Hey there, fellow pet parents! Summer’s just around the corner, and I’ve been gathering some ideas of fun summer animal crafts for kids to keep them entertained during those long, sunny days.
These projects are perfect for rainy afternoons, too-hot-to-go-outside days, or just when you need some creative downtime together.
I’ve made sure each craft is kid-friendly, uses easy-to-find materials, and celebrates our animal friends in all their summer glory. Most are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, while a couple of them can be great for kids that are a bit older as well.
Easy Animal Crafts for Kids That Celebrate Summer
1. Paper Plate Sea Turtles
Materials Needed:
- Paper plates
- Green paint
- Green construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Paint the paper plate green and let dry
- Cut a pattern of hexagons on the back of the plate to create the shell design
- Cut four small flippers and a head from green construction paper
- Glue the flippers and head to the underside of the plate
- Add googly eyes to the head
- Use markers to add details to the shell and flippers
These adorable turtles are perfect for ocean-themed summer decorations and can even be hung from string to create a sea turtle mobile!
2. Butterfly Suncatchers
Materials Needed:
- Contact paper (clear adhesive paper)
- Tissue paper in various colors
- Black construction paper
- Scissors
- String for hanging
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cut two identical butterfly shapes from black construction paper
- Cut out the center of each butterfly, leaving a border frame
- Cut one piece of contact paper slightly larger than your butterfly
- Peel the backing off the contact paper and place sticky-side up
- Let kids arrange tissue paper scraps onto the sticky surface
- Cover with another piece of contact paper, sticky side down
- Place the black butterfly frames on both sides and trim excess
- Punch a hole at the top and add string for hanging
When the sun shines through these, the colors absolutely glow! They’re beautiful hung in windows or on a porch.
3. Recycled Bottle Bee Hive
Materials Needed:
- Clean plastic bottle (2-liter works well)
- Yellow and black paint
- Pipe cleaners
- Yellow construction paper
- Black marker
- White paper
- Scissors
- String for hanging
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Paint the bottle yellow and let dry
- Add black stripes with paint
- Cut a small entrance hole near the bottom
- Cut small bee shapes from yellow construction paper
- Draw stripes the paper bees with black marker
- Cut wings from white paper and attach them to the bees
- Attach pipe cleaners for antennae
- Hang the bees around the hive using string or tape
- Add a string to the top of the bottle for hanging
This buzzing hive teaches kids about important pollinators while reusing materials!
Summer Crafts for Kids That Connect With Nature
4. Seashell Crabs
Materials Needed:
- A medium-sized seashell
- Red or orange paint
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Small rocks or pebbles (optional for stability)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Paint the shell red or orange and allow to dry
- Cut pipe cleaners into 8 equal pieces for legs
- Bend each pipe cleaner piece in the middle to form a “V” shape
- Glue the legs to the underside of the shell
- Glue googly eyes to the front edge of the shell
These little crabs are perfect beach vacation keepsakes and look cute displayed in a sandbox scene!
5. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Materials Needed:
- Cardboard egg carton
- Paint in bright colors
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Scissors
- Glue
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cut the egg carton into strips of 4 cups
- Paint each caterpillar body in bright colors
- Once dry, poke two small holes in the front cup for antennae
- Thread pipe cleaners through the holes and bend into antennae
- Glue googly eyes to the front cup
- Add spots or stripes with different colored paint
These are perfect for talking about butterfly life cycles and summer garden creatures! Toddlers can have a lof of fun with this summer craft painting the details of the caterpillar.
6. Yarn-Wrapped Cardboard Bird
Materials Needed:
- Cardboard
- Yarn in various colors
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Buttons or googly eyes
- Glue
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Draw and cut out simple bird shapes from cardboard
- Cut a small notch at the top and bottom of each shape
- Secure the end of the yarn in one notch and begin wrapping
- Wrap yarn around the cardboard, covering it completely
- Secure the end in the other notch and trim excess
- Glue on buttons or googly eyes
- Add any additional details with markers or felt
The texture of these animals makes them wonderfully tactile for smaller hands!
7. Paper Plate Jellyfish
Materials Needed:
- Paper plates
- Tissue paper in ocean colors (blue, purple, pink)
- Ribbon or crepe paper streamers
- Paint in ocean colors
- Black and white construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hole punch
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Paint the back of a paper plate in ocean colors and let dry
- Cut the plate in half (you can make two jellyfish!)
- Punch holes along the straight edge of the half-plate
- Cut long strips of ribbon, crepe paper, or tissue paper for tentacles
- Thread the tentacles through the holes and secure with tape or glue
- Cut circles from the white construction paper for the eyes, and smaller ones from the black paper for the pupils
- Glue the black circles to the white ones.
- Glue the white circles to the top of the plate.
- Optional: Glue small pieces of tissue paper on the body for texture
- Hang from string to create a swaying effect
These colorful ocean creatures are perfect for beach-themed summer parties or bedroom decorations! Kids love watching the tentacles sway in the breeze when hung near a window.
Fun Summer Animal Crafts Perfect for Preschoolers
8. Clothespin Butterflies
Materials Needed:
- Wooden clothespins
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers
- Spray bottle with water
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Color 2 coffee filters with washable markers
- Lightly spray with water to make colors blend
- Let dry completely
- Fold them like an accordeon is folded
- Pinch the coffee filters in the middle and secure with a clothespin (one will be the top wings and on the bottom wings)
- Open the folded filters
- Bend a pipe cleaner into a “V” shape for antennae
- Glue the pipe cleaner and googly eyes to the clothespin
- Once dry, clip butterflies to plants, curtains, or backpacks
The water-diffused colors create beautiful, unique patterns on each butterfly’s wings!
9. Paper Plate Fish with Scales
Materials Needed:
- Paper plate
- Construction paper (various colors)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers or crayons
- Googly eyes (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cut a small triangle out of one side of the paper plate to create the fish’s mouth
- Cut small circles from construction paper in different colors to create the fish scales
- Fold each circle in half
- Glue the folded circles onto the paper plate, starting from the bottom and overlapping them slightly as you go up to create a scaly effect
- Glue a googly eye (or draw one with a marker) on the fish’s face, just above the mouth
- Use markers or crayons to add any extra details like fins, stripes, or spots on the fish
Now you have a colorful fish with beautiful scales made from a paper plate!
Easy DIY Summer Crafts That Celebrate Animals
10. Paper Plate Lion Sun
Materials Needed:
- Yellow paper plate
- Orange, yellow and black construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Cut triangular “mane” pieces from orange and yellow construction paper
- Glue these all around the edge of the paper plate
- Draw a lion’s face in the center of the plate
- Cut two circles of black construction paper and paste them as the eyes
- Use markers to add whiskers and a nose, or cut black construction paper in those shapes and paste them.
This sunny lion brings summer brightness to any room!
11. Ocean Diorama with Sea Animals
Materials Needed:
- Shoe box
- Blue tissue paper or construction paper
- Sand
- Scissors
- Glue
- Colored paper for sea creatures
- Small shells or pebbles (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Line the inside of the shoe box with blue paper for water
- Glue sand to the bottom for the ocean floor
- Cut out fish, octopus, starfish, and other sea creatures from colored paper
- Add details to the sea creatures with markers
- Glue the creatures inside the box at different levels
- Add shells or pebbles for decoration
- Optional: Cut a viewing window in the box lid
This portable ocean scene brings the beach home any time of year! This craft will be a little bit difficult for preschoolers but can be great for kids that are a bit older.
12. Rock Painting Ladybug Rocks
Materials Needed:
- Smooth rocks of various sizes
- Black, red and white acrylic paint
- Paint brushes
- Clear sealer (optional)
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Clean rocks and let dry completely
- Paint rocks with red as a base color
- Once dry, use the black paint to paint a line in the middle, paint the head, a black circles on the back
- When the face dries, paint the eyes and moth in white
- Wait until it dries and paint the pupils in black
- Use markers for fine details like eyes or spots
- Let dry completely
- Optional: Seal with clear sealer for outdoor use
These pet rocks make wonderful garden decorations or paperweights!
Why Animal Crafts for Kids Matter
These summer animal crafts aren’t just fun – they’re also great for developing fine motor skills, teaching about wildlife, and encouraging creativity . Plus, creating animal-themed art helps kids build a deeper connection to the natural world around them.
Gather your supplies and have fun together these fun summer crafts! The memories you’ll create together are worth every bit of cleanup afterward.
What animal crafts are your kids loving this summer? Drop a comment below – I’m always looking for new ideas to try!
And if you are looking for more animal craft ideas check out these cute cat crafts for kids!
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