While you should take some time to relax in the summer, you also might go stir-crazy if you do nothing at all. Balancing relaxation with fun productivity and having things to show for your efforts at the end of the season is a great way to release those endorphins and get you feeling great about how you spent time in the summer heat. 

And that’s why we love having summer projects and crafts to take on. 

You should, however, choose something you know you’ll enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly project to do with the kids or something to enjoy on your own, we’ve got ideas for you. 

1. Enjoy a Baking Day (Or Three)

The first stop on our list of fun projects to do at home is having a baking day. You can do this solo, with friends, or even with the kids (with supervision).

If you know how to bake, a baking day can be a fun way to try new desserts and do something creative yet relaxing. If you don’t, it’s a valuable skill to learn and can only make a day spent doing it all the more fun. 

There are a wide variety of recipes and several options to suit every dietary restriction. Look up some recipes online or buy a book, and pick the ones that look delicious. Then, gather the necessary ingredients so you can spend the day playing with dough. The best part of baking is that the people in your life benefit too. 

2. Paint Miniatures

Most board games take less than a few hours to play and aren’t enough for a summer project, but some come with miniatures you can customize and paint. If you’ve never painted miniatures before, it’s a lot of fun, and there are board games available for many different fandoms and genres.

If you don’t own any board games with miniatures or want any, check around for wood or pottery shops near you. Some may sell figurines, or you can ask for a custom piece to paint yourself. 

3. Create Felt Bookmarks

Looking for DIY summer crafts for kids? Felt bookmarks are the perfect answer as a fun craft that also encourages your kids to read. The great thing about these is that they’re effortless to make, so young children can join in too (though you should always supervise the use of scissors or do the cutting for them). 

You have a lot of options for felt bookmarks, including the traditional rectangle style, paperclip felt bookmarks, corner felt bookmarks, or even elastic bands with felt decor. 

4. Make Popsicles

Another fun, seasonally appropriate (and delicious) craft is making popsicles. All you have to do for a delightful treat is mix the ingredients, pour them into molds, and freeze them. You don’t need fancy molds either; ice cube trays work just as well. 

There are many recipes available, and you can choose from popsicles with fruit, juice, or yogurt bases.

5. Paint Seashells

If you return from a beach trip with seashells in tow, why not paint the seashells when you get home? You may paint each shell a solid color or paint images on them. Then, you can string them up to display around the house as ornaments, and they’ll double as a great memory. Painting seashells is also a fun craft for kids.

6. Sort Family Photos

Can’t go outside because the heat is too much but need something productive to do? Consider organizing your family photos, and enjoy reliving the memories as you sort them. Be sure to get all of your photo albums together and backup digital copies as well. 

This is another fun project to undertake as a family.

7. Get Strong

If you’re looking for projects at home that require a little more time and investment but have a big payoff, getting into a workout routine could be a gamechanger.

There are many at-home workouts available online, and if you struggle with motivation, there are personal trainers who will work with virtual clients. 

8. Get Sewing 

Knowing how to sew is a skill that never goes to waste. You can fix your own clothes and eventually even make your own. Plus, taking the time to learn means you can modify some of your clothes to make your own summer outfits. What’s more impressive than that?

9. Plan a Trip

Projects aren’t just fun things to make in the summer; they can be plans too. Why not finally take the time to nail down the details of your dream trip?

Whether you fancy a week in Europe or a road trip across the U.S., sit down and look at the travel details—and start booking. It can take weeks to plan a trip, organize flights, research accommodation, and work out an itinerary, but they’re fun weeks full of anticipation.

If you don’t have the budget for a trip, you can still plan a staycation.

10. Grow Your Garden

Moving to outdoorsy projects, the summer is the perfect time to start growing full-sun flowers and veggies in the garden. If you’re not used to gardening, stick to beginner-friendly plants that can thrive in the heat. 

11. Paint Flower Pots

To accompany your summertime flowers, you can also paint some flower pots (or let your kids do it for you). No rule says pots have to be brown and dull, so go all out with designs and colors to suit you. Just ensure the paint you use isn’t toxic to plants and, to be safe, don’t paint the inside of the pot.

12. Chalk Up the Sidewalk

Playing with chalk is a great way to spend the afternoon with kids if you have a driveway or concrete patio. Teach them how to play Hopscotch, and encourage them to write messages and draw to their heart’s content. 

Get Crafty This Summer

The summer season is the perfect time to dig deeper into your hobbies and discover new ones. Find a project that’s your thing, or mix and match a few. There’s also nothing wrong with trying a project, realizing you aren’t enjoying yourself, and switching to something else. Just take the time to grow yourself, have a good time, and maybe eat a DIY popsicle or two.