Cool Crafts for Hot Days: Arts & Activities That Help You Chill Out

Cold water and dye can make a really cool masterpiece!

When it's too hot to even think about going outside, it's time to bring the fun indoors—and better yet, make it cool. These arts and crafts aren't just fun for kids and parents alike—they’re also designed to help you stay refreshed while getting creative.

❄️ 1. Frozen Paint Cubes

Turn your freezer into an art supply station! Fill ice cube trays with washable paint, then stick a popsicle stick into each compartment and freeze. Once solid, use the cubes as paintbrushes to glide across paper (or fabric) and watch the colors melt. It’s messy, sensory, and cool in every sense.

🍦 2. DIY Puffy Ice Cream Paint

Mix equal parts shaving cream and white glue, then add a few drops of food coloring. Use it to paint “ice cream cones” on paper—it dries with a foamy texture that looks just like the real thing! Bonus: it stays cool to the touch while painting.

🧊 3. Ice Excavation Art

Freeze small plastic toys, beads, or even glitter in a large container of water. Once frozen, give kids tools (like droppers, warm water, and plastic spoons) to dig out the treasures. It’s part science experiment, part sensory fun—and fully engaging.

💧 4. Cool Water Bead Creations

Water beads are amazing for both art and sensory play. Chill them in the fridge before using, then let kids squish, sort, and color-coordinate them into shapes, patterns, or pictures in shallow trays.

🌀 5. Misting Spray Bottle Art

Take watercolor painting up a notch with spray bottles! Fill bottles with diluted watercolor paint or food coloring and spray onto paper. You can even chill the bottles in the fridge first for an added cooling effect. Try layering stencils for even more fun.

🖌️ 6. Studio Art Charleston’s Chill Art Kits

Want all the supplies delivered to your door? Try our Art Kits to Go, packed with heat-friendly crafts that encourage creativity without overheating your house. Easy, mess-free, and a great way to stay cool indoors.

☀️ Stay Cool & Creative

These chilly crafts are perfect for hot summer days when the sun is blazing and you're looking for an activity the whole family will love. With just a few household items, you can turn any afternoon into a fun, hands-on, and refreshing creative session.

Stay cool. Stay inside. Stay crafty.