30 Kids Craft Supplies to Stock Up on For Summer

Summertime is a great time for kids to explore creativity. Stock up on these kids’ craft supplies for inspiration and fun.

It’s time to stock your craft stash before summer starts. Having a variety of materials available is essential for inspiring creativity and giving the kids something to do when they tell you they’re bored.

Whether you’re planning a summer camp at home or you just need some colorful craft ideas to keep kids busy, a small supply stash can really come in handy.

You might have a supply closet or craft room to organize your kids’ craft supplies, but a well-stocked craft area can be something as simple as a plastic tote or a rolling cart.

If you’re planning to stock up on craft supplies for summer, here are a few tips before you shop.

• Take inventory of what you already have and make a list of what you need.
• Browse Pinterest and your favorite blogs to save the arts and crafts ideas that are your favorites.
• Decide on a budget and spread your shopping out over a few weeks if necessary.

I’ve organized my list into three sections:

• Arts and crafts staples are the basics that you’ll need for many projects.
• Art supplies are for more traditional art projects.
• Craft supplies are those quirky items that have a variety of uses.

Arts and crafts staples

Arts and crafts staples include quite a few basics that you might already have in your kids’ craft supplies area. Now is a great time to go through and sort out what might be broken or used up and needs replacing.

Apron/smock

Kids are going to get messy doing arts and crafts. These aprons are a cute way to protect their clothes, and you could even decorate them with each child’s name, handprint, etc. for a cute way to personalize each one.

Glue sticks

Glue sticks are my favorite choice instead of liquid glue. It’s less messy and the disappearing purple ones make it easy to see where you’ve put the glue. Elmer’s glue sticks are best for simple crafts that don’t need to be really durable.

Scotch tape

Tape is a staple for crafting, whether you’re a kid or an adult. I always buy a 3-pack of tape so that when my kids “borrow” my roll, I have another one that I can use for my own projects.

Kid-sized scissors

Scissors are a craft staple. Keep a few pairs of Fiskars kid-sized scissors in your craft stash so that the kids can cut easily and safely. Plus, they won’t use your fabric scissors to cut something sticky!

Single-hole punch

Look for a one-hole punch that’s easy for little hands to grip and press without too much effort. It will come in handy for paper crafts and the paper confetti can be used too.

Wood kraft sticks

Wooden kraft sticks, aka “popsicle sticks,” are great for a lot of different projects. They can be cut, glued, painted, colored, and used in a variety of ways.

Craft felt

Craft felt is another supply that can be used for any number of kids’ crafts. It’s perfect for little kids to cut and glue. Older kids can use felt for sewing and embroidery projects.

Tissue paper

Tissue paper isn’t just for gift wrapping. It makes an excellent kids’ craft supply for making “stained glass” window art, pinatas, and other paper mache-style crafts.

Brad paper fasteners

Brads are an easy way to attach two or more pieces of paper together but create a moveable connection. These bright and colorful ones are a fun addition to your craft stash.

Letter and numbers stamps

Wooden stamps are a fun way to add lettering to paper crafts, cards, and artwork. For early readers, they are a great tool for practicing the alphabet, sight words, and counting.

Kids art supplies

Encourage your budding artist to work in a variety of mediums beyond the basics of paper and crayons. You’ll notice many on this list are by Crayola, which is the brand my own family loves and prefers.

Card stock

If you’ll be printing templates for craft projects or a lot of coloring pages, stock up on good-quality card stock. It can double as a medium for drawing, painting, and other art projects too.

Easel paper roll

Even if you don’t have an art easel, a roll of easel paper is a fun medium for art. Roll it out on the floor or a table and cut it to any size you need.

Construction paper

Construction paper is a great thick paper for any type of art or craft project. Look for a bundle that includes a wide range of colors and white.

Crayola crayons

Let’s be honest. Kids go through a lot of crayons! Stock up on a big box with a variety of colors, so that when that favorite red crayon is used up, there are plenty more colors in the rainbow.

For even more options, add a box of neon crayons, glitter crayons, or the new Colors of the World skin tone crayons.

Crayola pencils

Colored pencils are an art supply staple for kids of all ages. Just like the crayons, the bigger variety you have on hand, the longer they’ll last. Crayola also makes them in erasable colored pencils and Colors of the World skin tone pencils.

Make sure you have a pencil sharpener too.

Crayola markers

Washable markers are a must for little kids, but older kids will enjoy them too. Just make sure the lids get back on every marker at the end of the day.

Permanent markers

While you probably don’t want your little ones to get ahold of these, permanent markers are a great art medium for teens. Fine-tip Sharpies can create amazing detail and vibrancy that can’t be done with colored pencils.

Watercolors

Crayola washable watercolors are an easy (and less messy) way to introduce painting. Most kids come with a tiny paintbrush, but it might be handy to stock up on extra paintbrushes.

Washable paint

Kids’ paint is usually water-based and made to be easily washable. For even less mess, try these Crayola paint sticks.

All-purpose paintbrushes

Grab a mix of paintbrush sizes and shapes to encourage creativity. Each one will create a slightly different texture, which is a fun sensory experience for little kids and essential for art with older ones.

Craft supplies

Some of these craft supplies are so odd. How did they get invented? Who knows, but most of them are perfect for all kinds of crafts that your kids will want to make this summer.

Pom poms

Pom poms can be used for making small, fuzzy creatures and other crafty ideas. They also make a fun alternative to paint brushes for painting.

Pipe cleaner chenille stems

Pipe cleaners can be twisted and folded to create anything your child can imagine from tiny animals to bracelets. It is easy to cut with kid-sized scissors.

Wiggly eyes

Wiggly eyes just make everything more fun. They’re a silly addition to any craft project, especially one that includes photos! Grab a variety pack.

Craft foam sheets

Craft foam can be used in many of the same ways that construction paper is, but it’s much more durable and flexible, so it can bend, fold, and roll.

Buttons

Buttons are great for gluing onto cards and other papercrafts, they’re fun for weaving and sewing projects and make a great adult craft supply too.

Satin ribbon

Colorful ribbons are fun for embellishing a fairy princess wand, a wind chime, or a rainbow of weaving crafts.

Embroidery floss

Embroidery floss is handy for much more than embroidery (though that’s a fun kids’ craft too). Use it to make friendship bracelets, tassels, and gods’ eyes – a summer camp classic.

Colored duct tape

Duct tape comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. It is amazingly versatile and can be used to make almost anything.

Pony beads

Pony beads are the perfect size to make bracelets and necklaces. They are also good for keychains and other woven crafts, and can even be melted!

Heat shrink plastic

Heat shrink plastic, commonly known by the brand name Shrinky Dinks, is a unique and creative material that shrinks when heated. Draw and color on the plastic, cut out shapes, and bake for a few minutes.

What’s next? Try these other fun and creative ideas on One Mama’s Daily Drama:

• 30+ Printable Kids Activities for Fun at Home
• 10 Tween Activity Books to Beat Summer Boredom
• 84 Kids Activities for Summer