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Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

July 2, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Have you ever been to the beach and picked up a sand dollar?

I remember finding one in the sand when I was about eleven. I brought it home with the intention of turning it into something, but never did.

Since then, I’ve found out that picking up sand dollars is not really the best thing to do. It’s best for them and the environment to leave them put.

But if you still want to have a memento of a beach trip or just a cool way to memorialize ocean life, this sea animal suncatcher craft is a cute project for kids!

Fun Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

This is a really fun summer art project for little ones.

It’s also great for teaching color families, sea life, number recognition, and fine motor skills – all at once!

Keep reading to get the full project instructions – and the free craft template. And, for more fun with ocean animals, take a look at our easy Coffee Filter Crab Craft!

Make this easy sea animal suncatcher craft for a simple summer art project this year!

Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

To make this sea animal suncatcher craft, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer Paper
  • Child-safe scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Colored pencils or crayons
  • A copy of our free Sea Animal Suncatcher Template (located further down the page)
Simple Marine Animal Suncatcher Craft

Start by printing out the blank color code page, the color key, and the animal templates you plan to use.

Simple Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft

Use the color key to see how to fill in your suncatcher coded template.

All of the colors are on the bright side of the spectrum, but you can really use any five colors you choose.

Printable Marine Suncatcher Craft

A completed color coded page is also included, if you want to double check how the finished page should look.

Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

Now, let the kids use child-safe scissors to cut out the animal template.

Glue the animal silhouette to the center of the finished color coded page.

Lovely Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

All that’s left to do now is hang it in a window!

You can make a cardboard frame for the outside edges, if you like. Or just add masking tape to the back to place it in a sunny spot!

Scroll down to get your Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft Template!

Love this project? Try some other summer-themed crafts!

Make this fun and easy 3D paper dolphin craft for a fun art project to share with kids! Great for a summer art activity!
This simple coffee filter jellyfish craft is a perfect easy summer craft for kids! Make a few with your little ones this summer!
These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

To get your copy of the template for this Sea Animal Suncatcher, click the image or the link below to download it directly to your computer!

Easy Sea Animal Suncatcher Craft for Kids

>>> Sea Animal Suncatcher Template <<<

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: summer activities, summer crafts

40 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids

June 8, 2020 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

Share some easy crafting fun with the kids this summer with this list of simple summer crafts!

One of the things I love best about summer is that it’s such a relaxed time.

While we still continue schooling, we do so without making lesson plans or trying to meet objectives.

Unfortunately, that also leaves a lot of free time for the kids.

And it only takes a couple of days into June before they’re shouting “Mom, I’m bored!”

That makes summer a great time of year to do some crafting. And these simple summer crafts for kids are perfect!

40 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids to Make

Each of these crafts requires six or fewer supplies, so they’re awesome for quick art activities, afternoon family fun, or easy projects for the…ahem….not so crafty among us. (Myself included.)

Take a look to find some easy summer crafts you’ll love to share with the kids!

And, for more summer fun, don’t miss our list of 50 summer books to share during read-aloud time!

These simple summer crafts for kids are such a great way to spend time together!

40 Simple Summer Crafts for Kids:

1. Toilet Roll Butterfly Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

2. Seaside Shell Windchime – Red Ted Art

3. Easy Pebble Art – Blue Bear Wood

4. Pool Noodle Shark – J Daniel 4’s Mom

5. DIY Bubble Snake Blower – Messy Little Monster

6. Paper Roll Flowers – The Best Ideas for Kids

7. Glowing Campfire Craft – Buggy and Buddy

8. Painted Seashell Craft – Moms and Crafters

9. Coffee Filter Crab Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

10. Tin Can Lanterns – Rainy Day Mum

11. Threaded Watermelon Craft – Homebound But Hopeful

12. Flower Petal Suncatcher – Messy Little Monster

13. Salt Dough Shell Pendants – Red Ted Art

14. Starfish and Sand Paper Plate Craft – J Daniel 4’s Mom

15. Egg Carton Bee – Buggy and Buddy

16. Decorated Sunglasses – Moms and Crafters

17. Coffee Filter Jellyfish Craft – Look! We’re Learning!

18. Grass Seed Art – Blue Bear Wood

19. DIY Friendship Bracelets – Red Ted Art

20. Painted Watermelon Craft – Homeschool Preschool

 

See more simple summer crafts for kids on page 2!

 

 

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: crafts, summer, summer activities, summer crafts

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

May 18, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

It’s summer and that means it’s time to hit the high seas! Well, as close to the high seas as we get in the South….lol.

I’ve been on a motorboat before, but outside of that, I haven’t been on a boat at all. The notion of sailing out into the ocean with nothing solid underneath my feet makes me a tad…nervous.

But with this easy coffee filter sailboat craft, even sea-scary people like me can go sailing! And this is such a fun ocean-themed craft for kids to make along with parents!

Simple Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

If your children like this, don’t miss our other coffee filter crafts for kids, including our coffee filter beach ball craft! And make this summer the best one yet with our list of 50 summer crafts!

This cute coffee filter sailboat craft is a neat nautical craft for the kids!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

To make this coffee filter sailboat craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links provided here for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • One white basket coffee filter
  • Scissors
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick
  • Crayons
  • Colored pencils

Sailboat Coffee Filter Craft

Start by cutting the coffee filter in half. Then cut a little curve out of the center to form a half-moon shape. This will be the boat.

Cut the other half of the coffee filter in half again. Use one piece (a quarter of the whole filter) as the sail.

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Color the half-moon piece (the boat). I used bright yellow to make a boat that would stand out against the waves. But feel free to use any color you like.

Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

Glue the boat and the sail onto a piece of construction paper. Be sure to glue the sail a bit higher than the top of the boat.

Easy Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Use a crayon or colored pencil to draw the pole that connects the sail and the boat.

Simple Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft

Now add a few sea details! Use colored pencils to draw a few waves, clouds, and seagulls!

Easy Sailboat Coffee Filter Craft

And we’re done!

Easy Coffee Filter Sailboat Craft for Kids

She looks pretty seaworthy to me! What do you think?

Try these other fun learning ideas!

Make this DIY play sand for some beach fun at home!

Make an easy spring or summer project with this coffee filter sun craft that's simple enough for toddlers!

Get your early reader some fun in the sun reading practice with these printable summer printable sight word flashcards!

And see more simple art projects on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: coffee filter crafts, coffee filter sailboat craft, crafts, crafts for kids, easy crafts, sailboat craft, summer, summer crafts

50 Super Easy, Super Fun Summer Crafts for Kids!

May 16, 2017 by Selena Robinson Leave a Comment

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I am not the craftiest mom. I like to knit and sew, but I usually take those interests as opportunities to get a break from being mom. Crafting with kids does a real number on my patience.

But it’s worth it to make crafts with children. It teaches them to produce their own artwork, it helps them to improve fine motor skills, and it helps me to become a more patient mom – something I desperately need.

I’ve been working on adding more crafts into our kids’ lives. For me, that means looking for the simplest, easiest projects I can find – especially with four kids getting involved!

And that’s why I’ve rounded up this list of 50 easy summer crafts for kids! These are all summer-themed, so they’re a great fit for any summer unit studies you’ll be doing! Plus, there are ideas for kids of all ages, including summer crafts for preschoolers and summer crafts for tweens!

If you love these, don’t miss this list of beach crafts for kids or this roundup of more simple summer crafts kids can try!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

50 Super Easy, Super Fun Summer Crafts for Kids:


1. Coffee Filter Baseball Craft -Look! We’re Learning!

2. Easy Seashell Craft for Preschoolers – Local Fun for Kids

3. Paper Plate Ice Cream Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

4. Summer Straw Shooter Craft – Red Ted Art

5. Summer Twig Ornaments – Happy Hooligans

6. Circle Suncatcher Craft – B-Inspired Mama

7. DIY Summer Memory Book – Creekside Learning

8. Cereal Bird Feeder – No Time for Flashcards

9. Popsicle Stick Picture Frame – Kids Activities Blog

10. Summer Sky Salt Painting – Coffee Cups and Crayons

11. Colorful Jellyfish Craft – I Heart Crafty Things

12. Seashell Ladybugs – Still Playing School

13. Ice Cream Handprint Craft – A Little Pinch of Perfect

14. Squirt Gun Painting – Fireflies and Mud Pies

15. DIY Play Beach Sand – Look! We’re Learning!

16. Sandcastle Notecards – Inner Child Fun

17. Pine Cone Fireflies – Fireflies and Mud Pies

18. Toy Surfboard Craft – Play Trains

19. Tin Can Lanterns – Coffee Cups and Crayons

20. Footprint Flip Flops Art – Fun Handprint Art

21. Sponge Sailboat Craft – Easy Peasy and Fun

22. Paper Plate Boat Craft – Non Toy Gifts

23. Summer Daisies Handprint Craft – Beauty Through Imperfection

24. Paper Plate Seagull – Local Fun for Kids

25. Seashell Jellyfish Craft – I Heart Arts and Crafts

See more awesome summer crafts for kids on page 2!

Pages: 1 2

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: crafts, kids crafts, summer, summer crafts, summer crafts for kids

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft

April 27, 2017 by Selena Robinson 3 Comments

Summer is right around the corner! When I was younger, summer was easily my favorite season of the year. I grew up about 30 miles from the beach, so hitting the shore was my favorite pastime.

Now we live further inland. About five hours further inland. So my trips to the beach are few and far between. But that doesn’t stop me from trying to have some summer fun with the kids!

I’ve even been known to make moon sand on our driveway. Hey, at least it’s sand, right?

Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft for Kids

One of the ways we’re welcoming summer this year is by making another one of our coffee filter crafts for kids. This time, it’s a beach ball coffee filter craft!

Remember those multi-colored beach balls you’d see all over the shore as a kid? Here’s a way to make one of your own with the kids, even when the weather won’t cooperate with a trip to the beach.

If you enjoy this craft, be sure to try our coffee filter sun craft as well!

Put this simple beach ball coffee filter craft together in just a few minutes! This is a perfect summer craft for little ones!

Coffee Filter Crafts for Kids: Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft

For this coffee filter beach ball craft, you’ll need the following: (Affiliate links are provided for convenience. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • One white basket coffee filter
  • Crayons
  • Construction paper
  • Glue stick

Simple Beach Ball Coffee Filter Craft

Start by using a black crayon to trace a circle around the center of the coffee filter. Then draw a horizontal line on either side of the circle.

Easy Beach Ball Coffee Filter Craft

Draw two diagonal lines inside each “half” of the filter. You should end up with six (roughly) equal-sized sections.

Making a Beach Ball Coffee Filter Craft

Then color every other section with a primary color. I went with green, blue, and red, leaving the other sections white. Glue the filter onto a piece of construction paper.

Easy PreK Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft

Now all you have left to do is color the center circle yellow…

Beach Ball Coffee Filter Craft for Kids

and trace over all of your section lines again with a black crayon. Done! Looks like it needs a little air, though. 🙂

Check out some of our other easy peasy coffee filter crafts for kids to make!

This adorable coffee filter cat craft is a perfect activity to share with kids!

Make an easy spring or summer project with this coffee filter sun craft that's simple enough for toddlers!

Make this cute and easy umbrella coffee filter craft with the kids on a rainy day!

And see more easy activities on my Simple Crafts for Kids Pinterest board!

Free Unit Studies

This post is part of the Summer Unit Study roundup! Click on over to read even more summer learning ideas from my fellow bloggers!

Children’s Board Books about Summer from The Jenny Evolution

Summer Field Trip Guide from Bambini Travel

Summer Apps for Younger Kids from The Moments at Home

25 Summer Learning Activities from My Joy-Filled Life

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: beach ball craft, beach craft, coffee filter beach ball craft, coffee filter crafts, crafts, summer crafts

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

July 10, 2016 by Selena Robinson 2 Comments

Have you made it to the beach yet this year? We’re planning a quick trip to a local one in August, so I thought I’d look for some fun and adorable beach crafts for kids that we can make together before we leave!

What I love about studying the beach with kids is that the topic is so broad! You can learn about the sun, the ocean, ocean animals, beach sand, animals that live on the beach, seashells, ice cream, and so much more! So there are crafts for all these things below!

Read on to find some fun beach crafts you can try too!

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

25 Beach Crafts for Kids

1. Beach Diorama for Kids from Look! We’re Learning!

2. Puffy Paint Ocean Collage from ArtsyMomma

3. Seashell Keepsake Craft from Moms and Crafters

4. Beach-Themed Sand and Shell Art from Happiness is Homemade

5. Sand Footprint Craft from Paging Fun Mums

6. Newspaper Shark Craft from I Heart Crafty Things

7. Paper Plate Sun Craft from Buggy and Buddy

8. Starfish Ocean Button Craft from A Little Pinch of Perfect

9. Shell Sunflower Craft from Rhythms of Play

10. Sand Handprint Keepsakes from The Imagination Tree

11. DIY Beach Sand from Look! We’re Learning!

12. Cupcake Liner Sun Craft from I Heart Crafty Things

13. 3-Ingredient Ocean in a Bottle from Happy Hooligans

Fun Beach Crafts for Kids to Make

14. Paper Plate Seashell Craft from Artsy Crafty Mom

15. Sand in a Bottle Craft from Gift of Curiosity

16. Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft from Look! We’re Learning!

17. Popsicle Stick Mosaic Sun Craft from Kids Activities Blog

18. Cupcake Liner Lighthouse Craft from Sugar Aunts

19. DIY Seashell Mobile from Nurture Store

20. Egg Carton Ocean Craft from The Imagination Tree

21. Bubbling Shell Painting from Mess for Less

22. DIY Moon Sand from Look! We’re Learning!

23. Paper Plate Beach Ball Craft from Glued to My Crafts

24. Sun Craft Scissor Skills Activity from A Little Pinch of Perfect

25. Beach Keepsake Craft from Fireflies and Mudpies

Fun Beach Crafts for Kids

Need more summer learning ideas? Try these with your kids!

Summer Books for Kids

50 Free Summer Printables for Kids @ Look! We're Learning!

Your preschooler will love working on fine motor skills and number sense with these beach number 0-9 playdough mats!

Plus, get even more ideas on my Summer Activities for Kids Pinterest Board!

And don’t miss my All About Beaches Printable Pack – perfect for keeping kids learning over the summer!

All About Beaches Printable Pack

This post is part of the Summer Activities for Kids Blog Hop! Check out more summer fun for kids below!

Flower Suncatcher Nature Craft – Messy Little Monster

Make a Bee Bath – Kitchen Counter Chronicles

Water Play Car Wash – Play and Learn Everyday

Tic Tac Toe Races – Royal Baloo

Finding Dory Wind Sock Craft – The Gingerbread House

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: beach, beach crafts, beach crafts for kids, crafts, crafts for kids, fun crafts, kids craft ideas, kids crafts, summer, summer activities for kids, summer crafts, summer crafts for kids

Activities for the Book Hello Ocean: Beach Shoebox Diorama

June 16, 2014 by Selena Robinson 4 Comments

I’m originally from the coast and I miss the beach so much. In fact, I think it actually intensifies as I get older.

So when summer time approaches, my mind lightly turns to thoughts of warm sand, salt air, and waves.

Unfortunately, we live several hours inland now, so a trip to the beach is not always feasible.

But we can always head to the shore with a beach shoebox diorama activity!

Sandy Beach Diorama Craft

This was such a fun summer activity and it only took a few minutes. Plus, it was a great tie-in for a beautiful beachy read-aloud!

If you enjoy this project with the kids, be sure to try our simple Coffee Filter Beach Ball Craft!

This simple beach shoebox diorama craft is a fun way for kids to create their own sandy scene!

Beach Shoebox Diorama Activity

To make this beach shoebox diorama, you’ll need the following: (This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.)

  • Empty shoebox
  • Crayons
  • Printer (with ink)
  • Printer paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Cotton balls
  • Play sand (If you want to make your own, try our DIY play sand recipe!)
  • A copy of our Day at the Beach Diorama Pack (See below)

We decided to read the book Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan to introduce our beach theme.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

I love this book. It’s very simple for young readers and the pictures are absolutely beautiful.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

The poetry does an excellent job of capturing the feel of a day at the beach, right down to the taste of the salt water.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

After we read the book, we decided to put together a shoebox diorama featuring a beach scene.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

This was another of our super simple activities.

We only needed a shoebox, some crayons, scissors, glue, and our printable Day at the Beach Diorama Pack!

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

The kids colored the bottom and sides of the shoebox using the colors mentioned in the story: grey, blue, and green.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

We cut out the background scenes…

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

and pasted them to the bottom of the shoebox.

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Our background is all done, so it’s time to add a few props!

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

We cut out each upright scene image, including the bottom square, as one piece.

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Then we folded the bottom square under to make the image stand up.

Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

After we used a stretched cotton ball as a cloud, we poured a little play sand in the bottom and added our upright images to get a feel for the beach in our dining room! 🙂

Printable Beach Shoebox Diorama - Look! We're Learning!

Scroll down to get your printable beach shoebox diorama pack!

Don’t miss these other posts!

Make this DIY play sand for some beach fun at home!

Try some of these fun and easy summer crafts for kids with your children this year!

The Best Beach Books for Kids

To see even more fun summer crafts, follow my Summer Activities for Kids board on Pinterest!

If you’d like to complete this activity with your littles, grab our free Day at the Beach Diorama Pack by clicking the image or the link below to download it!

Learning Printables from Look! We're Learning!

>>>> Day at the Beach Diorama Pack <<<<

This post is part of the “A Book and a Big Idea: Summer” linkup at iHomeschool Network! Click on over to read the great book activities of our fellow bloggers!

Summer Book and Big Idea

Filed Under: Crafts Tagged With: beach crafts, beach shoebox diorama, crafts for kids, kids crafts, shoebox diorama, shoebox diorama printables, summer, summer crafts

Hi! I'm Selena, a veteran teacher and homeschool mom to four. I'm so glad you're here!
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