Create your very own pop of color with a rainbow craft, or throw a rainbow party for your child and his or her friends. We've rounded up rainbow crafts for children, including rainbow craft templates and easy rainbow crafts. For the party-throwers, there are DIY rainbow party decorations, rainbow party favors, rainbow-themed food and more. Read on for our 14 best rainbow ideas and let your multi-colored creativity shine, no matter the occasion!
Set the scene for an all-out rainbow party with this rainbow balloon backdrop by Jordan from Oh Happy Day. Jordan suggests installing the same day as the party so the balloons don't lose their luster when exposed to light. Purchase long balloons (260Q size, typically used for balloon animals) and standard white balloons, along with scissors, strong tape and a balloon pump. Inflate some of each color of balloon to get started, then, starting with the innermost color (purple or violet), tape two rows of each color, working your way outward. Apply tape to both ends and the middle of each balloon. Fill more balloons as needed. When the rainbow is complete, tape some white balloons to the wall and allow others to float along the floor for clouds.
Photo: Oh Happy Day
Make the Project
If you love paper crafts, this rainbow paper fan garland by Louisa from Ice Cream Off Paper Plates is your perfect rainbow project. It requires just three materials: scissors, tape and a rainbow paper pack. Follow the easy steps which include cutting the paper, accordion folding and taping the pieces together to make a chain. Hang it as a photo backdrop for a party or hang for a pop of color in a playroom.
Photo: Ice Cream Off Paper Plates
Make the Project
Littles will love this rainbow craft just for them developed by Krissy from B-Inspired Mama. This craft is a multi-day process, perfect for a rainy weekend. The day before you want to craft, start by dyeing the pasta. Add 0.5 cups of dried pasta to a gallon-sized plastic bag along with 1 tsp. rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring. Shake until all pasta is covered, repeating the process with different colors until you have a full rainbow. Set out overnight to dry.
The next day, cut white paper plates in half and punch holes in the bottom of each (one hole for each pasta color), plus a hole toward the top for hanging the finished product. Create a cloud by having children glue cotton balls to the plate. Then, have them string dried pasta onto chenille stems (Krissy notes these are much easier for little hands to thread). Once the glue is dried, wind the pasta-filled chenille stems through the holes in the plates, then add a plain one on top for hanging so you can admire the finished product.
(PS: Get the same concept without the time commitment with our Paper Plate Sun & Rainbow Craft Kit.)
Photo: B-Inspired Mama
Make the Project
Smile every time you open the refrigerator thanks to an adorable chenille stem rainbow magnet by Debbie from One Little Project. Take one of each color from a pack of rainbow-colored chenille stems and lay them out in the order you want them to appear on the magnet. Using scissors, cut each piece slightly shorter than the one before as you work your way to the center of the rainbow. Bend cut stems into an arch to form a rainbow. Cut two clouds out of felt (Debbie used blue) and hot glue onto the back ends of the stems. Hot glue a cotton ball over the front of the stems, then glue two magnets onto the felt on the back.
Photo: One Little Project
Make the Project
Bre from Average But Inspired created this craft that adds not only greenery but also color to your home. Using small round glass vases as your base, fill with colored craft sand in ROYGBIV order. Top with faux succulents.
Photo: Average But Inspired
Make the Project
Throwing a rainbow party? Haeley from Design Improvised created the perfect chandelier for your dinner table! The secret? Foam flower leis from a craft kit that cut construction time down to mere minutes. Follow the directions and thread the large version of each flower color, alternating with provided straws, onto the coordinating string. Tie one end of each strand onto a wire wreath form in rainbow order, spacing evenly. Next, cut out a two-inch circle of sturdy material such as cardstock or foam. Poke seven holes (one for each flower strand) evenly around the circle. Pull each thread through the hole and adjust until all strings are even, then tie a knot at the top of the string.
For the bottom, repeat the threading process with the small flowers from the lei kit. Tie the bottom together. To finish the project, attach extra large flowers to the edge of the wreath form using hot glue, and glue a small pom in a complementary color to the center of each.
Photo: Design Improvised
Make the Project
This simple, easy project by Tonya from Soiree Event Design will empower little artists to create something they can admire every day! Start with a 12"x12" blank canvas. Purchase an unfinished wooden letter at a craft store and cover with two coats of white acrylic paint using a paint brush. While the letter dries, apply rows of colored masking tape to the canvas, starting with red on the bottom edge, until the entire canvas is covered in a rainbow of tape. Once the letter is dried, use craft glue to adhere it to the canvas (Tonya notes to wait a full 24 hours before hanging your art to ensure the glue dries completely). Add adhesive jewels in your child's favor color around the edges of the letter for a final sparkly touch.
Photo: Soiree Event Design
Make the Project
This craft by Michelle from Crafty Morning would work well as a party activity. To start, print the free rainbow fish template. Cut one stick of celery into six pieces -- one for each color -- multiplying accordingly depending on how many children are participating. Set out red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple paint on paper plates or in small cups, then let children dip the celery into the paint and stamp a rainbow of scales onto the fish.
Photo: Crafty Morning
Make the Project
Don't stress over decorating a complicated rainbow cake -- add color via this easy cake topper by Lindi from Love the Day instead! Begin by creating tassels using purple baker's twine per the instructions, and affix to colorful straws. Tie bright balloons to the end of the straws, filling only partially. Cover the rest of the top of the cake with yellow swirl pops, rainbow candy sticks, pinwheels, round rainbow candy, sprinkles and whatever else helps round out your rainbow look.
Photo: Love the Day
Make the Project
Welcome spring with a DIY wreath covered in a rainbow of jelly bean-shaped beads. To create this craft by Tonya from Soiree Event Design, wrap gold glitter tulle around a foam wreath form. Secure the ends of the ribbon with hot glue. Separate your jelly bean beads (or these fun twisted beads or bright cylinders) by color, then string all the beads in ROYGBIV order onto white stretchy cording. Once all beads are strung, cut and tie off the remaining end and hot glue it to the wreath. Wind the beads around, keeping the loops close together. Once you get to the end, hot glue it to the wreath as well. To give this wreath an Easter theme, hot glue a stuffed bunny and golden Easter egg embellished with rhinestones. Hang with gold baker's twine to complement the shiny tulle.
Photo: Soiree Event Design
Make the Project
Chelsea from Two Twenty One came up with this resourceful rainbow wreath using paper straws. She pulls out this wreath for St. Patrick's Day, summertime, birthdays and any other holiday that calls for a burst of cheerful color. You'll need a paper straw mega pack, hot glue gun and glue sticks, plus foam board cut into a 6" diameter circle with a 3" diameter hole in the middle. Once the foam core is cut, hot glue straws per Chelsea's instructions to ensure you follow the same order she did. Hang with a can tab, paper clip or pretty ribbon.
Photo: Two Twenty One
Make the Project
These party favors by Missy and Kristen from Sweetly Chic Events & Design send guests home from an all-out girly soiree with a colorful reminder of all the fun they had. Begin by wrapping plastic pint-sized Mason jars with a rainbow of pastel washi tape. Paint a set of mythical horses gold (or leave them as-is if you prefer). Glue a horse to the lid of each Mason jar, holding in place for a few seconds to ensure it sticks. Next, create play dough per the directions and separate into sections and color each with food coloring. Add iridescent glitter to the play dough, then form into balls, place in Mason jars and seal.
Photo: Sweetly Chic Events & Design
Make the Project
Lindi from Love the Day developed these rainbow necklaces perfect for a rainbow party craft. Simply fill small corked bottles with colored gravel and wrap the top in a multiple hues of baker's twine. Cut one long string of baker's twine and tie it to the others to form a necklace.
Photo: Love the Day
Make the Project
Set up an entire afternoon devoted to creating rainbow crafts with this adorable playdate idea by Missy and Kristen from Sweetly Chic Events & Design. Create a work surface with a clouds and sky art paper roll, then layer a mess-proof rainbow plastic tablecloth roll on top. For an extra dash of color, cut out faux paint splats from foam sheets. Follow the directions for the DIY rainbow backdrop. Next, set up several crafting stations -- Missy and Kristen had a button rainbow craft and a DIY no-mess canvas art project. For the centerpiece, hot glue crayons onto an unfinished wooden box and fill with gumballs. For snacks, offer rainbow marshmallow cereal bars, rainbow candy hard sticks, rainbow cups with straws and popcorn in rainbow paper cups. Offer colorful kids' aprons, including a paint palette made of foam sheets and self-adhesive buttons.
Photo: Sweetly Chic Events & Design
See the Party