Looking for colorful and easy rainbow crafts for kids? This article provides creative ideas like handprint art and edible fingerpaint to keep little ones engaged and learning.
Key Takeaways
- Check out these 20 awesome rainbow crafts for kids, perfect for keeping them creative and engaged.
- Craft ideas range from handprint art to edible finger paints, ensuring fun with different materials and techniques.
- These activities not only foster creativity but also enhance skills like color recognition and fine motor development.
- Handprint Rainbow Art
- Paper Plate Rainbow
- Rainbow Sponge Painting
- Fruit Loop Rainbow Craft
- Tissue Paper Rainbow Collage
- Rainbow Windsock Craft
- Pom-Pom Rainbow Craft
- Rainbow Fish Craft
- Edible Fingerpaint Rainbow
- Rainbow Lava Lamps
- Sticky Wall Rainbow
- Salt-Painted Rainbow
- Recycled Rainbow Craft
- Rainbow Name Craft
- Rainbow Writing Tray
- Rainbow Friendship Bracelets
- Rainbow Button Art
- Rainbow Rock Painting
- Walking Rainbow Experiment
- Rainbow Dot Marker Art
- Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
Handprint Rainbow Art

Handprint rainbow art is a delightful and fun rainbow craft that uses children’s handprints to create colorful designs. It’s an excellent way for kids to explore colors and create keepsakes while having a blast.
This rainbow craft is especially simple and fun, making it perfect for preschoolers who love to get messy and creative with crafts for kids.
Materials Needed
Gather washable paint, paper, and brushes. These materials are commonly available at craft stores or might already be at home, making set-up simple.
Set-up
To make and use puffy paint:
- Mix equal parts foam shaving cream and glue to make puffy paint.
- Add food coloring for vibrant hues.
- Arrange the paint colors in rainbow order.
- Draw a rainbow outline on paper to guide the painting process.
If desired, rip different colored construction paper to prepare it for the craft.
Activity
Start by using red paint for the first handprint and repeat the process for each subsequent color of the rainbow. Once the handprints are dry, glue them down in the correct order to complete the rainbow.
Draw a pot of gold using black paper and position it below the rainbow for an added touch of fun.
Paper Plate Rainbow

Creating a paper plate rainbow is another fantastic and fun rainbow craft that kids will love. This craft involves using:
- paper plates
- glue
- cotton balls
- colored paper to create a beautiful rainbow.
It’s a great way to teach kids about color sequencing while having fun.
Materials Needed
You’ll need paper plates, glue, cotton balls, colored paper, large paper plates, scissors, and various colors of cardstock.
These materials will help you create a vibrant and colorful bright rainbow.
Set-up
Cut a paper plate in half and apply glue to the cut side. Cover the plate with cotton balls to create a cloud effect.
Prepare strips of cardstock to represent the rainbow’s colors, which can be stapled onto the plate after the cotton balls are in place.
Activity
Kids can use glue to attach cotton balls at the bottom of the paper plate to create clouds. Follow the order of the colors of the rainbow while applying liquid to the cotton balls.
Once the glue has dried, kids can display their paper plate rainbows as a colorful decoration.
Rainbow Sponge Painting

Rainbow sponge painting is a fun and creative rainbow craft that allows kids to explore colors and textures. This activity involves using sponges dipped in liquid watercolors to create beautiful rainbow prints.
It’s an excellent fun way for younger kids to express their creativity while having so much joy and so much fun.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need sponges, liquid watercolors, and paper.
These materials are perfect for creating vibrant and colorful rainbow art.
Set-up
Prepare paint colors in a rainbow sequence on a sponge and place white cardstock on a flat surface for the painting.
Ensure that each child has access to their own sponge to avoid mixing colors prematurely during the painting process.
Activity
The main activity involves dipping sponges in paint and creating rainbow prints on paper. Kids should paint the colors of the rainbow on the sponge, then press the sponge paint side down onto the paper to make prints.
Once the painting is done, kids can glue cotton balls at the bottom of the paper for clouds.
Fruit Loop Rainbow Craft
The Fruit Loop Rainbow Craft is a delightful and tasty way to create colorful rainbows. This activity combines crafting with snacks by using Fruit Loops to create vibrant designs. It’s a fun and easy rainbow craft that kids will enjoy, especially during seasonal celebrations like St. Patrick’s Day.
Materials Needed
Gather Fruit Loops, pipe cleaners, mini marshmallows, a rainbow craft printable, glue, and optionally, crayons or colored pencils.
Sorting the Fruit Loops by color into small bowls can make the craft more organized.
Set-up
Sort Fruit Loops into separate containers by color. Gather the materials and guide children to cut and paint them into rainbow shapes.
Activity
This engaging craft features a fun rainbow theme and is simple to create. The steps are:
- Kids will stick red Fruit Loops onto the line.
- Then continue gluing Fruit Loops in rainbow order.
- At the bottom of the rainbow, they can add mini marshmallows to represent clouds.
This activity helps develop fine motor skills and color-matching abilities.
Tissue Paper Rainbow Collage

Creating a tissue paper rainbow collage is a fun and vibrant way for kids to explore colors and textures. This craft involves sticking and rearranging colorful tissue paper pieces to form a rainbow design.
It’s an excellent way for kids to express their creativity and create beautiful rainbow art.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need tissue paper, glue, and cardstock.
Various craft materials and cardboard, along with craft supplies, can also be used as a base for the collage.
Set-up
Prepare the collage by cutting a frame from construction paper and adhering it to a larger piece of contact paper.
Kids can cut tissue paper into squares and draw rainbows on cardstock to indicate where the colored tissue paper should be placed.
Activity
The tissue paper rainbow collage encourages kids to explore color combinations and express creativity. Kids will arrange the tissue paper pieces in a rainbow pattern on the collage base and glue them in place to secure their designs, creating vibrant stained glass effects.
Rainbow Windsock Craft
The Rainbow Windsock Craft is a fun and easy rainbow craft that kids can enjoy making. This craft involves using a blue paper cup and various colored ribbons to create a windsock.
It’s a great way for kids to create colorful wall hangings that can be hung outside in spring to catch the wind.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need rainbow-colored ribbons and a paper cup.
These materials are essential for creating a vibrant and colorful windsock.
Set-up
Paint tissue paper in various colors. Use a hot glue gun to attach the painted tissue paper to the windsock, and punch holes around the rim of the paper cup for the ribbons.
Activity
The main activity involves painting a plastic container and attaching ribbons to create the windsock. Children can help tear the painted tissue paper into smaller pieces and make a hole at the top of the windsock to thread yarn or string for hang.
Pom-Pom Rainbow Craft

The Pom-Pom Rainbow Craft is an engaging and fun rainbow craft that helps enhance children’s fine motor skills. This craft involves using pom-poms to create a colorful rainbow, making it a great activity for young kids.
Children can use either purchased or homemade pom-poms for this project.
Materials Needed
Gather pom-poms, glue, cardstock, scissors, and a rainbow template for the craft.
Set-up
Organize the pom-poms by color before gluing to ensure they form a rainbow correctly.
Activity
Kids will engage in a creative process of adhering pom-poms to the base to visually represent a rainbow:
- Start with red pom-poms.
- Continue placing pom-poms in the order of the rainbow colors.
- Finish with purple pom-poms.
- Place each pom-pom precisely to form the rainbow’s arches.
This activity is not only fun but also helps enhance their fine motor skills and upper body strength.
Rainbow Fish Craft
Inspired by a beloved children’s book, the Rainbow Fish Craft is a fun and colorful activity that kids will love. This craft allows children to create their own rainbow fish using various materials like craft paint, googly eyes, and sequins.
It’s a great way for kids to express their creativity and learn about colors.
Materials Needed
To create the Rainbow Fish craft, you’ll need:
- Tissue paper cut into squares
- Aluminum foil squares
- Glue sticks
- A printed fish template on sturdy paper
- Scissors
- White cardstock
- Blue watercolor paints
- Paint brushes.
Colored paper, scissors, glue, and sequins will also be helpful for decorating the fish.
Set-up
Set up the art table with fish outlines, tissue paper, aluminum squares, and glue sticks. Cut fish shapes from cardstock and mix acrylic paint with white glue to create black glue.
Using stencils can make it easier for children to trace the fish outlines, and setting up a workstation with colorful paints will enhance the decorating process.
Activity
Engaging in the Rainbow Fish craft provides an opportunity for children to express creativity while learning about colors. Kids can freely decorate their fish with colorful scales made from various materials, and the process of selecting and arranging the scales helps them enhance their artistic skills.
Edible Fingerpaint Rainbow
The Edible Fingerpaint Rainbow is a fun and safe way for preschoolers to explore rainbow art using edible fingerpaint. This activity involves creating vibrant colors with cool whip and gel food coloring, allowing kids to freely paint and even taste their creations.
It’s a fantastic way to combine sensory play with artistic expression.
Materials Needed
You’ll need cool whip and food coloring to create edible finger paint.
Plastic bowls and brushes will also be helpful for mixing and applying the colors.
Set-up
Heat flour and water on medium heat to create the base for the fingerpaint. Once ready, divide the mixture into bowls and add different food coloring to each.
Activity
Kids can dip their fingers in the edible paint to create colorful rainbow strands on paper. This activity not only allows them to explore their creativity but also provides a sensory experience as they can try the edible paint as a treat.
Rainbow Lava Lamps
Rainbow lava lamps are a mesmerizing and fun rainbow craft that kids will love in life. This activity involves using common kitchen ingredients like water, oil, and food coloring to create colorful lava lamps.
It’s a great way to teach kids about density and chemical reactions while having fun.
Materials Needed
The essential liquids for the rainbow lava lamp experiment are baby oil or vegetable oil. Mason jars are needed to conduct the experiment, and food coloring will create the colorful effect.
The materials for this easy rainbow craft are readily available. They are perfect for the project.
Set-up
Mix colored water with oil to create a visually striking effect. Add food coloring to demonstrate how colors behave differently due to density.
Fill the jars three-quarters full with oil, then add 1/4 cup of water on top.
Activity
Drop food coloring in bottles, then add Alka Seltzer to start the lava lamp experiment. The process involves combining water and oil, then adding food coloring to create colorful layers.
Adding Alka-Seltzer tablets to the jars creates carbon dioxide bubbles that rise, mixing colored water with the oil, mimicking a lava lamp.
Sticky Wall Rainbow
The Sticky Wall Rainbow is a fun st sorting and sticking activity where kids create a rainbow on a sticky wall using colored paper. This activity is designed for preschoolers and can be done at home or in the classroom.
It’s a fantastic way to engage kids in a hands-on and interactive art project.
Materials Needed
You’ll need contact paper, painter’s tape, and colorful materials like tissue paper or construction paper for the sticky wall rainbow activity.
Set-up
Cut a piece of contact paper and stick it up to the wall with the sticky side facing out. Kids can rip or cut pieces of colored construction paper to prepare for the craft.
The background can be colored using chalk pastels or liquid watercolors for added effect.
Activity
Children can create their rainbows by placing tissue paper squares on contact paper according to their chosen color order. This craft provides a sensory experience as kids stick materials onto the contact paper.
They can enhance their rainbow of hope by adding thematic decorations such as a pot of gold.
Salt-Painted Rainbow
Salt-painted rainbows are a fun and engaging way to enhance kids’ creative expression. This craft involves using salt and watercolors to create textured, colorful designs.
It’s an excellent way for kids to create memorable keepsakes and enjoy a positive and enjoyable experience.
Materials Needed
You’ll need white glue, salt, and watercolors to create textured and colorful salt-painted rainbows.
Set-up
Begin by drawing arches with a colored pencil on the canvas, ensuring they are symmetrical and evenly spaced. Using glue, outline the drawn rainbows on the paper to prepare for salt application.
Sprinkle salt over the glue, which will create a textured effect once the painting is done.
Activity
In the salt-painted rainbow activity, kids will use watercolors to create their summer artwork. They will have fun experimenting with colors and techniques.
The main step is to paint over the salted lines, creating a beautiful and textured rainbow design.
Recycled Rainbow Craft
The Recycled Rainbow Craft is a free way to teach kids about environmental awareness by encouraging the use of repurposed materials. This activity emphasizes hands-on learning, allowing kids to explore textures and colors through sensory play while creating colorful rainbow crafts.
Materials Needed
You’ll need TP rolls, cardboard, and colored rice for this colorful recycled rainbow project.
Set-up
Gather recyclable materials and dump the colored rice into separate bowls for easy pouring. Arrange the TP rolls in a rainbow shape on the cardboard.
Secure the arranged TP rolls to the cardboard to simplify the process.
Activity
The main focus of the Recycled Rainbow activity is creating a rainbow using recycled materials. While making the craft, children practice scooping and pouring, and when they complete the project, they can see the final colorful product.
Rainbow Name Craft
The Rainbow Name Craft is a fun rainbow craft that combines literacy skills with creative expression. This activity involves preparing materials like colored paper and glue for assembling the name craft, allowing kids to practice letter sequencing by arranging their names in a rainbow order.
Materials Needed
You’ll need colored cardstock in various rainbow colors, colorful paper, scissors, and glue to create a rainbow-themed name display.
Set-up
Cloud shapes should be created from white paper for the craft.
Strips of colored paper should be prepared for the rainbow craft based on the amount needed to build their name.
Activity
Kids will use strips of paper to create their names in the Rainbow Name Craft. They can use a glue stick to attach the strips of paper and practice their cutting skills by using scissors to cut along lines.
Finally, assemble the rainbow by gluing the colored strips onto the cloud shape.
Rainbow Writing Tray
The Rainbow Writing Tray activity provides a frustration-free way for kids to practice handwriting skills. This fun rainbow craft involves filling a shallow container with sand or salt and adding colored chalk or markers, allowing children to practice writing with colorful materials.
Materials Needed
You’ll need green and gold sprinkles, a tray, and printables for the writing tray activity.
Set-up
Print letters and prepare the sprinkle tray to give kids a fun and organized way to practice printing handwriting.
Activity
The Rainbow Writing Tray allows kids to create letters in colorful sprinkles. This activity is not only fun but also helps enhance their fine motor skills and handwriting abilities.
Rainbow Friendship Bracelets
Rainbow friendship bracelets are a fun and creative way for kids to make colorful accessories. This craft promotes teamwork and enhances creative thinking as kids learn various knotting techniques to create different styles of friendship bracelets.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need embroidery floss, scissors, and tape.
Cut yarn strands to a length that is approximately double the length of the child’s arm for ample room to work.
Set-up
To create a basic friendship bracelet, first knot the yarn and secure it with a clipboard or safety pin. Using doubled yarn strands simplifies the knotting process for beginners.
Alternate yarn colors while knotting from left to right to achieve a diagonal stripe pattern.
Activity
Secure the yarn using a clipboard or a safety pin to keep it in place while working. Fine motor skills and color recognition are enhanced through the creation of Rainbow Bead Bracelets as children string beads in rainbow patterns on elastic to create friendship bracelets.
Rainbow Button Art
Rainbow button art is a fun and colorful way for kids to create tactile designs on paper or canvas. This craft involves arranging colorful buttons to form a rainbow pattern, promoting creativity and fine motor skills.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need white legal-sized cardstock, assorted buttons in rainbow colors, cotton balls, and white school glue.
These materials are perfect for creating vibrant and textured rainbow button art.
Set-up
Pre-sort buttons by color to enhance organization and help children understand color sorting before beginning the craft.
Activity
Kids can glue buttons in a rainbow pattern onto the canvas to create textured art. Pressing buttons into the traced glue lines allows kids to create a beautiful rainbow design, promoting creativity and fine motor skills.
Rainbow Rock Painting
Rainbow rock painting is an engaging outdoor craft that allows children to use everyday materials to create colorful designs. This activity involves painting smooth stones with vibrant colors, making it a fun and creative way for kids to express themselves.
Materials Needed
For this fun rainbow craft, you’ll need:
- Smooth, clean rocks
- Acrylic paints in various colors
- Fine-tip paintbrushes
- A clear spray sealer to help protect the finished designs.
These materials ensure that kids can create vibrant and lasting rainbow-painted rocks.
Set-up
Steps to prepare rocks for painting:
- Look for various sizes and shapes of rocks in outdoor spaces like parks or beaches.
- Clean the rocks with soap and water.
- Scrub away any dirt and debris to ensure they are ready for painting.
This preparation is essential for ensuring the paint adheres well and the final product looks vibrant.
Activity
Guide kids to use their brushes to paint vibrant designs on the rocks, letting their creativity shine. This activity allows children to express their artistic skills while enjoying the outdoors.
Once the painting is done, use a clear spray sealer to protect the designs and make them last longer.
Walking Rainbow Experiment
The Walking Rainbow Experiment is a visually engaging activity that demonstrates chemical reactions and capillary action. Using simple materials like paper towels, water, and food coloring, this experiment allows kids to see colors mix and travel through paper towels, creating a stunning rainbow effect.
Materials Needed
You’ll need paper towels, cups, and food coloring for the Walking Rainbow Experiment to demonstrate capillary action and color mixing.
Set-up
Arrange seven cups in a row, filling the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th cups with water. Add food coloring to the water in these cups, using primary colors to create a gradient effect.
Cut paper towels into strips and place them between the cups to allow the water to travel and mix.
Activity
Kids can observe how the water travels up the paper towels, mixing colors to create a rainbow effect. This activity not only demonstrates capillary action but also allows children to predict and observe the blending of colors.
It’s a fascinating way to engage kids in hands-on learning.
Rainbow Dot Marker Art
Rainbow Dot Marker Art is a fun and easy rainbow craft that allows kids to explore colors and create vibrant artworks. Using dot markers, also known as bingo markers, children can create various rainbow patterns on large sheets of paper.
This activity enhances creativity, develops hand-eye coordination, and aids color recognition.
Materials Needed
You’ll need dot markers and large sheets of paper for colorful and engaging dot marker art.
Set-up
Prepare a clean, flat surface and secure the paper to prevent movement. Keep dot markers within easy reach to allow kids to focus on creating rainbow patterns without distractions.
Activity
Children can create various rainbow patterns by dabbing dots of color from the markers onto the paper. This activity encourages creativity and allows kids to experiment with different colors and dot patterns.
It’s a simple yet engaging way for kids to express their artistic skills.
Summary
Crafting colorful rainbows offers a wonderful way for kids to explore their creativity while learning about colors and developing fine motor skills. Each of these 20 fun and easy rainbow crafts provides a unique opportunity for children to engage in hands-on activities that are both educational and entertaining. From handprint rainbow art to rainbow lava lamps, these crafts are designed to be simple and enjoyable for kids of all ages.
We hope this collection of rainbow craft ideas has inspired you to try new and exciting projects with your kids. Whether you’re looking for a rainy day activity or a fun way to celebrate a special occasion, these crafts are sure to bring joy and color to your day. So gather your craft supplies and let the creativity flow—happy crafting!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some fun rainbow crafts for kids?
You can’t go wrong with handprint rainbow art or making colorful paper plate rainbows. Kids will also love rainbow sponge painting and creating fun Fruit Loop rainbows!
What materials do I need for rainbow crafts?
For rainbow crafts, you’ll want colored paper, glue, paint, and some fun extras like tissue paper and pom-poms. Just grab your supplies and let your creativity shine!
How can I create a rainbow craft using recycled materials?
You can easily make a rainbow craft by gathering things like toilet paper rolls, cardboard, and some colored rice. Just shape the rolls into a rainbow on the cardboard, secure them, and let the kids go wild decorating with the rice!
What is the Walking Rainbow Experiment?
The Walking Rainbow Experiment is a cool way to show capillary action using paper towels, water, and food coloring, where you get to see colors mix and create a rainbow effect. It’s a fun hands-on activity that kids will love!
How can I make an edible fingerpaint rainbow?
Make a fun edible fingerpaint rainbow by mixing Cool Whip with gel food coloring for bright colors. Kids can then dip their fingers in and create a tasty masterpiece!