section, then fill it with bright crayons, oil pastels, or paint.

Encourage unexpected background colors so every piece feels different. This works well for an end-of-summer classroom gallery.

Summer Mobile

Turn favorite summer treats into a hanging craft that can brighten a classroom or playroom after the season ends.

Let kids draw and cut watermelon slices and colorful popsicles then attach craft sticks where needed.

Vary the string lengths so every creation remains visible and moves freely when the mobile sways.

Seeded Sunflowers

Bring late-summer color into a craft session with sunflowers that combine painting, cutting, and real seeds for extra texture.

Paint a paper plate yellow, snip around the rim to form petals and fill the center with dark paint before pressing sunflower seeds.

Add a green craft-stick stem and simple leaves underneath. This works nicely for preschool or classroom displays.

Watermelon Handprints

Catch one little piece of summer with a handprint craft that also becomes a sweet keepsake of your child’s size.

Brush red washable paint across the palm and fingers, or white cardstock, then paint a green rind along the bottom.

Once everything dries, dot on black seeds with a fingertip or cotton swab. This is an easy choice for toddlers and preschoolers.

Flower Wands

Take the craft outdoors by making flower wands kids can wave around during one of those final sunny afternoons.

Cut flower frames from sturdy cardstock, fill the openings with translucent paper, and let kids decorate them with sequins.

Attach each bloom to a wooden stick, then tie colorful ribbon strands underneath. Sunlight passing through the petals.

Rainbow Sunshine

Add movement to a sunshine craft by letting colorful paper loops hang beneath the smiling sun like a rainbow.

Cut a semicircle from sturdy cardboard, paint it yellow and glue pointed rays around the curved edge.

Hang the finished piece near a window or classroom wall where the chains can move gently with passing air.

Wavy Sailboats

Bring a favorite summer water activity onto the craft table with sailboats that pop slightly off the page.

Cut a bright boat base and folded paper sail then use narrow blue strips, leaving them loose enough to curve naturally.

Kids can add clouds, birds, and a tiny life ring. Choice for younger kids remembering beach, lake, or boating days.

Ocean Crafts

Bring a few favorite beach memories together by letting kids choose the sea creature or treasure they enjoyed most this summer.

They can paint shells for a textured jellyfish, sponge-print colorful fish, stamp shark silhouettes, or draw a bold cardboard shark.

Set out paint, recycled cardboard, shells, and googly eyes. Works well when you need one craft session for mixed ages.

Watermelon Sticks

Use leftover craft sticks to make a watermelon project that feels summery without needing complicated cutting or templates.

Line several sticks side by side and secure them across the back, then paint the top red, add a thin white stripe and finish the bottom.

Kids can use the finished pieces as mini decorations, pretend picnic food, or colorful additions to a summer craft display.

Marble Painting

Give kids permission to mix colors freely with a marbling activity that makes the creative process more exciting than following a fixed picture.

Add several bright paint colors to a shallow tray, thin them slightly if needed, then let kids swirl and blend them before pressing paper.

Each print comes out differently, making this a fun choice when you need an open-ended end-of-summer art activity.

Storybook Sailboats

Give old book pages one more use by folding them into tiny sailboats that capture the feeling of a final summer trip on the water.

Fold sturdy pages into boat shapes, add a paper straw or rolled-card mast, then attach two contrasting sails and a small flag.

Kids can finish each boat with a paper life ring or colorful netting, making this a fun recycled craft for older children.

Watermelon Pops

Turn watermelon slices into pretend frozen treats for a craft that combines two summer favorites in one easy project.

Cut semicircles from pink cardstock, glue small green paper squares around the curved edge, and let kids dab black seeds.

Attach a wooden craft stick underneath once everything dries. These are great for preschool craft tables or pretend summer picnics.

Spotted Turtles

Finish a summer ocean theme with cheerful turtles that younger kids can decorate without needing careful drawing skills.

Use a paper plate for the shell then let kids dab bright paint dots across it with fingertips or cotton swabs.

Googly eyes and a simple smile bring each turtle to life, making this an easy preschool or daycare craft.

Sundae Cones

Let kids build the biggest ice cream sundae they can imagine without worrying about melting scoops.

Paint each scoop a different flavor and add paper sprinkles, chocolate drips, whipped cream, or a cherry on top.

This works well for a late-summer art table because every child can create a completely different flavor combination.

Beach Scene

Recreate one last beach day with a textured collage that lets kids work with several simple materials at once.

Use torn blue tissue paper for rolling waves, tan paper for sand, and cotton. Fold colorful paper into a tiny umbrella.

A smiling paper sun finishes the scene, making this a cheerful craft for remembering summer trips before the season changes.

Beach Drink

Turn a pretend summer drink into the main feature of a beach collage kids can build with easy household supplies.

Tilt a paper cup onto cardstock, add a bendy straw, and tuck in a folded paper umbrella for a playful vacation feel.

Layer sand-colored paper, blue waves, shells, and clouds. Works well for kids who enjoy combining simple crafting.

FAQs

What supplies work best for easy end-of-summer crafts?

Start with materials you probably already have, such as cardstock, paper plates, washable paint, glue, craft sticks, tissue paper and markers.

You can also reuse cardboard, paper cups, or leftover summer items. Having a few simple supplies ready makes it easier to start a craft.

How can I make end-of-summer crafts fun for different ages?

Choose one theme but adjust the steps. Younger kids can paint, stamp, glue, and add stickers, while older kids can cut shapes, weave paper or build layered scenes.

Giving everyone choices also helps because kids can use their favorite colors and decorations instead of trying to make every finished craft look the same.