Make it with everyday materials! A collection of fun summer vacation craft ideas
Summer vacation crafts are exciting even just to think up ideas, aren’t they? Still, lots of kids probably find themselves wondering, “What should I make?” The truth is, there are plenty of fun, easy projects anyone can make using everyday materials.
With things like plastic bottles, popsicle sticks, and milk cartons, you can create pieces that will make your friends say, “Wow!” So this time, we’re sharing craft ideas that are perfect for summer vacation homework.
Take a look and get inspired by these playful projects that are fun just to browse!
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Made with everyday materials! A collection of fun summer vacation craft ideas (251–260)
snow globe
Make your very own summer snow globe using your favorite jar.
You can easily get the materials at a 100-yen shop: a jar you like, summery mini ornaments, liquid glue for water, a sponge, and more.
First, cut a sponge to fit and stick it inside the jar lid, then decorate it with your favorite trinkets and beads.
Some glues don’t hold under water, so be sure to use an adhesive that’s waterproof.
Fill the jar with water and clear liquid glue, and add glitter and beads for sparkle.
Close the lid tightly and seal it with glue, and you’re done.
Adding seashells you picked up at the beach makes it extra cute.
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slime
Let’s make slime and enjoy the feel of a science experiment.
All you do is mix the ingredients, but as the shape keeps changing, you’ll find surprising things you didn’t know.
Add food coloring to create colorful slime.
Store it in a sealable storage bag.
Super Ball
Let me introduce super balls made using laundry glue, water, and salt.
You only need three ingredients: laundry glue, 100 ml of water, and 40 g of salt.
Pour 100 ml of water into a container, then gradually add 40 g of salt and dissolve it.
Adding the salt little by little makes it easier to dissolve.
If you want to color your super ball, add an appropriate amount of powdered food coloring to the solution.
In another container, pour about 1 cm depth of laundry glue, then add the salted water you just made.
Stir in a circular motion with a bamboo skewer, and a round ball will form.
Remove the ball from the skewer and gently roll it between your palms.
Your super ball is complete.
Try making your own original super ball!
handheld fan
Why not make a pull-string handheld fan that spins briskly using scrap materials? The blades are made from ice cream sticks, a summer favorite.
Drill a hole in the center of each stick and thread them onto a bamboo skewer.
Wind twine around the skewer, and attach a bead or similar item to the pulling end to prevent it from slipping out.
Create the handle by connecting two toilet paper rolls and wrapping them with origami paper.
Finally, attach cellophane or similar material to the ice cream stick blades, then mount them together with a round-cut piece of thick paper onto the handle to finish.
hand spinner
Once you get your hands on a fidget spinner, it somehow becomes addictive, doesn’t it? Let’s make that fidget spinner ourselves! The outer spinning part will be made with resin, so you can put anything you like inside.
If you add sparkly items like glitter, beads, or nail art parts, it looks beautiful when it spins.
herbarium
You often see herbariums for sale, but in fact, you can make them yourself as long as you have the materials.
All you need are a container, your choice of dried or preserved flowers, and oil specifically for herbariums.
Making your own is great because you can include the flowers you like.
It’s recommended both as a craft project and as a decoration to enjoy afterward.
Pythagorean device
The PythagoraSwitch contraptions, which became popular on NHK’s children’s show “PythagoraSwitch,” are full of tricks and mechanisms, and many people make their own.
They’re satisfying to watch—captivating not only for kids but for adults too.
Let’s make one of those PythagoraSwitch-style machines ourselves! Gather items you can find at home—marbles, wooden chopsticks, plastic bottle caps, shogi pieces, and anything else you can think of—and give it a try.
It might be challenging to plan, but the sense of accomplishment when you finish is incredible!