Summer is basically a three-month-long excuse to eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. But even I have to admit that sometimes, you end up with more melted mess than actual dessert. Or maybe you just need a project that’s slightly less caloric than a double-fudge sundae but still satisfies that sweet tooth.
That’s where today’s post comes in. I’ve rounded up seven ridiculously fun DIY ice cream crafts that let you enjoy the theme of everyone’s favorite frozen treat without the brain freeze. Whether you’re looking to entertain the kids, spruce up your kitchen, or just have an excuse to buy glitter, I’ve got you covered.
Grab a spoon (or a glue gun) and let’s get started!
1. Painted Ice Cream Cone Rocks
Ever wondered why we spend money on decorative items when the ground is literally covered in free supplies? I’m talking about rocks. Specifically, the smooth, plain ones that just sit there looking boring. Let’s fix that.
Why Rocks, Though?
I stumbled upon this idea last year when my nephew was visiting. He was bored, I was out of craft supplies, and the backyard was full of pebbles. Necessity is the mother of invention, right? We turned those boring rocks into the cutest little ice cream cones you’ve ever seen. They’re now permanent fixtures in my garden, and they don’t melt!
How to Make Them:
- Gather your materials: Smooth, flat rocks (look for oval or circle shapes), acrylic paint in brown, white, and various “flavor” colors (pink for strawberry, yellow for vanilla, etc.), and a fine-tip paintbrush.
- The process: First, wash and dry your rocks. Then, paint a brown triangle at the bottom for the cone. Once that’s dry, paint a scoop on top. Feeling fancy? Add polka dots for sprinkles or a red cherry on top!
- Pro-Tip: Seal them with a clear spray sealer if they’re going outside. Otherwise, the rain will ruin your hard work.
This is seriously the perfect low-stakes craft. IMO, it’s even better than actual ice cream because you don’t have to eat it before it drips down your hand. :/
2. Sparkly Ice Cream Playdough
If you have kids (or if you’re a kid at heart, no judgment here), this one is for you. Store-bought playdough is fine, but homemade playdough? That’s where the magic happens. And when you add a little sparkle? Game over.
The “No-Cook” Method
I hate recipes that require me to stand over a hot stove in July. That’s why I’m a huge fan of the no-cook playdough method. It comes together in minutes, and the texture is chef’s kiss.
Here’s what you need:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup salt
- 2 tbsp cream of tartar
- 1 tbsp oil (coconut or vegetable)
- 1 cup boiling water
- Food coloring (in your favorite ice cream colors)
- Fine glitter (because why not?)
Mix the dry ingredients (flour, salt, cream of tartar) in a bowl. In a separate cup, mix your boiling water, oil, food coloring, and a generous sprinkle of glitter. Pour the wet into the dry and stir until it forms a ball. Let it cool slightly, then knead it until it’s smooth.
The result is a squishy, sparkly dough that smells like a bakery and looks like a unicorn’s dream. You’re welcome. 😉
3. Melted Ice Cream Sensory Bin
Okay, this craft is technically for the little ones, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t spend a good twenty minutes playing with it myself. There’s something oddly satisfying about the texture.
What You’ll Need:
- A plastic bin or large container
- Shaving cream
- Brown pom-poms or crinkle paper (for the “chocolate” or “sprinkles”)
- A plastic bowl or cup
- A large spoon
Assembling Your “Dessert”
Place the plastic bowl upside down in the center of the bin. This will be your “cone.” Dump a generous amount of shaving cream over the top to look like a giant scoop of vanilla. Now, sprinkle those brown pom-poms all over the shaving cream.
It looks exactly like a melted, sprinkle-covered ice cream cone that’s fallen over. It’s silly, it’s messy, and it keeps kids entertained for hours. Plus, it makes your house smell like a barbershop, which is a weird but pleasant bonus.
4. “Sprinkle” Polymer Clay Magnets
Let’s shift gears to something a bit more permanent and useful. Polymer clay is one of my favorite crafting materials because it’s so forgiving. If you mess up, you just squish it and start over. No harm, no foul.
Making the “Ice Cream”
We’re going to make miniature ice cream sandwiches and popsicles to stick on your fridge. They look good enough to eat, but I promise they will break your teeth. 😛
- For Popsicles: Roll out a flat sheet of clay and cut it into popsicle shapes. Use a toothpick to add texture (like a real wooden stick) to a smaller piece of brown clay for the stick. Attach it to the bottom.
- For Sandwiches: Roll out a slab of tan/brown clay for the “cookies.” Use a small circle cutter. Then, roll a thin layer of white or pink clay for the filling, sandwich it between two cookies, and press gently.
- The Sprinkle Situation: Before baking, cover your creations with a sprinkle mixture. You can buy pre-made polymer clay sprinkles, or you can make your own by rolling tiny snakes of clay in different colors and chopping them up into tiny pieces.
Bake according to the package instructions, then glue a small magnet to the back. Boom. Instant kitchen decor that reminds you of summer all year long.
5. DIY Ice Cream Cone Garland
Are you throwing a summer birthday party? Or just want your living room to look like a perpetual carnival? This paper garland is your new best friend. It’s cheap, it’s cheerful, and it’s incredibly easy to customize.
Crafting the Cones
This is mostly a tracing and cutting exercise, so put on a good podcast and settle in.
Steps:
- Cut out cones: From brown or tan cardstock, cut out triangle shapes. I like to use a scalloped scissor on the top edge of the triangle to make it look like a waffle cone, but straight is fine too!
- Cut out scoops: From colored cardstock (pink, mint, yellow, lavender), cut out cloud-like oval shapes. Make sure they are slightly wider than the cone.
- Add details: Use a brown marker to draw a cross-hatch pattern on the cones. Use white chalk or a white paint pen to add “shine” to the ice cream scoops. Glue on tiny pom-poms or sequins for sprinkles.
- Assemble: Glue the scoop to the top of the cone. Then, using a needle and string or washi tape, attach the finished pieces to a long piece of twine or ribbon.
Hang it across a mantle or a dessert table. It’s impossible to look at this and not smile.
6. Ice Cream Cone Wind Chimes
This is for the upcyclers out there. You know who you are—you look at a piece of trash and see a future masterpiece. This project turns a simple terracotta pot into a whimsical wind chime.
From Terra Cotta to Ice Cream
The base of this craft is a small, unglazed terracotta pot. I’m talking about the tiny 2-inch ones usually used for succulents. Turn it upside down—see how it already looks like a cone?
- Paint it: Paint the upside-down pot with a tan or light brown color. Once dry, use a darker brown to paint the classic waffle cone diamond pattern.
- The “Scoop”: Take a larger wooden bead and paint it white (for vanilla) or any color you like. You can even paint multiple beads in different colors to stack them!
- The Topper: Paint a small wooden star red to be a cherry, or glue some green felt leaves on top.
- String it up: Thread a piece of fishing line or jute twine through the hole in the pot (which is now the bottom of your cone), string on your “scoop” beads, and tie off the cherry at the very top. Attach a bell or a few smaller beads dangling from the bottom of the pot for the chime part.
Hang it on the porch and let the summer breeze do the rest. Not that you needed another reason to drink iced coffee on the porch, but here it is.
7. No-Sew Felt Ice Cream Plushies
I saved the cuddliest craft for last. If you can handle a pair of scissors and you know how to use fabric glue, you can make these adorable felt ice cream cones. They make great gifts for kids (or for your cat, apparently. My cat is obsessed with them).
Simple Shapes, Big Impact
Felt is a dream material because it doesn’t fray. You can cut it and it just stays put.
Here’s the game plan:
- Cut two brown cones: Cut two identical triangle shapes out of brown felt.
- Cut two ice cream scoops: Cut two identical cloud shapes out of white, pink, or mint felt.
- Add the face: On one of the scoop pieces, embroider or glue on two googly eyes and a smile. This is where the personality comes in!
- Assemble: Glue the scoop pieces together around the edges, leaving the bottom open. Slide the top of the cone piece into the bottom opening, glue it in place, and then glue the two cone pieces together. Stuff it with a little poly-fil before you close it up completely.
In fifteen minutes, you have a squishy, huggable friend that will never melt. FYI, these are also excellent for removing makeup in a pinch if you lose your actual makeup remover pads. Multi-purpose crafting!
So there you have it—seven ways to celebrate the glory of ice cream without consuming a single calorie (unless you count the ones you eat while crafting, which I absolutely do).
Whether you decide to get your hands dirty with playdough or go for something more permanent like the clay magnets, I hope these ideas bring a little extra sweetness to your summer.
Now I want to hear from you: Which of these disasters—I mean, masterpieces—are you going to try first? Drop a comment below and let me know! And if you end up making the painted rocks, for the love of all that is holy, please don’t confuse them with potatoes and try to cook them. 😀
Happy crafting!
