Summer Crafts for Kids: 24 Nature Craft Ideas (Shells, Flowers, and More)

1. Seashell Ice Cream Art

This adorable beach craft transforms collected seashells into a summery ice cream cone masterpiece. Kids arrange colorful scallop shells to create ice cream “scoops” on a painted cardboard background featuring a beach scene and waffle cone.

Perfect for ages 4-8, this craft celebrates beach treasures in a creative way. The vibrant blue background and sandy-colored base make the colorful shells pop. Hang it on the wall as a sweet reminder of summer adventures or display it on a shelf to brighten up any room with beachy vibes.

2. Color-Matching Nature Scavenger Hunt

This interactive outdoor activity combines crafting and exploration as kids search for natural items matching specific colors. A simple homemade sorter with colored dots and elastic bands helps organize and display flowers, leaves, and plants by their vibrant hues.

Perfect for ages 2-6, this craft encourages children to observe nature closely while learning about colors. The rainbow arrangement creates a beautiful botanical display when complete. After the activity, press the collected specimens in a book or use them for additional nature crafts.

3. Seashell Pendant Necklaces

These charming pendant necklaces combine natural beach finds with air-dry clay for wearable summer memories. Kids press seashells and small sea treasures into colored clay medallions, then thread them with bright cord for unique ocean-inspired jewelry.

This simple craft is suitable for children 5+ and requires minimal supplies. The vibrant red cord creates a beautiful contrast with the natural tones of the shells. These make thoughtful handmade gifts or special souvenirs that let kids carry their beach discoveries wherever they go.

4. Driftwood and Beach Treasure Mobile

This elegant hanging display showcases beach treasures pressed into terracotta clay medallions. Children arrange collected shells, sea glass, and beach pebbles into decorative patterns, then hang their creations from a simple driftwood branch.

Perfect for kids 6-10, this nature-inspired mobile brings coastal vibes into any space. The earthy terracotta background beautifully highlights the natural colors and textures of beach finds. Hang near a window where the pieces can gently move in the breeze, creating a calming reminder of summer beach days.

5. Citrus Peel Drink Collage

This refreshing summer craft repurposes citrus peels into vibrant mosaic artwork. Kids arrange orange and lemon peel pieces inside drawn drinking glass outlines on cardboard, adding colorful paper straws and real citrus slices for a 3D effect.

Ideal for ages 3-7, this eco-friendly craft smells wonderful while creating! The natural gradient of citrus colors creates a beautiful effect against the brown cardboard. Display these sunny creations in the kitchen or use them as cheerful summer party decorations.

6. Pressed Flower Sun Catcher

This magical sun catcher transforms delicate pressed flowers into a translucent work of art. Using a golden paper frame, kids arrange colorful pressed petals and leaves on tissue paper, creating a stunning heart-centered design that glows when hung in a sunny window.

Perfect for children ages 4+, this craft teaches patience as flowers must be pressed for several days before crafting. The warm gold frame beautifully complements the vibrant purples, yellows, and pinks of the pressed blooms. When summer fades, this sun catcher preserves nature’s beauty while casting colorful shadows throughout your home.

7. Pressed Flower Rainbow Display

This enchanting rainbow display transforms pressed flowers into a stunning window decoration. Children arrange colorful dried blooms between layers of contact paper in rainbow arcs, with a delicate heart-shaped flower as the centerpiece. The black frame creates striking contrast with the vibrant floral palette.

Ideal for ages 5-12, this project celebrates biodiversity by showcasing different flower types in each arc. The translucent background allows light to pass through, creating a stained-glass effect when hung in a window. This craft makes a perfect Earth Day activity or gift, bringing natural beauty indoors while teaching children about rainbow colors and patterns.

8. Cork Boat Nature Craft

This eco-friendly floating craft transforms recycled wine corks into charming miniature boats. Kids secure three corks together with rubber bands or natural twine, then add different leaf shapes as sails, creating a fleet of unique vessels ready for water adventures.

Perfect for ages 3-8, this simple project combines recycling with nature exploration. The contrast between the light tan corks and vibrant green leaves creates a visually appealing toy that actually floats! Take these boats to a nearby creek, pond, or even the bathtub for hours of imaginative play while learning about buoyancy and natural materials.

9. Clay and Seashell Snails

These adorable shell snails combine colorful clay with beach treasures for an irresistible summer craft. Children shape vibrant modeling clay into snail bodies, attach googly eyes, and use beach-collected shells for the perfect snail houses, creating a charming miniature garden community.

Ideal for ages 3-7, this tactile craft is perfect for little hands still developing fine motor skills. Each snail’s unique personality emerges through different colored clay bodies and shell varieties. Display these cute creatures on wood slices with green leaves for a delightful natural habitat that brings beach memories home long after summer ends.

10. Dandelion Lion Portrait

This clever seasonal craft transforms fresh dandelion blooms into a majestic lion’s mane. Kids arrange the bright yellow flowers in a circle around a simple drawn lion face on colored paper, creating a fuzzy 3D effect that’s both whimsical and adorable.

Perfect for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2-5), this craft celebrates those “weeds” children naturally love to pick. The striking contrast between the vibrant yellow flowers and pink background creates an eye-catching piece of art. Complete the craft shortly after flower gathering, then preserve it with a photo before the dandelions wilt for a sweet memory of spring explorations.

11. Sun Weaving

 

This beautiful nature weaving combines fresh dandelions with simple crafting materials to create a symbolic sun. Kids wrap and weave yellow yarn around a circular frame made from green dandelion stems, creating a radiant pattern that celebrates the summer solstice.

Perfect for ages 5-10, this craft makes excellent use of those “weeds” children love to pick. The contrasting colors of yellow yarn against green stems create a striking visual representation of the sun. Try this on the summer solstice to connect with nature’s cycles or anytime you want to bring sunshine into your home.

12. Seashell Mosaic Art Tiles

These charming mosaic tiles transform beach treasures into colorful works of art. Children arrange collected shells and beans on painted cardboard squares to create patterns, pictures, and designs ranging from hearts to flowers to abstract compositions.

Ideal for ages 4-12, this eco-friendly craft repurposes milk cartons as the base. The pastel background colors beautifully complement the natural tones of the shells. Display these creative tiles as a gallery wall or give them as gifts, preserving beach memories in a unique, tactile way that encourages open-ended artistic expression.

13. Stick Hedgehog Weaving

This adorable hedgehog craft combines natural materials with simple weaving techniques. Children arrange collected twigs on a cardboard cutout, secure them with yarn or string, and add cute facial features to create a prickly friend with a sunflower “hat” decoration.

Perfect for ages 5-10, this tactile craft encourages kids to observe and collect different stick textures during nature walks. The combination of brown cardboard, gray sticks, and bright yellow flower creates a charming woodland creature. Display on a shelf or hang as wall art for a sweet reminder of summer exploration adventures.

14. Pressed Flower Bookmark Frame

This elegant bookmark showcases summer blooms in a miniature golden frame. Kids arrange pressed wildflowers inside a slim rectangular frame, creating a delicate floral composition that contrasts beautifully with the metallic border and butterfly-decorated background.

Suitable for ages.8-14, this craft combines nature collection with preservation techniques. The vibrant purples, whites, and yellows of the pressed flowers pop against the golden frame. These bookmarks make thoughtful gifts for teachers or reading enthusiasts while providing a crafty way to preserve summer’s ephemeral beauty.

15. Black-Eyed Susan Art Cards

These artistic nature cards combine real flowers with simple line drawings on recycled cardboard. Children sketch stem patterns with markers on one card, then arrange fresh black-eyed Susan blooms to complete the artwork on a companion piece, creating a before-and-after floral display.

Ideal for ages 5-12, this eco-friendly craft teaches botanical observation as kids notice how flower heads connect to stems. The striking contrast between vibrant yellow flowers and kraft cardboard creates a rustic yet elegant effect. Tie with twine for beautiful homemade greeting cards or frame as matching wall art that celebrates summer’s golden blooms.

16. Wheat Lion Face Craft

This adorable lion craft transforms dried wheat stalks into a majestic mane surrounding a simple cardboard face. Children arrange wheat stems around a circular cardboard base, then add paper facial features including googly eyes, dotted cheeks, and a smiling mouth to create a friendly lion face.

Perfect for ages 4-8, this craft celebrates late summer harvests while teaching about grains. The natural golden wheat creates a stunning textural mane that contrasts beautifully with the simple kraft paper face. Display it on a wall or shelf as a charming celebration of summer’s bounty that will last throughout the seasons.

17. Nature Wrist Bracelets

These beautiful nature bracelets transform double-sided tape and found treasures into wearable art. Kids wrap tape (sticky side out) around their wrists, then collect and attach colorful petals, berries, leaves, and seeds during an outdoor adventure to create unique botanical jewelry.

Ideal for ages 3-7, this craft encourages children to observe and collect nature’s tiniest details. The vibrant yellow flowers pop against the natural background materials, creating a stunning accessory that celebrates summer’s colors. This activity combines a scavenger hunt with crafting for an engaging outdoor experience that enhances observation skills.

18. Pressed Flower Cardboard Cookies

These charming nature cookies transform cardboard into playful pretend treats adorned with real pressed flowers. Children cut circles and flower shapes from recycled cardboard, then carefully attach pressed blooms using glue to create beautiful play food that celebrates the colors and textures of summer gardens.

Perfect for ages 3-8, this eco-friendly craft gives dried flowers a second life while enhancing imaginative play. The natural cardboard background beautifully showcases the vibrant colors of pressed wildflowers and leaves. Add these durable “cookies” to a play kitchen or mud kitchen for hours of creative pretend baking and tea parties.

19. Painted Stick Collection

This vibrant nature craft transforms plain sticks into colorful decorative treasures. Young children collect fallen branches during nature walks, then paint them with bright rainbow colors to create a cheerful bouquet displayed in a recycled jar decorated with colorful tape bands.

Ideal for ages 2-5, this simple project brings nature’s textures indoors with an explosion of color. The painted sticks provide a perfect winter or early spring activity when outdoor blooms are scarce. Displayed in a window, the colorful collection catches light and adds a playful, natural element to any room while developing fine motor skills.

20. Autumn Leaf Peg Dolls

These whimsical peg dolls transform wooden clothespins into charming autumn characters using fallen leaves, acorn caps, and yarn. Children arrange colorful leaves as dresses or coats, add yarn scarves, and use markers to draw simple faces, creating seasonal friends with distinctive personalities.

Perfect for ages 5-10, this craft combines natural materials with simple crafting supplies. The vibrant autumn leaves create stunning “clothing” for the wooden peg base, while acorn caps make perfect hats. These adorable figures inspire imaginative play and storytelling while preserving fall’s colorful bounty in a creative, three-dimensional way.

21. Leaf Wand Nature Craft

These magical nature wands combine cardboard shapes, autumn leaves, and twigs to create enchanting play props. Kids attach colorful fall leaves to cardboard shapes (star, square, circle), secure them to sticks, and add decorative ribbon streamers for a whimsical touch.

Perfect for ages 3-8, this craft transforms autumn’s natural bounty into storytelling tools. The warm red, orange, and green leaf colors create beautiful textural elements against the kraft cardboard base. Use these wands during outdoor play or while acting out favorite stories like “Abiyoyo” – they’re ideal for imaginative adventures in the backyard or park!

22. Recycled Plastic Dinosaur

This creative dinosaur craft transforms recycled materials into a playful prehistoric creature. Children arrange plastic spoons, forks, bottle caps, and cardboard pieces to create a whimsical dinosaur with spiky details, googly eyes, and articulated limbs on a simple black background.

Ideal for ages 5-10, this eco-friendly project teaches dinosaur anatomy while promoting recycling awareness. The natural cardboard body contrasts with white plastic utensils to create an eye-catching 3D effect. Perfect for dinosaur enthusiasts, this craft encourages problem-solving as kids figure out how to transform everyday items into dinosaur features like spikes, legs, and tails.

23. Leaf Print Nature Cards

These elegant nature cards showcase the intricate patterns of leaves through simple printing techniques. Children paint fresh leaves with vibrant blue paint, press them onto kraft paper, and lift to reveal stunning botanical prints that capture every vein and texture of the original leaf.

Suitable for ages 4-12, this craft teaches botanical observation while creating beautiful stationery. The striking contrast between deep blue prints and natural brown kraft paper creates sophisticated cards perfect for any occasion. Make a set as handmade gifts or frame them as nature-inspired wall art that preserves summer’s lush greenery well into winter.

24. Walnut Shell Ladybug Craft

This adorable miniature craft transforms walnut shell halves into charming ladybugs. Children paint the curved shells with red and black details, add googly eyes, and attach tiny heart-shaped antennae to create perfect pocket-sized critters for Valentine’s Day or spring celebrations.

Perfect for ages 4-8, this tiny craft uses natural materials in a creative way. The classic red and black ladybug colors create an instantly recognizable insect that fits in the palm of a child’s hand. Display these cute creatures in a nature sensory bin, use as Valentine’s decorations, or glue magnets to the back for sweet refrigerator art that celebrates spring’s return.

Like what you see? Save THIS PIN to your Summer Crafts board on Pinterest!

Wrapping Up

These 24 nature-inspired summer craft ideas prove that summer creativity doesn’t require expensive art supplies—just step outside! Each project offers a unique way for kids to connect with nature while developing fine motor skills and artistic expression.

Save these ideas for those inevitable rainy summer days or when the heat drives everyone indoors. Nature’s treasures are waiting to be transformed into your child’s next masterpiece!

Last Updated on March 4, 2025 by Tania Nizova | Published: March 4, 2025