6 Easy Summer Crafts You Should Try Indoors When It’s Too Hot to Go Outside

When the weather gets too hot, bring the fun indoors with these six easy summer crafts. Whether you’re a DIY pro or a beginner, these all-level craft ideas are simple, easy to customize, and fun to do on your own or with friends—and some are even kid-friendly.

The summer crafts round-up includes everything from nostalgic friendship bracelets and tie-dye t-shirts to front door wreaths and pop-pom earrings—that are a great way to use up all that scrap yarn. Each craft uses only a handful of supplies that are inexpensive and easy to find at any craft store.

Read on for six creative DIY projects that make staying indoors on hot summer days surprisingly fun.

Friendship Bracelets

Friendship bracelets are great for beginners as well as more advanced crafters since designs range from simple braided friendship bracelets to more complex diamond patterns. Grab an assortment of colorful threads, masking tape, or a clipboard, and follow tutorials online to make bracelets for all your friends.

“Friendship bracelets are one of those quintessential summertime crafts that are just as much fun for kids as they are for adults,” Sarah Stearns, a crochet and knitting teacher, pattern designer, and blogger at Sarah Maker, says.

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Summer Wreath

Front door wreaths aren’t just for the holidays and Julian Thomas, a Command Brand partner and a DIY and home lifestyle expert, says they are a great craft project for days when it’s too hot outside.

“I recommend using materials that represent the season you’re currently crafting for—for summer, you would want to keep it lightweight with dried flowers, faux greenery, and maybe even some citrus,” Thomas says.

To keep your DIY craft project heatwave-proof, Thomas recommends skipping nails and using large outdoor Command hooks that don’t require tools or cause damage and hold strong even when the temperatures rise.

Pom-Pom Earrings

“Pom-pom earrings are one of my favorite easy summer crafts because they’re quick to make, fun and lightweight to wear, and completely customizable,” Ashley Parker, a crochet designer and blogger at The Loopy Lamb, says.

She suggests having fun with bright summer colors and involving kids since the craft is easy to make and is an excellent indoor project for hot days. The earrings take approximately 30 minutes to make and are the perfect way to use up scrap yarn.

Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Tie-dye t-shirts aren’t just fun to wear in the summer, they’re a great indoor project if it gets too hot to be outside. You can customize your design with a variety of colors and patterns, and follow different tutorials to walk you through the process from start to finish.

To keep your work station mess-free when you move the tie-dyeing fun indoors, Stearns recommends using plastic tablecloths or large trash bags to protect your work surface.

Macrame Plant Hanger

If you’ve been wanting to give macrame crafts a try, Stearns says a plant hanger is a great project for beginners who want to dive into macrame for the first time. This plant hanger is made with just a few simple knotting techniques.

Not only is this a creative indoor project for hot summer days, but it also provides a lovely way to display your potted plants in the summer and beyond. Best of all, once you learn the basic knotting techniques, you can try a variety of other macrame crafts, such as the wall hangings that have made the ’70s craft popular again.

Organizing Projects

When it’s too hot to be outside, Thomas loves to keep busy with an indoor DIY project. Whether it be customizing labels, decorating bins, or transforming a basic storage box into something unique that can be out in the open at all times.

Utilize wall space or the insides of cabinet doors by organizing small craft supplies in hanging bins to keep surfaces clutter-free. It’ll make it easier to clean up your craft space, keep supplies organized, and allow you to see what you have on hand and can get creative with.