Doing arts and crafts outdoors doubles the fun of creating for kids of all ages and contains the mess. Let’s take our art project ideas outside! We have chosen our favorite outdoor arts and crafts for kids and hope these outdoors art projects inspire your kids to get out and be creative outside!
OutDoor Arts & Crafts for Kids
It all started when I was thinking of ways to take art into the garden – really simple and fun ideas for spontaneous outdoor creativity, without much of the directions and restrictions of indoors. One of the things I love about doing outdoor art with kids is that no one is worried about the mess.
Related: Our favorite easy process art ideas for kids
Oooodles of inspiration for keeping the little, and not so little, engaged in the garden this summer.
Outdoor Art Projects for Kids
I’ve collected favorite outdoor art ideas, all requiring little in the way of preparation and clean up!
1. DIY Chalk Rake Art
This is a rake with chalk at the end of each of the rake prong making it a really fun chalk marking activity that can make an entire rainbow in one swipe of the rake! via laughingkidslearn
Related: Try our fizzy sidewalk chalk painting idea
2. DIY Garden Art Idea for Kids
Create a quiet painting space with the help of your child. Choose just the right tree for shade or bush for cozy fort feeling. Set up an easel and grab a handful of supplies. You can create a simple, yet super fun painting space for your little one. I am SO in love with this idea from livingonlove (unavailable)
Related: Try this really cool outdoor art easel for kids
3. Trampoline Artist Drawings
Perfect for spontaneous outdoor creating, gorgeous great big canvas that the rain or garden hose will clear up for you, bonus! via childhood101
Outdoors Paintings
4. Body Art by Kids
Kids will love the freedom to brush paint all over themselves – get ready to hear a chorus of ‘best day ever’. See the magic for yourself on CurlyBirds
5. Sidewalk Splat Painting
Homemade chalk filled balloons- such a FUN way for kids to create art this Summer! via growingajeweledrose
Outdoors Art Ideas We Love
6. Bring the Easel Outdoors
Tape some large paper directly to the side of your house or fence house for an instant easel. via tinkerlab
7. Painting Wall
A painting wall is such a great idea to get children up and away from desks where their little arms are restricted. Give them the room to explore, create and get messy! via mericherry
8. Outdoor Art Studio by Kids
Seven Tips for Setting up an Impromptu Garden Art Studio. via tinkerlab
Art Projects for Kids for the Backyard
9. Paint Mud Pictures
Some wonderful messy fun ¦.followed by a bath! on CurlyBirds
10. Create Chalk Paintings
Patio paintings that make you smile until it rains… so gorgeous from buzzmills
11. DIY Crayon Wax Rubbings
A classic art project for kids is crayon rubbing – that is easy, fun and great for fine motor skills development, recognizing textures and colors.
Cool Art for Kids Using Nature
12. Natural Loom Art
An outdoor loom out of a tree stump woven with natural materials. So so pretty from babbledabbledo
13. Petal Pictures & Nature Collages
Kids being kids they like to pull the petals off flowers so here’s the most darling ideas for crafting cards and little pictures with glued petals. via CurlyBirds (unavailable)
Or try our flower and stick butterfly collage that uses things you find to create the prettiest butterfly picture.
14. Make Dirt Earth Art
We originally created this fun outdoor art project which uses dirt as Earth Day art, but every day is the perfect day to make earth art!
15. Splatter Painting Art
The more messy the art project, the more memorable (and FUN) the experience becomes. via InnerChildFun
Art for Kids Ideas
16. Handprint Art In The Garden
When the sun is shining and the children are feeling creative my girls love nothing more than heading out into the garden and creating some big, messy, joyful art like this outdoor handprint art project.
17. Giant Duct Tape Flowers
Oh how I love these – giant cereal box flowers to say I love you ‘big much’. via leighlaurelstudios
18. Garden Sculptures
Brighten up our garden with a gorgeous kid-made clay port sculpture. The kids will love being involved in every step of the process. Pop over to nurturestore to see the magic for yourself
Related: Leaf art for kids
Fun Outdoor Crafts for Kids
19. Outdoor Chalkboard
Get your kids outside with this fun life-size chalkboard! via projectdenneler
20. Resist Art Stepping Stones
A fun garden art project to brighten up your garden via Twodaloo
Related: Try making DIY stepping stones with this concrete step stone tutorial
21. Clothes Peg Art Gallery
After children create their artwork, wet paintings can be clipped to tree branches to dry. via wordplayhouse
Easy Art Ideas for Kids – Perfect for Toddlers & Preschool
22. DIY Cool Whip Painting
This is a great sensory activity, as it tastes good, looks cool, and feels awesome! Great for small kids who put everything in their mouths, via livingonlove (no longer available)
Related: Try painting with shaving cream
23. Water Painting
A little outside “crafting” that requires no clean up and only a few supplies – a bucket of water and some paint brushes!! via buzzmills
Related: More painting with water fun for kids
24. Make Outdoor Handprint Art
We have over 75 ideas for making handprint art with kids and these fun handprint projects are perfect for doing outside to contain the mess!
25. Let’s Make Shadow Art with the Sun
One of our very favorite easy art ideas for kids is to use the sun and your favorite toy’s shadow to create shadow art.
26. Paint with Bubbles
One of our very favorite things to do outside is blow bubbles. Make it artsy with this easy bubble painting technique that works for kids of all ages.
More Outdoor Inspired Fun from Kids Activities Blog
What outdoor art project are you going to try first?