May is full of reasons to get crafty—Mother’s Day, Star Wars Day, National Space Day, and Memorial Day all offer fun ways for kids to create and learn simultaneously. Whether you’ve got a preschoolers who loves gluing tissue paper or an older child who’s into painting or pretend play, there’s something here for everyone.
Discover a collection of May crafts for kids that combine creativity, learning, and easy hands-on fun—most using supplies you already have at home. From paper bag puppets to painted flower pots and heartfelt cards for Mom, each activity is simple to make and full of charm.
If you’re looking for themed activities that are budget-friendly and age-appropriate, you’re in the right place. Many of these ideas come fromSimple Everyday Mom, a go-to resource for moms and teachers who want doable crafts. Ready to get started? Scroll through and pick your favorites to try this May!
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May Crafts For Kids
Star Wars Day (May 4)
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Baby Yoda Tissue Paper Craft
This craft turns crumpled bits of tissue paper and a simple template into an adorable little green alien. Kids will have fun practicing their fine motor skills as they scrunch and glue the tissue pieces to bring Baby Yoda to life. It's a playful way to celebrate Star Wars Day, and the finished project looks cute enough to display proudly.
Kids can create a safe, soft lightsaber perfect for young Jedi adventures with just a pool noodle and some tape. Imagination runs wild as they decorate the "hilt" and then jump into epic pretend battles without worrying about bumps or bruises. It's an active craft that leads to hours of Star Wars-themed play.
Creatively introduce shapes by building a tiny Jedi Master from basic cut-outs. Little ones glue together circles, triangles, and ovals (like puzzle pieces) to form a Yoda figure, making it an ideal craft for toddlers learning shapes. It's easy and engaging—kids enjoy seeing how simple shapes turn into favorite characters and end up with a cute green alien to play with.Related: Baby Yoda Handprint Craft
A plain brown lunch bag transforms into everyone's favorite Wookiee with this fun puppet project. By adding fuzzy-looking paper fur, a bandolier strap, and a friendly face, kids make a cuddly Chewbacca they can simply slip on their hout of this-world puppet. Afterward, children will love growling and giggling through miniature X-wing starfighter shows.
Kids can bring Star Wars to the garden by painting ordinary flower pots to look like movie characters. All it takes is some paint and a steady hand to create mini planters that resemble droids, stormtroopers, or even Baby Yoda. Not only are these decorated pots a fun art project, but they also make great homes for little plants – a unique mix of fandom and gardening that kids will think is out of this world.Also try: Star Wars Printable Coloring Pages
Empty cardboard tubes and craft sticks find new life as miniature X-wing starfighters. Kids assemble and paint the recycled pieces into the iconic X-shaped spacecraft with wings and a cockpit drawn. It's a simple build with a big payoff—after crafting, children can "fly" their X-wing around the room, imagining space missions on Star Wars Day with some creativity.
This project focuses on building a droid using only paper and glue. Using a printable template, kids cut out R2-D2's signature shapes and features—like his rounded head and blue panels—and assemble them into a flat version of the beloved robot. It's a fun, hands-on activity where children can recreate a favorite character and end up with a small droid perfect for play or display.
For artsy fun, kids can draw a Death Star with white crayons and then paint over it to reveal a "secret" space station. As they wash gray or black watercolor paint across the page, the crayon lines resist the paint, and the Death Star design magically appears. Watching the hidden picture come out is like a science experiment and art project in one, and young Star Wars fans will be thrilled with their galaxy-far-far-away masterpiece.Related: DIY Death Star Paper Plate Craft
With creativity, empty toilet paper rolls can become a whole cast of Star Wars characters. Kids wrap, paint, and add paper details to each tube to turn them into mini heroes and villains—think a green roll for Yoda with big paper ears or a brown roll for Chewbacca with fuzzy paper fur. They'll love crafting their favorite characters (using recycled materials!) and inventing stories as their new cardboard figures go on adventures.Also try: Star Wars Cutting Practice Worksheets
This simple puppet uses everyday items to bring a tiny green Jedi to life. With a paper cupcake liner or coffee filter forming Yoda's iconic ears and head, kids assemble the puppet in just a few easy steps. Once made, children can play with their Yoda puppet for hours, acting out their Star Wars tales or teaming them up with other toys for galactic fun.Related: Grogu Baby Yoda Craft
A handy printable template guides kids in making their very own golden droid. They'll cut out C-3PO's distinctive parts from cardstock and glue them together like a puzzle so even young fans can quickly assemble this recognizable Star Wars character.The project is quick and easy (taking only about 15 minutes), and kids end up with a friendly paper C-3PO – complete with that metallic shine – to add to their Star Wars collection.Also try: Darth Vader Paper Bag Puppet Craft
A paper lunch bag becomes a cute cactus puppet for Cinco de Mayo fun. Kids paint or cover the bag in green, add paper arms and a smiley face, and even stick a little paper flower on top to make it festive. The result is a playful cactus character they can put on their hand – great for pretend play and celebrating Mexican desert vibes without any prickles!
Kids can create their mini Mexican flag using a clever painting trick. Instead of a regular paintbrush, they use cotton swabs (Q-tips) dipped in red and green paint to dab the colors onto paper, forming the flag's stripes (and practicing fine motor skills as they dot away).It's incredible how quickly this comes together – in just a few minutes, children will have a vibrant flag to wave proudly for Cinco de Mayo.
Kids color and cut out printable dancers and fiesta decorations to build their mini-celebration scene. Everything stands up in a folded paper backdrop or small box. It's like having a tiny party in a box—bright, cheerful desserts are great for display.Related: Cinco de Mayo Color By Numbers
Turn a paper plate into a bright green cactus using a simple template, paint, or markers. Kids can glue on paper flowers or draw tiny spikes to decorate. It makes a cute stand-up centerpiece for a desert theme or Cinco de Mayo.
Turn plastic Easter eggs into working maracas with a bit of rice, tape, and colorful decorations. Kids can use spoons or cups to hold the egg in place and then shake it away. They'll love making noise at their fiesta!
Draw and glue on fins to decorate a paper bag as a silly fish, then fill it with small goodies. Once tied and hung, it's ready to break open for a fun surprise. No messy papier-mâché is needed; kids love making their party centerpieces.
A flipped paper cup becomes a cheerful cactus with green paint, curved paper arms, and a smiling face. Kids love adding pom-poms or paper flowers on top. This "plant" stands on its own and never needs watering!
Cut two matching cactus shapes, then slide them together to make a standing paper cactus. Kids can decorate it with little flowers or drawn-on spikes. It's a clever and sturdy decoration for a pretend dessert or party table.Also try: Cactus Tissue Paper Craft
This heartfelt activity uses a child's handprint as the centerpiece—painted or traced—to create something Mom will treasure. Kids can turn their print into a strawberry, flower, or heart, adding messages like "Mom, you're the berry best!" The whole piece becomes a sweet reminder made by tiny hands.
Kids create a paper flower with their photo in the center, then attach it to a craft stick that fits inside a paper flowerpot. The flower slides up and down, making it look like dancing! Moms end up with a card that doubles as a playful keepsake.Related: Cutest Mother’s Day Owl Craft
Kids create colorful flowers from paper petals and glue them onto straws or pipe cleaners as stems. They can mix and match colors and then bundle them with a ribbon. These cheerful blooms make a thoughtful gift that won't fade away.Also try: Dinosaur Mother’s Day Card Craft
In this cheerful paper craft, kids build a big sunflower with yellow petals and a photo of themselves as the center. They add a stem and message to the pot to complete the look. The final flower stays bright year-round and always brings a smile.
This clever upcycle uses an empty toilet paper roll to make a mini version of Mom. Kids paint or wrap the tube in paper, add hair, a dress, and a friendly face; the result is a cute little figure to display with pride.Related: Happy Mother’s Day Raccoon Craft
Multiple handprints become the "flowers" in this lovely paper bouquet. Each traced hand is cut from colorful paper, glued to a straw or stick, and tied with ribbon. The bouquet becomes a heartfelt keepsake full of personality.Also try: Mother’s Day Ice Cream Craft
This adorable paper craft features a mama kangaroo tucked into a little pouch with her baby. The joey can slide in and out, making it interactive and fun. This mama-baby duo offers a sweet way to celebrate love and closeness.Related: I Love You To Pieces Mother’s Day Craft
Kids create a blooming tulip by folding and layering paper petals into a 3D flower. Glued onto a folded card, it surprises Mom with a paper bouquet. The tulip design gives a springy, handmade twist to a classic card.Also try: Mother’s Day Color By Numbers
Kids cut out butterfly wings and decorate them with bright colors and messages of love. The wings can open like a card or stay flat as a cute decoration. This handmade butterfly makes a meaningful and cheerful gift for Mom.
Children cut a flower shape from a paper plate, punch holes, and thread colorful yarn across the center. This quiet, hands-on activity helps build fine motor skills while producing a beautiful, laced design. Each finished flower becomes a colorful gift with plenty of charm.
This two-part gift combines art and memory. Kids fill out an "All About Mom" booklet with drawings and sweet thoughts, then make a sun catcher using contact paper and colorful tissue or pressed flowers. Together, these pieces create a thoughtful gift that shines with love.
Using a printable template, kids build a cheerful bumblebee with wings, stripes, and a kind message like "Thanks for bee-ing awesome!" It's quick to assemble and great for little hands. The finished bee adds a touch of buzz-worthy charm to any Mother's Day.
Kids stamp paint onto a plain frame using bubble wrap to create a calm, bumpy design. Once dry, they add a photo with Mom, making it extra special. The colorful frame becomes a fun keepsake made with love and texture.
This simple yet meaningful card features the American flag in tribute to Memorial Day. Kids can decorate it with stars and stripes while writing a heartfelt message. It is an excellent way to honor those who serve.
This activity has children threading red, white, and blue yarn across a paper plate to create a patriotic decoration. Young crafters enjoy the hands-on fun of weaving the yarn and watching a festive American flag pattern take shape, perfect for celebrating Memorial Day.
This craft uses an incredible scrape-painting technique to create bright red poppy flowers with a 3D effect. Kids spread red paint with a scraper (like a piece of cardboard) to form textured petals, then assemble the pieces into a gorgeous poppy. The result is a meaningful Memorial Day flower they'll be proud to display.
A quirky paper craft that lets kids create a little patriotic gnome character decked out in red, white, and blue. They'll have fun assembling the gnome's beard and pointy hat with stars and stripes, and the finished creation makes for a playful Memorial Day decoration or toy.
Little hands scrunch up bits of red, white, and blue tissue paper and glue them to make a festive patriotic design. Kids enjoy the tactile fun of crumpling paper and filling in the flag or star template with colorful tissue pieces. It's an easy, boredom-busting craft that doubles as a fine motor activity and a spirited Memorial Day (or Independence Day) project.Related: 4th Of July Mazes
Kids can craft a bright red poppy from simple paper shapes to honor our fallen heroes. It's an easy Memorial Day project – children glue together a red flower with a dark center and maybe a stem or pin – that opens up a chance to discuss why poppies symbolize remembrance. The craft is fun and meaningful to display during Memorial Day commemorations.
Kids turn a paper plate into a patriotic wreath by coloring it and covering it with red, white, and blue stars. With just a few basic supplies (paper stars, glue, and maybe some glitter for sparkle), they create a festive starry wreath they'll be proud to hang up for Memorial Day. It's simple, fun, and makes a great holiday decoration.
Little ones make their mini soldier figure using simple cut-out paper shapes and dot painting for a camo uniform. It's easy enough for young kids to do most of the steps themselves—they'll cut and glue the pieces to assemble a saluting soldier with a helmet and backpack.After crafting, kids can play with their new soldier puppet, marching it around and imagining heroic adventures, which adds an extra layer of fun and meaning to this Memorial Day project.
Using a piece of corrugated cardboard as the base, kids create a neat American flag with a built-in stripe texture. The cardboard ridges make painting the red and white lines simple and fun – children can swipe paint across the bumpy surface to form the flag's stripes. They'll love how the unique texture easily creates a patriotic decoration they can wave or display for Memorial Day.
Bright red cupcake liners transform into pretty poppy flowers with just a few snips and some glue. Kids flatten and trim the liners into petal shapes, layer them together, and add a dark center to create a realistic-looking poppy. They'll enjoy how quickly an ordinary cupcake paper turns into a beautiful Memorial Day poppy, and it makes a lovely, simple tribute craft.
An empty cardboard tube becomes a proud soldier figurine with a little helmet and even a pretend rifle. Kids paint the tube in camouflage colors and add crafty details like a paper hat, a saluting hand, and a tiny paper rifle slung over the shoulder (with a string). The process is interactive and fun, and the finished soldier is a great way to salute real-life heroes on Memorial Day – plus, children can play with their new creation afterward.
Kids use their handprints to create vibrant butterfly wings by tracing and cutting them from colorful paper. After attaching the wings to a butterfly body, they can decorate the wings with stickers, patterns, or drawings. It's a cheerful spring project that doubles as a sweet keepsake, made even more special with its hand shapes.
When painted with bright red and white spots, an upside-down paper bowl becomes a cute mushroom cap set atop a recycled cardboard tube or paper roll for the stem. Kids will have a great time painting the "cap" and assembling the parts into an adorable toadstool.The finished craft is simple and fun, bringing fairy-tale forest magic into your spring decor using everyday materials.Related: Mushroom Craft
In this 3D craft, kids create a pop-up paper umbrella that practically springs off the page. They decorate the printable umbrella pieces in their favorite colors, then layer and glue them so the umbrella has actual dimension.This craft lets children explore shapes and colors while making a cute rainy-day scene come to life—complete with a standing umbrella ready to catch some spring showers.
Kids can celebrate spring by making a personalized name display with a cute seasonal twist. Using a simple template, they spell their name on cheerful spring shapes (think raindrops, flowers, or umbrellas) and glue them onto a background. They'll love seeing their very own name turned into art, and it's a fun way to practice letters while creating a bright spring decoration.
Using a bath loofah as a stamp, kids dab on colorful paint to create a spring tree covered in blossoms. This fun painting technique lets them explore textures by pressing the loofah (or sponge) into pink and white paint and onto the branches, making clusters of "flowers" like the blooming trees outside.It's an easy art project that results in a beautiful flowery tree and lots of smiles as the kids see their artwork blossom.Also try: Flower Photo Preschool Craft
This craft turns an ordinary paper bowl into a pretty spring tree covered in yarn "foliage." Kids wrap or glue soft green yarn around the upside-down bowl to make fluffy leaves and blossoms, then add a trunk underneath (from paper or a cardboard tube). The result is a tactile little tree that's fun to touch and display, and children will enjoy building their mini tree from scratch.Related: Apple Tree Name Craft
This playful spring craft turns A simple paper cup into an adorable frog. Kids paint or use a green cup, then attach paper eyes, legs, and a silly long tongue (often made from a curled paper strip) to bring the frog to life. Ultimately, they have a cute little frog friend they made—perfect for pretend play or as a decoration for a pond-themed lesson.
In this simple craft, colorful cupcake liners turn into pretty spring blossoms. Kids invert the liners (often using ones with fun colors or patterns), flatten them a bit, and glue them onto paper stems to create a garden of flowers. They can mix and match liner colors to make a whole bouquet, and the project is super easy—perfect for a quick spring craft or a lovely homemade card for Mother's Day.
Brighten a rainy day by turning a paper plate into a colorful rainbow. Kids paint or color rainbow stripes across the plate's arch and can even add fluffy cotton balls on each end as clouds. This craft is quick and very kid-friendly. Little artists get to make a bold display of color, and the finished rainbow is cheerful enough to hang in a window or on the fridge to celebrate the spring weather.Also try: Rainbow Card Craft
Kids create a cute little paper bird and its cozy nest with this craft. They cut out and decorate a bird (adding wings, beak, and googly eyes) and then tuck it into a paper nest filled with strip "twigs" or crumpled paper to look like nesting material. Children enjoy making their feathered friend and situating it in the nest, ready for springtime—an adorable scene they'll be proud of.
Kids can become spring royalty by crafting their flower crowns from paper. They cut out bright paper flowers (or use a provided template) and attach them to a circular paper band that fits around their heads. Children adore wearing something they made themselves—after cutting, gluing, and decorating; they'll have a beautiful flower crown to parade around in, perfect for imaginative play or an Easter/spring celebration.
Kids can craft a bouquet of 3D paper flowers using a simple template with a pop-up paper vase. They cut and fold paper petals to make blossoms that stand up from the page and even create a little paper vase that "pops" out to hold the flowers.The activity is easy but yields an impressive result – the flowers pop off the paper – and children will be thrilled to present their colorful flower arrangement as a spring decoration or a gift for Mom.
Little gardeners paint a paper plate to look like the ground in a garden and then "plant" paper carrots into their painted dirt. Kids cut out orange carrot shapes and green tops and can slide them into a slit or pocket on the plate so they peek out like real carrots in soil.Not only do they have fun painting and assembling the carrot patch, but afterward, they can pull the carrots out and replant them, making it an interactive craft that also teaches how veggies grow.Related: Carrot Handprint Craft
Kids create a mini pond scene with a frog and a water lily on a paper plate lily pad. The frog is made from the child's handprint cutout (so it has a personal touch) and sits on a green paper plate lily pad alongside a 3D paper water lily flower. This easy craft combines art and science – children love that their handprint becomes a frog, and the finished scene is a fun way to talk about frogs, lily pads, and spring nature.Also try: Frog Paper Cup Craft
Fluffy pom poms line up to make an adorable caterpillar sitting on a big green paper leaf. Kids simply glue a row of pom poms in caterpillar form and add googly eyes and pipe cleaner antennae to the front pom pom to give it a cute face.They can even draw "bite" marks on the paper leaf. It's super easy and engaging – children love the soft, fuzzy pom poms and end up with a cute critter that looks like it's munching on a leaf in a spring garden.Related: 8 Cute Bug Coloring Pages
Kids trace their hands and turn them into a playful cows using simple cutouts. The fingers become legs, and the thumb makes a perfect tail. It's a sweet way to mix art with farm animal learning.
Children build a mini barnyard using paper shapes and glue. They assemble animals like pigs and cows, then arrange them around a big red barn. The result is a fun paper farm they can play with or display.Related: Farm Animal Printables
This shape activity turns paper cutouts into a friendly goat. Kids use circles, triangles, and rectangles to piece it together. The activity helps reinforce letter recognition while being simple to make.Also try: Goat Headband Craft
With some paper and scissors, kids make their donkey headbands. The ears and face attach to a strip that wraps around the head. Wearing the headband adds a fun touch to any farm-themed activity.
Using paper and glue, kids make tiny animals for their fingers. They decorate each one and attach it to a strip or stick. Through imaginative play, each puppet brings the barnyard to life.Related: Farm Animal Coloring Pages
Used coffee pods get a second life as tiny animals. Kids paint them and glue them on ears, eyes, and spots. These upcycled animals become lasting little toys for barnyard play.Also try: Pig Headband Craft
A plain plate becomes the base for a horse's face. Add cut-out ears, a yarn mane, and some paint, and the horse comes to life. The finished horse makes a fun mask or decoration for farm week.
Children trace or stamp their feet and turn them into animal shapes. They add features like ears and a snout and glue them to a stick. Each puppet turns a footprint into a playful storytelling tool.Related: Sheep Tissue Paper Craft
Kids trace their hands on pink paper and turn it into a pig. They add a round face, curly tail, and big snout to complete the pig. It is an excellent addition to any farm unit or "P is for Pig" day.
This activity uses cut paper to make a cute cow with black spots. Kids glue on ears, a pink nose, and googly eyes. Their finished cow makes an excellent display for farm-themed lessons.Also try: Cow Headband Craft
Kids create their rocket ship by stacking letters of their name as part of the bed. The colorful paper pieces come together using a printable template. The finished rocket makes learning letters extra exciting.
Kids color coffee filters with markers, then add water to make the colors blend like swirling planets. Once dry, the filters look just like marbled planets. Each one turns into a unique part of a homemade galaxy.Related: 8 Cool Planet Coloring Pages
Children write and perform their own space-themed story, using their imagination and some science facts. They can create props or simple costumes to bring the tale to life. This activity creatively combines writing, science, and acting.
With just a few cutouts and glue, a paper lunch bag becomes an astronaut puppet. Kids decorate it with a helmet, suit, and face and use it for space-themed pretend play. The puppet adds a playful twist to imaginative storytelling.
Kids build a solar system model with paper and a bed that lets planets spin around the sun. They'll love watching the orbit in action while learning how the planets move. The rotating feature turns learning into an interactive experience.Also try: Solar System Game For Kids
An old CD becomes a shiny snail shell when painted or decorated with sequins. Kids attach a simple paper snail body underneath with eyes on top. The glowing CD surface makes the snail stand out.
A paper plate turns into a snail shell with a painted or glued-on spiral. For extra charm, add a paper snail body with big googly eyes. The mix of swirls and bright colors makes each snail one-of-a-kind.
Kids roll a strip of paper into a spiral to make a 3D snail shell. They glue it onto a paper body and finish with a face and wiggly eyes. That little spiral adds a fun pop-up effect that kids enjoy.
Kids use watercolors to paint a large spiral, blending shades to create a soft, swirled effect. After adding a small snail body, the scene comes together with charm. Every piece turns out bright, colorful, and one-of-a-kind.
A single eggcarton cup becomes a painted snail shell. Kids glue it onto a paper body, add googly eyes, and maybe use pipe cleaners for stalks. The finished snail becomes a playful reminder of how fun recycling can be.
Kids twist and paint a newspaper strip, coiling it into a spiral to create the snail's shell. The end of the roll extends to form the body, complete with added eyes. It's a clever way to turn recycled newspaper into a bright and playful creature.
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.