Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

7 Summer Kids Crafts

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It’s getting hotter as the race to lazy days in the sun is on. But what to make? Good, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve done a round-up of the best kids crafts during summer.

1. DIY Slip and Slide

Sure, you can buy a fancy one from the store for $30, but what’s the fun in that? Make your own slip and slide on a summer afternoon and get the whole family involved. Get the tutorial here, at wired.com.

 

2. Tie Dye a T-Shirt

Well, by the end of the summer, you’ll have tie dyed everything – pillowcases, t-shirts, socks, tights, curtains, you name it. You’re probably thinking, “Quick! Move on! No more mess!” But this fun craft is easy to clean up when you’re outside. Show off all your new clothing with a DIY touch! Grab the tutorial here, at parents.com.

 

3. Tricycle Car Wash

I can’t believe how simple and cute this fun project is! Sponge away the blues on a hot summer day with a tricycle car wash, using splash and splosh fun. What’s a better way to get the whole family together? Grab the tutorial here, at designmom.com.

4. Splat Painting

We’ve done heaps of fun painting over at Craftbits.com, but this one has got to be squeezed onto the summer list. Grab an old pantyhose and get splatting! With this fun (and slightly messy) activity, you’re sure to have splat-work all over your house. Toddler Approved has the splatting down pat, right here!

5. DIY Water Blob

“What is a water blob?” I hear you ask. Well, a water blob is the most fun water activity that you can enjoy wet or dry. Great to keep kids of all ages entertained for hours, the water blob is a simple piece of plastic sheeting folded in half with water inside. Glue it up – and you have a party-perfect water toy. Grab the simple (really) tutorial here at clumsycrafter.com.

6. Scary Shark Container

Proving their point, makefuncreating.com says that Fimo is not just for making key rings and jewelry. I know this amazing shark is not water play, but it is still ocean themed! This scary predator can sit by the poolside waiting for the perfect fish. Perfect for holding everything, this FIMO shark is sure to get your friends wow-ing. Grab the tutorial here, at makefuncreating.com.

7. Coke and Mentos Explosion

KA-POW! This fun experiment is certainly not craft, but it’s a Do-It-Yourself science experiment perfect for summer, so I thought I’d better put it in anyway! Once all the kids are well away, slide in the Mentos for a explosive surprise! (Just make sure it’s outside!) Head on over to frugalfamily.co.uk and get exploding!

 

Well, that’s the end! Enjoy making these fun summer crafts and make sure you sign up to Craftbits  and Craftgossip’s  newsletter for more excitement!

 

By Arabella

(Shellie’s 9 year old daughter)

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Baby Footprint Blanket Knitting Patterns

I recently noticed that a post from 2020 about a baby footprints blanket was getting a lot of traffic, so I wanted to see if I could find more baby footprint blanket knitting patterns for those interested in making them for the little ones in their lives. 

This sweet pattern features baby feet in a heart and would be a lovely gift for a new little one, or for parents enduring the loss of a baby. The pattern is by CreaEline on Crazypatterns, uses worsted weight yarn and comes out to about 43 by 38 inches/109 by 96 cm. You can buy it on Ravelry.

Linda Gavaldon’s Bare Feet is also on Ravelry and features diagonal sets of feet worked on a stockinette stitch background. It calls for DK weight yarn and is about 28 inches/71 cm square. She also has Happy Feet, which has the feet running around the outside of the blanket as a kind of border. This one also uses DK weight yarn and comes out to 28 by 32 inches, or 71 by 81 cm. 

If you prefer to make blocks instead of a full blanket in one piece, I found a pattern meant to be washcloths that could be knit in multiples and stitched together to make a baby feet blanket. Try the Ophelia baby footprints washcloth by Bridget McKenzie (free on Ravelry) which could be used as a block with or without the borders. 

There’s also Daisy and Storm‘s footprint washcloth, which has both a written pattern and a chart. 

And if a bulky finger knit baby blanket is more your style, you can try the baby feet graphic pattern from Digital Devine Designs. The pattern includes written instructions and a chart for the baby feet but it assumes you already know how to do finger knitting. (I assume you could also use needles.) The pattern comes out to 31 by 34 inches, or 78.75 by 86.36 cm and calls for chunk yarn.