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Whether St. Patty’s Day is around the corner or your house is showered with rainy-day gloom, rainbow crafts are the perfect way to get the kids excited.
Since no two people see the same rainbow in the sky, rainbow projects allow children to express individuality while creating a keepsake everyone will love.
Bring your child into the world of color with these seven quick rainbow crafts for kids.
As always, adult supervision is required for all craft projects that your child undertakes.
7 Quick Rainbow Crafts for Kids
PIPE CLEANER RAINBOW
Although you may prefer a pot of gold, at the end of the pipe cleaner rainbow, you will be rewarded with your child’s enchanting smile.
A project for children three years of age and older, this quick craft requires rainbow-colored pipe cleaners, glue, a Styrofoam ball approximately three inches in diameter, cotton balls, scissors and a piece of cardboard.
Cut a 6” x 4” piece of cardboard.
A paper plate will also work well.
Cut the Styrofoam ball in half.
Glue the halves to the cardboard four to five inches apart.
Your child should poke one end of the red pipe cleaner into one half of the Styrofoam ball and the other end in the other half, creating an arc.
Repeat with orange, yellow, green, blue and purple pipe cleaners.
Glue cotton balls to the Styrofoam halves to give the project the appearance of clouds.
Place the rainbow on the fireplace mantel or dining room table so everyone can enjoy the colorful piece of art.
RAINBOW JELLYFISH
Jellyfish in the ocean can cause panic but smiles are sure to be created by rainbow jellyfish with googly eyes.
This quick craft is suitable for children over the age of three; however, two-year-olds can create the sea creature with assistance.
Before you begin, gather orange or yellow paint, a paint brush, two eyes per jellyfish, pipe cleaners in a variety of colors, glue, scissors, string, a pen, a toothpick and Styrofoam balls (one for two jellyfish).
Cut the Styrofoam balls in half.
Paint the half circle and let it dry.
Help your child glue colorful eyes to begin personalizing the rainbow jellyfish.
Wrap a pipe cleaner around the pen.
Remove the pen and stretch the pipe cleaner.
After choosing four more colors, repeat the process.
Push the ends of the pipe cleaners into the flat side of the Styrofoam.
Using the toothpick, create a hole on top of the jelly fish.
Fill the small hole with glue.
Tie the string together, creating a loop.
Use the toothpick to push the knot into the hole.
Allow entire project to dry before hanging.
POM POM RAINBOW WREATH
Whether your child throws them or your cat steals them, be prepared to find pom poms around the house after this craft.
For children two and older, the pom pom rainbow wreath requires rainbow-colored pom poms, scissors, glue, one paper plate per wreath and ribbon.
Cut out the center of the paper plate.
Glue pom poms to the remaining wreath.
Your child can glue the reds with the reds and the yellows with the yellows or create a mosaic of pom poms.
Cut a piece of ribbon and tie into a bow.
Glue the ribbon to the bottom of the wreath.
Hang the rainbow pom pom wreath on your door to greet all your guests with cheer.
RAINBOW COMB PAINTING
If your child loves the swirls created by finger painting, you will both love comb painting.
This project gives half the mess with twice the fun for children two and older.
Before you begin, collect rainbow-colored paints, combs (you can pick up a variety pack at the dollar store), a cookie sheet, tin foil and paper.
Place the tin foil on the cookie tray and the paper on top of the tin foil.
Squirt a liberal amount of various colored paint onto the paper.
More paint will give the artwork a marble appearance, whereas less paint will make it harder to drag the colors together.
Children can create designs, including hearts and rainbows.
Take a comb and drag in through the paint.
Allow the paint to dry before hanging your child’s masterpiece on your wall.
This craft is a creative way to help children learn about primary and secondary colors.
RAINBOW FLOWERS
Everyone loves flowers and, after this craft, your child will too.
Kids two years of age and older will enjoy creating rainbow-colored flowers.
You will need six white roses or carnations, a variety of food colorings, water, a spoon and six glass jars.
For a last-minute activity, skip the flowers and use celery from the fridge.
The vegetable will also absorb colored water.
Fill glass jars with water.
Add a few drops of food coloring until the water takes on the appropriate hue.
Use a spoon to stir the food coloring into the water.
After placing the stem of one flower into each jar, allow the craft to sit as the flowers absorb the water.
Whether your child wants to give grandma a gift or add aesthetic appeal to your house, this rainbow flower bouquet will delight any recipient.
MELTED BEAD RAINBOW BOWL
Whether your child needs a new hat or you need a creative fruit bowl, parents and children alike will enjoy creating a beaded rainbow bowl.
A craft for children over the age of three and that requires adult assistance, the necessary beads may prove to be a choking hazard for younger children.
Before you begin, collect rainbow-colored perler beads, cooking spray or oil, and a small glass oven-safe bowl.
This craft is best completed in the kitchen as an oven is also required.
Preheat your oven to 350° F.
Grease the bowl with cooking oil, making sure to cover the bottom and the sides.
Add beads to the bowl two to three layers deep.
Your child can design a rainbow, grouping reds, pinks and sparkled beads, or create a mosaic of colors.
Press the beads into the bowl, leaving only one layer creeping up the sides.
Place the bowl in the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
Once cool, peel the beads from the bowl.
Enjoy your new multi-colored bowl that will have all guests praising the creativity of your child.
HANDPRINT RAINBOW
After you counted ten little fingers and ten little toes, you began to marvel at the tininess.
Helping your child create a handprint rainbow will allow you to immortalize this moment of childhood while allowing him to truly get his hands dirty.
Perfect for children over the age of three, infants and toddlers can participate in this craft with help.
You will need rainbow-colored paint, a large piece of paper or cardboard, paper plates, a pencil, and a damp rag.
Pour paint onto six different paper plates.
Use the pencil to lightly stencil an arc on the paper.
After dipping his hands in red paint, your child can place handprints along the penciled line.
Use the damp rag to wash your child’s hands.
Repeat these steps for orange, yellow, green, blue and purple paints.
If you have more than one child participating, use one color per child or create an arc of different children’s hands.
For kids who do not play well with paint, collect rainbow-colored construction paper.
Trace the child’s hand and use the cutout instead of a painted handprint.
This method increases the time it takes to complete the craft.
Somewhere over the rainbow is a coveted pot of gold, but nothing will make you feel as rich as these quick rainbow crafts created with the love of a child.