Summer is synonymous with sunshine, vacations, and of course, the beach! But what if you can’t make it to the shore? No worries! Bring the beach vibes right into your home with these 25 fun and easy summer beach themed crafts for kids.
These crafts are perfect for all ages and skill levels. They’re a great way to keep kids entertained during those long summer days, unleash their creativity, and create adorable keepsakes they’ll cherish.
Paper Plate Sailboats:
Transform paper plates into colorful sailboats! Decorate them with markers, crayons, or paint. Add a mast made from a straw and a paper sail for a touch of whimsy. Let them sail the high seas in a bathtub or a kiddie pool!
Seashell Picture Frames:
Got a collection of seashells from a previous beach trip? Put them to good use! Glue seashells around a cardboard cutout to create a unique picture frame. Decorate it further with sand, pebbles, and glitter for an extra beachy touch.
Beach Bag Bonanza:
Design your very own beach bag! Use a plain tote bag and unleash your child’s inner artist. Fabric markers, paints, and stencils are perfect for creating beach-themed designs like seashells, waves, or sunbathing characters.
Flip Flop Fun:
Here’s a clever way to upcycle old flip flops! Cut out shapes like fish, turtles, or flowers from felt or fabric. Glue them onto the top of the flip flops for a fun and funky summer footwear makeover.
Coffee Filter Suncatchers:
Transform ordinary coffee filters into vibrant sea creatures! Dilute watercolors or food coloring to create a tie-dye effect. Once dry, cut out fish shapes and add details with markers. Glue on googly eyes and string them up for a mesmerizing underwater suncatcher display.
Paper Plate Seahorses:
Craft adorable seahorses using paper plates! Cut out two identical seahorse shapes and glue them together with a fin sticking out from the back. Decorate them with paints, markers, and glitter for a truly magical seahorse creation.
Sock Puppets Take a Dive:
Give old socks a new lease on life! Turn them into playful ocean animal puppets. Sew on felt fins, eyes, and a mouth to transform them into playful dolphins, shy octopuses, or grumpy sharks. Get ready for an underwater puppet show!
Egg Carton Crabs:
Here’s a fun way to upcycle used egg cartons! Cut out individual egg cups and decorate them with paint to resemble crab shells. Add pipe cleaner legs, googly eyes, and use markers to draw claws for a complete undersea crab family.
Sandcastle Canvas:
Capture the magic of a sandcastle on a canvas! Spread glue on a canvas and sprinkle generous amounts of sand. Let it dry completely, then shake off any loose sand. Paint details like the sea, sky, and beach umbrellas using acrylic paints for a beachy masterpiece.
Seashell Mobiles:
Create a charming beach-themed mobile! Hang seashells at varying heights from a wooden dowel or embroidery hoop using fishing line. Add decorative touches with colorful beads, ribbons, or small starfish.
Paper Plate Palm Trees:
Bring a tropical feel indoors with paper plate palm trees. Cut out two circles of different sizes from green construction paper and glue them together with a slight offset for a palm tree trunk. Cut out long strips of green paper for the leaves and fringe the ends for a realistic touch. Glue them onto the top of the “trunk” for a mini palm grove!
Washi Tape Seascapes:
Create a vibrant seascape using colorful washi tape! On a large sheet of construction paper, stick washi tape in various shades of blue to represent the ocean. Add strips of yellow for the sand and green for rolling hills. Decorate it further with cut-out paper boats, fish, and suns.
Sensory Play & Keepsakes:
Beach in a Bottle:
Recreate a calming beach scene inside a bottle. Fill a clear plastic bottle with blue sand or dyed rice. Add small shells, pebbles, and plastic sea creatures for a miniature underwater world. Tightly seal the lid and let the kids shake it up for a mesmerizing sensory experience.
Seashell Wind Chimes:
Craft beautiful wind chimes with a beachy twist! Hang seashells at varying lengths from a wooden dowel or branch using fishing line. Thread colorful beads onto the strings for added visual appeal. Let the gentle summer breeze create a soothing chime.
Seashell Necklaces:
String colorful beads and seashells onto a thread or yarn to create charming beach-themed necklaces. Experiment with different sizes, shapes, and colors for a personalized touch.
Friendship Bracelets with a Twist:
Friendship bracelets get a beachy makeover! Instead of embroidery floss, use colorful yarn and incorporate small starfish, seashell charms, or polymer clay beads for a unique twist.
Seashell Rings:
Transform a simple shell into a wearable treasure! Carefully drill a small hole through a flat seashell (adult supervision required). Thread a piece of elastic or yarn through the hole and tie it to create a custom seashell ring.
Sandcastle Playdough:
Make your own sandcastle playdough! Combine flour, salt, cream of tartar, vegetable oil, and water for a soft, sandcastle-building dough. Add a few drops of brown or yellow food coloring for an extra beachy feel.
Beach Ball Bowling:
Here’s a fun twist on classic bowling! Decorate empty plastic bottles with beach-themed designs. Fill them with some sand or pebbles for weight, and use a small inflatable beach ball for a game of indoor beach ball bowling.
Beach Bingo:
Create a custom beach-themed bingo board. Draw or glue pictures of beach items like seashells, sunglasses, buckets, and sandcastles on squares. Let the kids hunt for these items around the house for a fun and interactive game.
Tie-Dye Beach Towels (Adult Supervision Required):
Transform plain white towels into colorful beach essentials! Use tie-dye kits following the instructions for vibrant and unique beach towel designs. (Remember, adult supervision is required for handling dyes.)
Stained Glass Seashells:
Let the light shine through with beautiful stained glass seashells! Apply translucent craft paints to the inner surface of clean seashells for a stained-glass effect. Display them on a sunny windowsill for a burst of color.
Melty Bead Seascapes:
Create pixelated beach scenes with melty beads! Place the beads on a pegboard following a beach-themed pattern. Iron them carefully following the package instructions for a permanent and colorful artwork.
Shaving Cream Beach Sensory Bin:
Create a stimulating sensory experience for your little ones! Fill a bin with shaving cream and sprinkle with blue food coloring for an ocean effect. Add plastic sea creatures, toy shovels, and cups for endless beach-themed sensory play.
Edible Sandcastles:
Who says you can’t eat at the beach? Build edible sandcastles using graham crackers, crushed cookies, and cream cheese frosting. Decorate them with candies, sprinkles, and fruit loops for a delicious and playful treat.
