You know that sound. The low, happy hum of a bee buzzing from flower to flower. It’s the soundtrack of a sunny day, and let’s be honest, kids are fascinated by these fuzzy little pollinators. But what do you do when the weather turns or you just need a screen-free afternoon that doesn’t end in chaos? You get crafty. Forget the generic paper plate bumblebee—we’re going way beyond. I’ve rounded up 24 of the most creative, fun, and (dare I say) adorable bee crafts for kids that will have everyone buzzing with excitement. Ready to create a hive of activity?
1. Toilet Paper Roll Bumble Bees
Let’s start with a classic upcycle! This craft is perfect for using what you already have. Grab those empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes, some yellow paint, and black construction paper.
Kids love the simple painting step, and then it’s all about wrapping and gluing to create those iconic black stripes. Add some pipe cleaner antennae and googly eyes for instant personality. Pro tip: Use a dab of glue to attach a piece of string to the top, and you’ve got a swarm of bees ready to fly from your ceiling!
2. Pom Pom Bee Finger Puppets
These are not just cute; they’re an invitation to play. You’ll need a small yellow pom pom, a tiny bit of black yarn or felt for stripes, and mini googly eyes.
Glue the finished bee onto a plain finger puppet or even a loop of cardstock that fits your child’s finger. Suddenly, you have a whole hive of characters for storytelling. Watch as your little one makes their bee “buzz” around the room, pollinating flowers (aka couch cushions) and having conversations. It’s imaginative play at its finest.
3. Bubble Wrap Honeycomb Printing
This craft is a sensory and artistic two-for-one. Cut a piece of bubble wrap into a hexagon shape and wrap it around a small jar or bottle for little hands to grip. Dip it in yellow or gold paint.
Press it onto paper to create a perfect honeycomb pattern! While that dries, kids can craft their bees to live in the hive. The satisfying *pop pop* of the bubble wrap is half the fun, and the geometric print looks seriously impressive. Frame it for a keepsake that’s actually cool.
4. Egg Carton Bumble Bee Mobile
Don’t toss that egg carton! The individual cups are the ideal, lumpy body for a chunky bumblebee. Cut the cups apart, let the kids paint them yellow and black, and add wings made from white cardstock or coffee filters.
Punch a hole in the top of each bee and string them at different lengths onto an embroidery hoop or a stick from the garden. Hang this cheerful mobile in a sunny window and watch the little bees spin gently. It’s a whole swarm of cute.
5. Rock Bee Garden Markers
Combine crafting and gardening for a project that lasts all season. Head outside and hunt for smooth, flat-ish rocks. Paint them with bright yellow and black stripes using acrylic paints or sharp paint markers.
Add a friendly face and clear sealant to protect them from the weather. Place your new rock bees among your herbs or flowers. They add a pop of whimsy to the garden and help kids feel connected to the plants they’re growing. Plus, they’re much cuter than plastic tags.
6. Bee Kind Kindness Craft
This one warms my heart. Create a simple bee shape from cardstock or craft foam. On each bee, write a small act of kindness: “Help set the table,” “Share a toy,” or “Give a compliment.”
Attach a magnet to the back or put them in a jar. Let your child pick a “Bee Kind” bee each day and complete the task. It turns a simple craft into a powerful lesson about empathy and community, tying back to the incredible, cooperative world of a real beehive.
7. Paper Plate Bee Hive & Lacing
Here’s a fantastic fine motor skills activity disguised as a bee craft. Take a paper plate and color it a golden yellow. An adult can punch holes around the edge in a rough hexagon pattern.
Give your child a long piece of yellow yarn with tape wrapped around the end (like a shoelace) and let them “sew” through the holes to create the honeycomb cells. It’s challenging but rewarding, and the finished textural hive makes a great backdrop for other bee toys or drawings.
8. Clothespin Buzzing Bees
The spring on a clothespin makes this craft extra fun. Paint the wooden pin yellow and black. Glue on small heart-shaped wings (the points facing out) and googly eyes.
Now for the magic: kids can pinch the clothespin to make the bee “buzz” as it flies around! These are perfect for clipping onto notebooks, artwork, or even as a playful bookmark. The interactive element keeps little hands busy long after the glue dries.
9. Coffee Filter Sun Catcher Bees
These turn any window into a stained-glass masterpiece. Let kids color on a white coffee filter with yellow washable markers. Then, using a dropper or paintbrush, lightly dab water onto the filter and watch the colors bleed beautifully.
Once dry, fold and cut the filter into wing shapes. Assemble them with a black pipe cleaner body and head. Tape them to your window and watch the sun shine through the vibrant, translucent wings. Stunning.
10. Bee Fingerprint Art Canvas
This is a keepsake craft you’ll treasure forever. Start with a small canvas or thick paper. Paint a simple garden background. Now, dip a little finger in yellow paint and make fingerprint bodies.
Use a fine marker to add black stripes, tiny wings, and flight paths. You can even add fingerprint flowers! Sign and date the back. Every time you look at it, you’ll see not just bees, but the tiny size of your child’s fingers at that moment. Get the tissues ready.
11. DIY Bee Hotel
Move over, birdhouses! A bee hotel supports solitary, non-stinging bees like mason bees. Use a cleaned-out tin can or small wooden box. Help your child fill it with natural materials: bamboo canes, hollow reeds, or drilled wood blocks.
Place it in a sunny, sheltered spot in your garden. This craft sparks amazing conversations about different types of bees and their vital role in our ecosystem. It’s a real-world science project that gives back to nature.
12. Buzzing Bee Headband
Transform your kid into the queen (or king) bee of the backyard! Measure a strip of black construction paper to fit their head and staple it. Then, craft the bee topper: a yellow paper plate or cup for the head, with big eyes and pipe cleaner antennae.
Attach it to the headband. Add wings made from white paper or cellophane to the sides. Cue the instant buzzing and flying around the living room. Perfect for imaginative play or a themed party.
13. Bee Slime Sensory Play
Sometimes, crafts need to be… squishy. Whip up a batch of clear or yellow slime (school glue, baking soda, contact lens solution). Before you mix it fully, stir in black and yellow hexagon beads, tiny bee charms, or even little pom poms.
The kids can then “rescue” the bees from the slime hive or stretch it to find all the hidden elements. It’s a fantastic, tactile sensory activity that fits the theme perfectly. Just maybe keep it on a washable surface.
14. Hexagon Honeycomb Collage
This craft is all about shapes and patterns. Cut out a ton of hexagons from yellow, gold, and orange paper, magazines, or old painted artwork. Provide a large piece of paper with a simple bee outline drawn on it.
Let your child glue the hexagons inside the bee’s body to create a mosaic honeycomb effect. It’s a wonderful way to explore geometry in art, and the mixed-media result is uniquely beautiful every single time.
15. Flying Bee Straw Rocket
STEM meets arts and crafts! Have kids color and cut out a small bee picture, then tape it to the top of a standard drinking straw. Take a wider straw (like a milkshake straw) and tape one end shut.
Insert the thin straw with the bee into the open end. Now, have your child give a sharp blow into the wide straw… and watch their bee rocket across the room! It’s a hilarious and active way to demonstrate air pressure. Ready, set, BUZZ-BLASTOFF!
16. Pine Cone Bumble Bees
A nature walk provides the main material here. Find small, roundish pine cones. Paint them yellow, and once dry, wrap black pipe cleaners or paint black stripes around them.
Add felt wings and googly eyes. The pine cone’s natural texture makes for a wonderfully fuzzy bee body. These look adorable nestled in a potted plant or as part of a rustic centerpiece.
17. Beehive Clay Pinch Pots
Get those little hands working with air-dry clay. Help your child form a simple pinch pot shape. Then, using a pencil or skewer, gently press a hexagon pattern all over the outside to mimic a beehive.
Once dry, paint it golden yellow. This tiny pot is perfect for holding rings, paperclip bees, or a real daisy. It’s a functional art piece that builds fine motor skills and patience.
18. “Bee-autiful” Suncatcher
This is easier than it looks! Cut the center out of a paper plate to create a ring. Have your child spread a thin layer of clear glue inside the ring and start sticking down small pieces of yellow and orange tissue paper, overlapping them.
For the bee, cut a simple shape from black cardstock and glue it on top. Once dry, the tissue paper becomes translucent. Hang it in the window for a gorgeous, glowing effect that celebrates our bee friends.
19. Yarn-Wrapped Bee Craft
Excellent for building hand strength and coordination. Cut a simple bee shape from sturdy cardboard. Let your child wrap yellow yarn around the body section and black yarn around the stripe sections.
They can glue the ends down securely. Add cardboard or felt wings. The textured, tactile finish is so satisfying, and it’s a calming, focused activity for kids who love to work with their hands.
20. Beehive Button Art
Raid the button jar! Draw a simple beehive shape on a piece of cardstock or wood. Provide buttons in shades of yellow, gold, cream, and brown.
Let your child glue the buttons inside the shape, creating a textured, mosaic hive. They can add a few button bees flying around it. Sorting the buttons, choosing colors, and placing them is a fantastic cognitive exercise with a colorful payoff.
21. Paper Bag Bee Puppet
A classic puppet with a bee-rilliant twist. Use a standard lunch bag. The bottom flap becomes the bee’s head—decorate it with eyes and antennae. The main body of the bag gets yellow and black stripes.
Glue on paper wings. Now your child has a puppet they can animate by moving their hand. Put on a show about a day in the life of a bee! It’s craft and dramatic play in one.
22. Bee Footprint Art
Another precious memory-maker. Paint the sole of your child’s foot with yellow washable paint and press it onto paper (heel at the top). This footprint becomes the bee’s body.
Once dry, add black stripes, wings, and a face. You can turn the paper sideways and make a whole garden of footprint flowers, too. It’s messy, silly, and results in a frame-worthy piece of art you’ll never want to part with.
23. Pasta Shell Beehive
Uncooked pasta isn’t just for dinner. Use small pasta shells (like conchiglie) to build a hive! Draw a hive outline on paper and let your child glue the shells inside, curved side up, to look like honeycomb cells.
They can paint the pasta yellow after gluing or use pre-colored pasta. Add drawn or sticker bees. The 3D texture is fantastic, and it’s a great way to use up that last bit of pasta in the box.
24. Beehive Sensory Bin
Let’s end with an immersive experience. Fill a bin with dried yellow lentils or split peas as your “honey” base. Add yellow pom poms (bee larvae), black and yellow buttons (bees), tweezers (bee tongues!), and small containers.
Kids can transfer, sort, and imagine the life inside a hive. It’s open-ended play that encourages storytelling, fine motor practice, and a whole lot of fun. The perfect, low-mess way to wrap up a bee-themed crafting day.
And there you have it—24 bee crafts for kids that are guaranteed to chase away boredom and spark some serious creativity. From quick pom-pom puppets to lasting garden markers, there’s something here for every age, mood, and mess tolerance level. The best part? While your kids are busy painting, gluing, and buzzing around, they’re also learning about one of nature’s most important little creatures. They’re building skills, making memories, and maybe even starting a lifelong love for pollinators. So grab some yellow paint, round up the googly eyes, and get ready for a hive of happy activity. The only question left is… which craft will you try first? Happy crafting!