15 Summer Camp Crafts That’ll Make You the Cool Mom This Year

Is anyone else feeling the summer chaos with all the fun activity ideas we can try ? Kids at home, energy through the roof, and suddenly we’re out of ideas for screen-free fun.

That’s when camp crafts swoop in to save the day!

Craft time means memories, creativity, and a little less “I’m bored” echoing through the house. We’re rounding up our favorite summer camp crafts so we can unplug, laugh, and get a little messy together.

Let’s splash into a season of imagination—no craft skills required, just a little patience and a ton of enthusiasm!

1) Painted rock ladybugs – super simple and totally cute!

Let’s get real—these painted rock ladybugs are so easy, anyone can make them. We just grab some rocks, slap on red and black paint, and boom, instant cuteness.

Our gardens and walkways never looked so adorable. Kids and adults both totally love this craft.

All you need are rocks, outdoor paint, and a little creativity. For easy directions and inspo, check out this ladybug rock painting tutorial.

Red, black, and all the good vibes!

2) Pinecone fireflies with googly eyes and glitter wings

Let’s grab those pinecones and turn them into the cutest fireflies in different shapes our craft table ever saw, especially for younger kids! We’ll stick on some wiggly googly eyes so our fireflies are extra adorable.

Add little paper wings, and don’t forget the glitter—because who doesn’t love a little shine? These pinecone fireflies will light up any summer night, no batteries required.

For inspired ideas, check out these pine cone firefly crafts.

3) Popsicle stick photo frames – craft and keep those camp memories

Grab those popsicle sticks! We love this craft because it’s super easy and lets us get creative with paint, stickers, beads, or whatever random supplies survived in the bottom of the craft bin.

Stick the frames together, glue on your favorite decorations, and pop in a camp pic with the kids . How cute is that for showing off our summer adventures?

If you want more inspiration, check out these popsicle stick picture frame ideas.

4) CD wind spinners – recycle and create some colorful magic

We all have a stash of old CDs—probably next to the floppy disks and random charger cords, right? Time to grab them and get our craft on!

Turning those shiny discs into CD wind spinners is basically a two-for-one: craft time and a mini-lesson about recycling. It’s super easy for all ages, even if nobody knows what a CD is anymore.

Break out the sequins, paint, jewels, or anything that glitters. Our finished wind spinners look magical in the sunlight and are totally unique—check out this inspo for vibrant CD wind spinners!

5) Tie-dye bandanas – because every camper needs one!

If we’re at camp, we’re rocking tie-dye—no debate. Bandanas are easy to tie-dye, and they always turn out cute, no matter what wild colors we pick.

If we make a mess, that just adds character, right? We can wear these masterpieces as headbands, ponytail holders, or even around our wrists.

Want to get creative with color mixing ? Check out these tie-dye bandana ideas for some inspo!

6) Paper plate animals – lions, owls, or funky fish, you choose!

Let’s be real. We can make anything out of a paper plate, right?

Grab some plates, markers, and our wildest imaginations—hello, zoo at home! Go classic with a roaring lion or get a little dramatic with giant owl eyes.

Or let’s make a fish with way too much glitter. There are tons of ideas for paper plate animal crafts if we need inspo.

Honestly, the messier, the better!

7) Nature collages with leaves, petals, and twigs found on hikes

Let’s grab our bags and hit the trail—it’s nature collage time! We love scooping up pretty leaves, colorful petals, and the occasional random twig (hello, future art supplies).

Back at camp, we spread it all out and start sticking our treasures to cardboard with glue. Even the messiest designs look cool because, honestly, there’s no wrong way to make a nature collage.

8) Stone jewelry – paint those pebbles into cool wearable art

Let’s grab those random pebbles we picked up (yes, the ones from the parking lot) and give them a glow up! Pebble painting is our time to shine, so bring on the hot pink and glitter.

Once our stones look fabulous, we can turn them into necklaces, bracelets, or keychains. It’s basically a jewelry store, but 100% us, and way more fun.

Need more ideas on how to make your rocks wearable using food coloring and drawing ? Check out these easy stone jewelry making ideas!

9) Pinecone owls – hoot hoot for handmade camp critters!

Who’s ready for some pinecone magic? We grab a handful of pinecones and turn them into the cutest owls ever.

There’s something about gluing on felt wings and googly eyes that makes us giggle every time. This craft is perfect for nature walks too—let’s all hunt for pinecones together!

Check out these easy steps for making pine cone owls and let’s get crafty.

10) Sunny sun catchers with translucent colored paper and glue

Let’s get bright and artsy with sun catchers! We just grab some clear contact paper or wax paper, colored tissue paper, and glue.

Stick the paper bits down in whatever wild design you want. There’s zero pressure for “perfect”—we love when they look like wild stained glass from an eight-year-old’s dreams.

Once they dry, we pop them up by a window and let the sunshine do the magic. Need inspo to capture the sunshine ? Check out these bright and easy suncatcher crafts for kids!

11) Mason jar lanterns – light up those campfire stories

Grab some mason jars, because we are about to make our campfire stories sparkle! We just need mason jars, battery tea lights, and a wild mix of tissue paper or paint.

Let’s get messy and cover those jars with funky colors and designs. Pop a light inside and boom, insta-magic!

These mason jar lanterns are perfect for late-night giggles or setting the ultimate cozy mood in our tents.

12) Thumbprint bugs – tiny painted critters made by little hands

Let’s get messy and make some bug-tastic art! Grab some paint, a piece of paper, and those tiny thumbs.

Stamp fingerprints everywhere, then doodle on wings or legs to turn them into ladybugs, bees, or whatever little critters come to mind. There’s no need to overthink it—just go wild.

This one’s quick and pretty low-mess, so even the littlest campers can join in. If you want a bit of inspiration, peek at these thumbprint bug ideas for super simple steps.

13) Friendship bracelets – a classic for camp BFFs

Is it even camp if you’re not wearing a pile of friendship bracelets from this craft project ? Picking colors is half the fun (neon pink and rainbow, anyone?).

All you need is some thread, a little patience, and your besties hanging out. Want to try something new? There are easy friendship bracelet ideas perfect for camp days.

14) Paper fish mobiles – hang up those underwater vibes

Bring those beachy feels indoors with a paper fish mobile! Use old paper tubes, colorful scraps, or even leftover gift wrap.

There’s no right or wrong way—just cut, glue, and decorate your fish however you like. Once they’re done, hang them up and let them “swim” in the breeze.

Kids love watching them float around. Need a little help getting started? Try this cute paper tube fish craft for ideas.

15) Cool popsicle stick mosaics – arrange colors for mini masterpieces

Raise your hand if you love an art project that’s part craft and part puzzle! Popsicle stick mosaics are seriously fun and super easy.

Grab a bunch of colorful sticks and start lining them up in wild patterns or simple shapes. Glue your designs to paper, or just keep arranging until it looks right.

When you want more ideas, there are plenty of popsicle stick mosaic projects on Smarty n’Crafty.

Simple Tips To Set Up Success

Summer crafts can get wild, but a little prep goes a long way in the process . Setting up smart makes it easier to enjoy the chaos, keep kids happy, and actually finish a project or two.

Gathering Supplies Without Losing Your Mind

First, check what you’ve already got hiding in your drawers. Seriously, half the stuff you need—popsicle sticks, paper plates, old yarn—is probably lurking somewhere nearby.

Honestly, we love a simple checklist taped to the fridge so nobody forgets glue or googly eyes at the last minute. Pro tip: hit up the dollar store or grab bulk deals online for basic supplies, and always buy extras.

Sorting supplies into bins by project saves you from digging for pipe cleaners during a glitter emergency. If you label bins or use clear containers, even kids can help grab what’s needed.

More crafty chaos, less scavenger hunt. That’s the goal, right?

Keeping Crafts Inclusive and Accessible

We want everyone in on the crafty fun—no one left out. That means picking projects with easy steps and using materials that work for all ages and abilities.

Look for crafts where you can skip tricky parts or swap tools so everyone joins in. Setting up a table with different tool options—like fat markers for tiny hands or safety scissors—makes a huge difference.

We like having simple instructions handy, maybe with pictures, so kids can go at their own speed and explore different colors . If you need more ideas, these summer camp craft suggestions have great tips for mixed age groups.

Let’s cheer each other on and leave perfection at the door!

Safety Hacks for Stress-Free Fun

Listen, glue and acrylic paint can go wild fast—let’s keep those messes safe. We always double-check that scissors are age-appropriate and stash sharp tools out of reach for littles.

Honestly, we’re huge fans of bubble painting and washable everything: markers, paint, tablecloths, us. A quick wipeable table cover stops spills from turning into disasters.

We set up a “clean-up crew” with kid-sized wipes and aprons, just in case. And yeah, we keep a small first aid kit close by—bandages, tweezers for splinters—because sometimes the adventure gets a little too wild.