Rainbows show up after the hard weather, bright and unhurried, and remind us that beauty is woven right into the natural world. Which makes them just about the perfect subject for a craft afternoon with your little ones.
These 10 rainbow crafts for kids are easy enough for toddlers and preschoolers, but interesting enough to keep older kids busy too. Most of them call for supplies you already have tucked in a drawer somewhere — and all of them are the kind of thing that ends up on the refrigerator for months.
If you love simple, low-prep projects like these, you’ll also want to bookmark our collection of creative paper crafts for kids — it’s one of my most-used lists around here.
10 bright rainbow crafts for kids
Most of these use basic supplies you probably already have at home, and they’re simple enough to do without turning your kitchen into a full craft explosion.
1. paper plate rainbow
This one is a classic for a reason. A paper plate, some washable paint or markers, and a pair of scissors — that’s really all it takes. My kids love tearing colored tissue paper and gluing it in arcs on a half-circle plate. The result is cheerful and bright, and it holds up on the refrigerator for weeks without losing its color.
If paper plates are a staple in your craft drawer, our full roundup of easy paper plate crafts for kids has thirty more ideas you’ll want to try.
What you’ll need: Paper plate — scissors — washable paint or tissue paper — glue stick
2. rainbow fish paper craft
This one is a little more involved, but the result is stunning. Cut a simple fish shape from cardstock, then let the kids fill the body with shiny or metallic paper scraps for scales.
You can also use torn tissue paper or painted squares — whatever is on hand. It’s a beautiful reminder of the world God made in all its color, and it makes lovely wall art when it dries.
What you’ll need: Cardstock — metallic or shiny paper scraps — scissors — glue
3. tissue paper rainbow suncatcher
Cut a simple rainbow arc from clear contact paper (sticky side up) and lay it flat on the table.
Let your little ones press torn tissue paper pieces all over it in rainbow color order. Fold the edges over, punch a hole at the top, and hang it in a sunny window. The light that pours through it in the morning is just stunning — it throws color across the whole room.
What you’ll need: Clear contact paper — tissue paper in rainbow colors — scissors — hole punch — string or ribbon
4. rainbow name craft
Write each child’s name in large block letters on cardstock, then have them fill each letter with a different rainbow color. It’s quietly educational — letter recognition, color sequencing — but it doesn’t feel like a lesson at all. It just feels like play.
What you’ll need: Cardstock — crayons, markers, or paint — pencil to trace letters first
5. 3d rainbow craft
Cut long strips of colored paper — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet — and curve or arch them from one base to another, gluing the ends down to make a standing rainbow. Add cotton balls at both ends for clouds.
This one is simple, satisfying, and produces that very proud-of-themselves energy when your child holds it up to show you.
What you’ll need: Colored construction paper — glue — cotton balls — scissors
6. cotton ball cloud rainbow
Paint rainbow stripes on a piece of cardstock or cardboard, then glue big fluffy cotton balls at both ends for clouds.
This is a simple craft that even very young kids can enjoy with a bit of help, especially when it comes to placing the cotton balls and making their own fluffy cloud shapes. It keeps little hands busy and lets them explore texture and color in a fun way.
What you’ll need: Cardstock or cardboard — washable paint — cotton balls — glue
7. God’s promise rainbow (noah’s ark tie-in)
This is my personal favorite, sweet friend.
After the flood, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise — a covenant between Him and all the earth. That story is so rich for little ones. Not just because it involves a big wooden boat and a lot of animals, but because it speaks to faithfulness. To a God who keeps His word.
We make this one with a rainbow arc on blue cardstock, a small paper ark tucked at the bottom, and cotton ball waves. We talk about promises while we color. And then we read the verse together, slowly.
“I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” — Genesis 9:13
If you love weaving faith into your craft table, our Christian crafts for kids post is a wonderful place to keep exploring — and our church crafts for kids list has even more ideas perfect for Sunday school tables.
What you’ll need: Blue cardstock — rainbow-colored paper strips — cotton balls — small paper cut-out for the ark — glue
8. rainbow handprint craft
Press each hand into a different paint color and layer them in a curved arc on white paper. When it dries, you have a full rainbow made entirely from your child’s little hands. I cannot tell you how much I love handprint crafts — they are time-stamped in the sweetest possible way.
We have a whole collection of handprint crafts for kids that you’ll want to save for all the seasons ahead.
What you’ll need: Washable finger paint in rainbow colors — white cardstock — a bowl of warm soapy water nearby
9. rainbow pasta necklace
Dye dry pasta with food coloring and a little rubbing alcohol — spread it on a paper towel to dry, and the colors come out vivid and beautiful. Once dry, let the kids string the pieces onto yarn or twine to make wearable rainbow necklaces. My two-year-old wore hers for three days straight, including nap time.
The threading is also wonderful for fine motor development. If you love sensory-rich, hands-on activities, our sensory crafts for kids post has so many more gentle, engaging ideas your little ones will love.
What you’ll need: Dry pasta with holes (penne, rigatoni, or ziti) — food coloring — rubbing alcohol — yarn or twine — paper towels for drying
10. rainbow woven paper craft
Cut slits partway up a piece of paper — leaving the top edge intact — then weave strips of rainbow-colored paper through the slits in color order. It teaches a simple weaving skill, keeps little hands busy for a good stretch of time, and produces something that looks far more impressive than the effort it actually required.
What you’ll need: White or black paper for the base — strips of colored paper in rainbow colors — scissors — glue to secure the ends
If you love finding creative uses for everyday items you already have around the house, our collection of recycled crafts for kids is full of ideas in that same spirit.
a few gentle tips for crafting with little ones
Crafting with toddlers is an act of grace. I say that with full sincerity and a little laughter, because my children have painted the dog, glued their hands together, and once turned an entire elbow orange during a pasta-dyeing project. And every single time, it was still worth it.
Here are a few things that help us keep the afternoon from unraveling:
- Cover the table first. An old vinyl tablecloth or a layer of newspaper saves a lot of heartache.
- Set out only what’s needed. Too many supplies at once leads to overwhelm for little ones — and a much bigger cleanup for you.
- Let go of the finished product. The process is the point. A lumpy rainbow full of fingerprints is a perfect rainbow.
- Work in short sessions. Twenty minutes is often plenty for a toddler. Have the next snack ready.
And on the afternoons when crafting feels like too much, our DIY sensory bottles are a beautiful, calming alternative that little hands love just as much.
grab your supplies and make a rainbow this week
Sweet friend, I hope one of these rainbow crafts finds its way to your kitchen table. Maybe it’s a slow Tuesday. Maybe it’s a Sunday afternoon after church. Maybe you just need something colorful and low-pressure and full of little-hands energy.
Whatever the day holds, there’s something quietly grounding about making something beautiful together. A rainbow on your refrigerator is a small thing — and also, somehow, not small at all.
I’d love to hear which one you try first. Drop a comment below and let me know — and if your little ones make something beautiful, share it with us. The imperfect ones are always my favorites.
With love,
Betty
Get the FREE Printable Jonah and the Whale Printable Crafts
Don’t let your kids just hear Jonah’s story—help them step into it.
With these 2 free Jonah activities, children can explore the story in a fun, memorable, hands-on way. They’ll make an interactive pull-tab whale slider craft that reveals five scenes from Jonah’s journey, and follow along with an 8-page coloring storybook that shares the complete story—including God’s important lesson about mercy and compassion that’s so often missed.
frequently asked questions about rainbow crafts for kids
what age are rainbow crafts appropriate for?
Most of the crafts on this list work well for children ages 2 and up, with a little help from a grown-up. Simpler ones — like the cotton ball rainbow and the tissue paper suncatcher — are wonderful for toddlers. The rainbow name craft and woven paper craft are better suited for ages 4 and up, when fine motor skills are a bit more developed.
what supplies do I need for rainbow crafts for kids?
The basics cover most of these projects: washable paint in rainbow colors, construction paper or cardstock, tissue paper, cotton balls, glue sticks, and scissors. A few crafts call for dry pasta or clear contact paper, but nothing unusual or expensive — most of it you likely already have on hand.
how do I make rainbow crafts faith-based?
The God’s Promise Rainbow (number 7 on the list) is a beautiful place to start. Pair any rainbow craft with a reading of Genesis 9 and a gentle conversation about God’s covenant with Noah. Rainbows are a natural springboard for talking about faithfulness, beauty, and the goodness of God — even with very little ones.
can I use these rainbow crafts in a sunday school setting?
Absolutely. The God’s Promise Rainbow, handprint rainbow, and paper plate rainbow are all well-suited for group settings — minimal prep, easy cleanup, and supplies that are simple to gather in bulk. Our church crafts for kids post has even more ideas if you’re planning a whole lesson around Noah’s ark or God’s promises.
how do I keep rainbow crafts from getting too messy?
Cover your surface before you begin — a vinyl tablecloth or butcher paper works beautifully. Set out only the colors and tools needed for one craft at a time. Stick with washable paint whenever possible. And honestly? Embrace a little mess. The fingerprints on the table wipe away. The memories stick around a lot longer.
