Easter is creeping up again, and if you’re like me, you’re staring at a calendar wondering where the time went. Suddenly, you need to keep the little humans entertained for a solid week of spring break without relying solely on an iPad. I’ve been there. More times than I can count.
So, I rounded up my favorite, most-tested, and occasionally-messy DIY Easter crafts for kids. These aren’t just time-fillers; they’re the kind of projects that actually get the kids excited and might even result in some decent holiday decor. No fancy skills required. Just grab some glue, maybe hide the good scissors, and let’s get started.
Egg-cellent Egg Decorating Ideas (Without the Mess)
Let’s kick things off with the star of the show: eggs. But dying them the traditional way with those little tablets and a cup of vinegar? With kids under five, that’s a recipe for stained hands and spilled liquids. I’ve learned the hard way. Here are the alternatives that actually work.
1. Glue Gun Eggs (But Let the Adults Handle the Heat)
Ever wondered why store-bought decor looks so much fancier than our home attempts? It’s usually the texture. Grab a low-temp glue gun (this is key—the mini ones are perfect for little hands if you supervise the trigger) and let the kids go to town on blown-out or hard-boiled eggs.
- What you need: Eggs, low-temp glue gun, acrylic paint or spray paint.
- The method: Let the kids draw lines, swirls, or even little “Easter bunny” faces with the glue. Once it dries (which takes about 30 seconds), let them paint the entire egg. When the paint dries, peel off the glue, or leave it on for a raised effect. I prefer peeling it off—it leaves a cool, resist-dye look that’s super professional.
2. Silk Tie Dyed Eggs
This is my absolute favorite because it feels like a magic trick. You know those old silk ties or thrift store scarves you never wear? FYI, they make the most beautiful eggs ever.
- What you need: 100% silk fabric, eggs, old pillowcases or white fabric, rubber bands, scissors.
- The method: Cut the silk into squares big enough to wrap an egg. Wrap the egg tightly in the silk (pattern side facing the egg), then wrap it again in the white fabric. Secure with rubber bands. Boil them in water with a splash of vinegar for 20 minutes. Let them cool, then unwrap. The pattern transfers perfectly. IMO, this is the highest “wow factor” craft for the least amount of effort.
3. Sticker and Sharpie Eggs
For the toddler set, this is a winner. It requires zero prep and minimal cleanup.
- What you need: Hard-boiled eggs or plastic eggs, a pack of assorted stickers (the smaller the better), and Sharpies.
- The method: Let them cover the eggs in stickers. Then, they can color in the spaces between the stickers with markers. Peel the stickers off to reveal a crisp, white pattern underneath. It’s like tie-dye, but with stickers. My nephew got so into this last year, he refused to eat the eggs because he “made art.”
Crafts That Turn Trash into Treasure
I’m a big fan of crafts that utilize stuff I already have in my recycling bin. It makes me feel less guilty about the Amazon boxes piling up in the garage. These next projects are perfect for that.
4. Toilet Paper Roll Bunnies
If you don’t save your toilet paper rolls for crafts, are you even a DIY blogger? 😛 Seriously though, this is the quintessential spring craft.
- What you need: Empty toilet paper rolls, paint, glue, googly eyes, pink paper or cotton balls.
- The method:
- Flatten the roll and cut two curved ears out of the top.
- Pop the roll back into shape and let the kids paint it brown, white, or even pastel pink.
- Once dry, glue on googly eyes, a cotton ball for a tail, and some paper whiskers.
They stand up on their own, which makes them perfect for table decoration. The kids can make a whole family of them in about an hour.
5. Egg Carton Caterpillars
Spring isn’t just about bunnies and chicks; it’s bug season too. These little guys are cheerful and ridiculously easy.
- What you need: Cardboard egg cartons, scissors, paint, pipe cleaners, googly eyes.
- The method: Cut the egg carton into strips of three or four cups. Let the kids paint each cup a different color. Poke two small holes in the top of the first cup for the antennae (pipe cleaners), and glue on the googly eyes. I love this craft because it’s virtually indestructible. You can toss these in a toy bin and they’ll last until next Easter.
6. Plastic Spoon Chicks
Got leftover plastic spoons from a party? Don’t throw them out.
- What you need: White plastic spoons, yellow paint, orange felt or paper, googly eyes, a hot glue gun (adult use).
- The method: Paint the back of the spoon (the bowl part) yellow. This is your chick’s body. Cut small diamond shapes out of orange felt and fold them in half to make a beak. Glue the beak and eyes onto the spoon. You can then glue the spoon onto a paper plate or stick it into a small flower pot filled with moss. They look adorable peeking out from plants.
Nature-Inspired Spring Fun
If the weather is nice, I try to force the kids outside for at least part of the craft. Fresh air and less mess in the house? Sign me up.
7. Painted Rock Bugs
This is as simple as it gets, but it keeps them busy for a surprisingly long time. The key is gathering the supplies beforehand.
- What you need: Smooth, flat rocks (go on a hunt to find these!), acrylic paint, paintbrushes, googly eyes.
- The method: Wash and dry the rocks. Paint them solid colors to dry. Then, add spots for ladybugs, stripes for bumblebees, or just let them go wild with patterns. Glue on googly eyes for extra personality. You can hide these around the neighborhood for others to find, or use them to line your garden path. They weather pretty well, too.
8. Flower Petal Suncatchers
We have a ton of flowers blooming in our yard in the spring, and this craft puts those fallen petals to good use.
- What you need: Contact paper, scissors, flower petals and leaves, a paper plate.
- The method: Cut the center out of a paper plate to create a “frame.” Cut two squares of contact paper slightly larger than the frame. Peel the backing off one square and stick it to the back of the frame (sticky side out). Let the kids arrange petals and leaves on the sticky surface. When they’re done, peel the backing off the second square and carefully press it on top to seal the petals inside. Hang it in a window. The light shining through the petals is just beautiful.
For the Little Artists (Painting Projects)
Painting with kids can be chaotic, but these crafts direct that chaos into something actually frame-worthy.
9. Celery Stamp Roses
I saw this on Pinterest years ago and thought, “No way that works.” It does. It really does. The shape of a celery stalk is a perfect rose.
- What you need: A bunch of celery (cut the stalks off, leaving the base intact), a sharp knife (for you), paper, red and pink paint.
- The method: Adult step: cut the celery base about two inches from the bottom so it’s flat and the stalks are exposed. Pour paint onto a plate. Let the kids dip the celery stump into the paint and stamp it onto the paper. It creates a perfect rose print every single time. It’s a fun way to teach them about patterns in nature, too.
10. Fork Painting Chicks
Sometimes you don’t have the right tool, so you improvise. A fork makes the perfect texture for feathers.
- What you need: A plastic or metal fork, yellow paint, paper, googly eyes, orange paper.
- The method: Pour some yellow paint onto a plate. Show the kids how to dip the back of the fork (the tines) into the paint and press it onto the paper. They can stamp a circle of fork prints for the chick’s body and a smaller one for the head. Once dry, glue on the eyes and an orange paper beak. The texture from the fork marks looks just like fluff.
11. Potato Masher Carrots
We have an old potato masher that I was about to throw out, and then I realized it looked exactly like a carrot top.
- What you need: A round, wire potato masher, orange paint, green paint, paper.
- The method: Dip the flat part of the masher into orange paint and stamp it onto the paper. It leaves a perfect carrot-shaped imprint (with little dots, like real carrots have texture!). Then, use a finger or a paintbrush to add green stems at the top. This one is great for younger kids because the masher is easy to grip.
A Little Something for the Older Kids
If your kids are past the age of simple stamping, they might want a challenge. This last one is my go-to for pre-teens who think they’re “too old” for Easter crafts.
12. DIY Easter Bunny Ears Headband
This isn’t the flimsy, store-bought kind. This is a craft project that results in something they can actually wear and show off.
- What you need: Plain headbands (plastic or metal), felt or craft foam in white, pink, and gray, scissors, hot glue gun (with supervision), wire (optional, for bendable ears).
- The method:
- Cut out two long ear shapes from the white felt, and two smaller inner-ear shapes from the pink felt.
- Glue the pink pieces onto the white ones.
- If you want bendy ears, glue a piece of thin wire down the center of the back of each white ear before attaching the pink part.
- Glue the finished ears onto the headband. Wrap the base of the ears with extra felt to cover the glue.
They look infinitely cooler than the plastic ones from the dollar store, and honestly, I’ve seen teenagers wear these to music festivals. It’s a win-win.
Wrapping This Up
Look, I know doing crafts with kids can sometimes feel like herding cats. The glue gets everywhere, someone always cries because their project didn’t turn out “right,” and you end up finding glitter in random places until July. But those moments when they hold up their finished project with that look of pure pride? Totally worth it.
My best advice is to pick one or two of these ideas, gather the supplies beforehand, and just go with the flow. If the bunny ends up looking like a bear, who cares? It’s about the fun, not perfection. 😀
Which one of these are you trying first? I’d love to hear about your crafting chaos in the comments. Happy Easter, and may the glue be ever in your favor!
