The hot, lazy days of Summer are perfect for doing messier art projects outside of the home. Whether you let the kids loose out on the lawn or cover a section of the driveway with plastic tarp or newspaper, here are some perfectly messy craft ideas to cure the Summer Vacation boredom blues.
Paper Mache Balls
This is a project that should be done over a few days, 20 minutes each day while creating your form and an hour or more on the last day for painting.
Quickly mix up a batch of paper mache paste, simply one part flour to two parts water, while you let the kids tear newspaper into strips. Blow up a balloon for each child and help them cover the balloons in a layer of newspaper strips that have been saturated with the paste. Once each balloon has a layer of newspaper strips, allow to dry 24 hours and then repeat until each balloon has at least three layers. On the last day allow the kids to decorate their paper mache balls with paint, markers, jewels, stickers, yarn or anything else you can find. Allow to dry and tape a piece of yarn to top so you can hang your art!
Egg Shell Mobiles
Prick the bottom and top of a raw egg with a needle, make sure to jab at the yolk to make it easier to empty. If your kids are old enough, allow them to blow the eggs out carefully over a bowl. These can be used anywhere a recipe calls for liquid eggs. Rinse off the egg shells and let sit until dry.
Carefully decorate the egg shells with glitter and paint. Once dry thread fishing line through both holes in the egg shell and secure with a knot. Cut the fishing line to different lengths and tie to a wooden dowel. Experiment with different decorating ideas, encourage your child to come up with a theme, such as the beach or their favorite book or movie series.
Rain-Paint Postcards
Take card stock and cut into postcard-sized squares. During an afternoon rain shower, line up the card stock on a large cookie sheet. have the kids drip food coloring onto the card stock and then take them out into the rain, letting the colors swirl and meld 
like tie dye. Hang the card stock up inside to dry or lay flat under a large book. Once completely dry, let your children write postcards to school friends they have not seen over summer break or family members they miss.
Once you and your kids get used to doing crafts outdoors, come up with your own! The sky is the limit for Summer fun.
