The summertime is the perfect time to be outside and enjoying the wonderful weather with your family. You can take a trip to the beach or an amusement park, visit a local park or play a round of mini-golf. The possibilities of activities to do during the summer on Long Island are truly endless.
Some days though, when it is too hot to be spending time outside or the weather is not cooperating, it can be fun to do some crafts at home. Why not make some beach and underwater themed crafts to keep everyone in a summery mood? Here are some fun, creative crafts to do at home with the kids while you wait for another beautiful summer day to spend outside soaking up the sunshine.
Colorful Styrofoam Jellyfish Hanging
This colorful jellyfish with its pipe cleaner tentacles makes an adorable room hanging.
Materials Needed:
- Styrofoam Ball
- Colorful Piper Cleaners
- Paint
- Googly Eyes
- Glue
- Pencil (to twirl pipe cleaners around)
- String (to hang)
Instructions: Cut your Styrofoam ball in half or purchase them pre-cut. Paint the Styrofoam a color of your choice and let dry. Twirl your pipe cleaners around a pencil to get a spiral shape for the tentacles. Once the paint is dry, glue on your googly eyes and stick the pipe cleaners into the bottom, flat side, of the Styrofoam. Use string to hang your colorful creature up!
Seashell Fish Friends
While you’re at the beach pick up some shells of varying sized to make your very own seashell fish!
Materials Needed:
- Seashells (varying sizes and colors)
- Googly Eyes Glue
Instructions: Use a larger shell as your fish body and then add smaller shells to be your dorsal (top) fin, Pectoral (side) fin, and pelvic (lower) fin. Use a medium sized shell as your caudal (back) fin. Once you’ve decided their placement glue them on to your main shell/fish body. Then add your google eyes.
Paper Plate Dyed Noodle Octopus
Your child can practice their motor skills while stringing rainbow colored pasta onto this cute octopus.
Materials Needed:
- Paper Plate
- One Hole Punch Pipe Cleaners
- Pasta (ziti or rigatoni, must be a narrow opening)
- Dye (multiple colors)
- Markers
Instructions: Dye your pasta and let dry. Decorate your octopus with the markers. Then use the single hole punch to punch 8 holes, about an inch or so apart from one another, along the bottom, outside of your plate. Secure your pipe cleaners in the punched holes and wrap them closed. String your pasta on the pipe cleaners leaving a little room on the bottom to make a knot so they won’t fall off.
Hands & Feet Lobster Paintings
Great for younger kids especially, let the kids get a little messy to complete this hand print and footprint craft.
Materials Needed:
- White Paper
- Red Paint
- Google Eyes
- Fine Tipped Black Pen
Instructions: Dip your child’s foot in red paint and make a footprint on the white paper. Next turn the paper around so the heel is facing up. Paint antennae and arms for the claws then dip your child’s hands in the red paint and place their hands where the arms end, these will be the lobster claws. Once dry, place your google eyes and make the lobster a nice, big smile with the fine tipped pen.
Which craft did you decide to make with the kids? How did it come out? Let us know!
[Source: CraftsbyAmanda, CraftsbyAmanda, BuggyandBuddy, ForgetLaundry]
Image by Kelly Tenny