DIY Balloon Bracelets: A Fun and Easy Kids Summer Craft

Looking for a fun, inexpensive craft to keep kids busy this summer? These DIY balloon bracelets are colorful, silly, and surprisingly easy to make! All you need are long balloons, elastic, and a few minutes to create these fun balloon jewelry pieces.

We originally made these balloon bracelets during a mom-and-daughter day at church, and they were such a hit! They’re a great craft for kids, tweens, summer camps, birthday parties, playdates, or anytime you need an easy activity that doesn’t cost much.

And you know me—I love a craft that is easy, fun, and cheap!

What Are Balloon Bracelets?

Balloon bracelets are fun pieces of DIY jewelry made by cutting up long balloons and sliding the balloon pieces onto elastic. Once you scrunch the balloon pieces together, they create a colorful, ruffled bracelet that kids can wear.

You can make them with balloons in all kinds of colors, so every bracelet can be completely different.

These would also make a really fun summer kids craft because they’re bright, colorful, and perfect for wearing to summer parties and activities.

Supplies for DIY Balloon Bracelets

You only need a few supplies to make these fun balloon bracelets:

Long Balloons
Elastic Cord
Scissors
Tape

That’s it!

How to Make Balloon Bracelets

Step 1: Cut the Balloons

Start by cutting your long balloons into pieces.

You don’t need to inflate them first. Simply cut the balloon into several smaller sections.

You can experiment with different lengths to see how the bracelets look with longer or shorter pieces.

Step 2: Cut Your Elastic

Measure a piece of elastic around the child’s wrist.

Cut the elastic so that it fits comfortably around the wrist, leaving approximately 5 extra inches so you have enough room to work with and tie the bracelet.

Step 3: Secure the Elastic

Tape one end of the elastic to your work surface.

This keeps the elastic from sliding around while you add the balloon pieces and makes this craft much easier for kids to assemble.

Step 4: Add the Balloon Pieces

Slide the cut balloon pieces onto the elastic.

Keep adding pieces until you have enough to fill the bracelet.

You can mix different colors together to make a bright rainbow bracelet or use one color for a more coordinated look.

Step 5: Scrunch the Balloons

Once you have several pieces on the elastic, start pushing and scrunching them together.

This is where the bracelet really starts to take shape!

Keep adding balloon pieces and scrunching them together until the bracelet is full and fluffy.

Step 6: Tie the Bracelet

When you’re happy with the size and fullness of your bracelet, carefully tie the ends of the elastic together.

I like to add a clear glue like E6000 or clear nail polish to help set the knot. Let dry.

Trim any excess elastic and your DIY balloon bracelet is ready to wear!

Easy Summer Craft for Kids

These balloon bracelets are such a fun summer craft for kids. They’re inexpensive enough to make with a group, which makes them especially great for summer camps, church groups, classrooms, birthday parties, and kids’ craft days.

Set out a bunch of colorful balloons and let kids choose their favorite colors to create their own unique balloon jewelry.

You could even challenge them to make a bracelet using only their favorite colors!

Balloon Bracelet Ideas

There are lots of ways to change up this simple kids craft.

Make Rainbow Bracelets

Use a different balloon color for each section to create a rainbow-inspired bracelet.

Use School or Team Colors

Make balloon bracelets using school colors for a fun classroom or team activity.

Make Matching Bracelets

Kids can make matching bracelets with their friends, siblings, or parents.

A Fun Craft for Groups

One of my favorite things about these balloon bracelets is that they work really well as a group craft.

We made ours during a mom-and-daughter activity, but you could easily make them at:

Summer camps
Church activities
Birthday parties
Girl Scout events
School craft days
Kids’ clubs
Playdates
Family craft nights

Because the supplies are inexpensive, you can make a whole bunch of bracelets without spending a fortune.

Tips for Making Balloon Bracelets

Use long balloons. The long, skinny balloons work best for this project because they give you plenty of balloon pieces to slide onto the elastic.

Cut different sizes. Try different lengths of balloon pieces to create different textures and looks.

Use lots of colors. The more colorful the balloons, the more fun the finished bracelets look!

Make sure the elastic fits comfortably. You want the bracelet to be loose enough to wear comfortably but not so loose that it falls off.

More Fun Kids’ Crafts

If you’re looking for more easy kids crafts, this is definitely one to add to your summer activity list. I love projects that don’t require a ton of supplies or complicated instructions, and these balloon bracelets check all the boxes.

They’re colorful, inexpensive, easy to make, and kids get something they can actually wear when they’re finished.

Make Your Own Balloon Bracelets!

If you need an easy summer craft for kids, grab some long balloons and elastic and give these DIY balloon bracelets a try!

They’re a great way to turn inexpensive supplies into colorful handmade jewelry—and they’re especially fun when you make them with a group of kids.

Easy. Fun. Cheap.

That’s pretty much the theme around here.

Because I love cheap stuff.

Except chocolate. That stuff I will absolutely drop a dime on. 😂

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of balloons do you use for balloon bracelets?

Long, skinny balloons, often called twisting balloons or balloon animals, work best for making these bracelets.

Can kids make balloon bracelets?

Yes! This is a simple kids’ craft, although younger children will need help with cutting the balloons, measuring the elastic, and tying the finished bracelet.

Are balloon bracelets good for summer camps and parties?

Absolutely! They’re inexpensive, colorful, and easy to make in groups, making them a great summer camp craft, birthday party activity, or kids’ group project.

What colors can you use?

Any colors work! Try rainbow colors, bright summer colors, pastels, or school colors to customize your bracelets.

PIN THIS BALLOON BRACELET CRAFT FOR LATER!

If you’re looking for an easy summer craft for kids, save this DIY balloon bracelet tutorial and come back to it when you need a fun activity. It’s a simple project that kids can make, wear, and share with their friends!

The BEST kid crafts and activities

and when I say kids, I mean kids of all ages!

If you are looking for more fun kids’ crafts- my craft camp has two weeks full of fun projects that you will love to do as well!

Thank you!