5 Rainy Day Craft Ideas for Kiwi Families That Use Supplies You Already Have

Let's be honest — when the rain sets in across Auckland or Wellington, keeping the kids entertained can feel like a full-time job. The good news? You don't need fancy equipment or expensive kits. With a few basic craft supplies and some imagination, a rainy afternoon can become the highlight of the week.

Welcome to The Kiwi Creative — our new series celebrating everyday creativity across Aotearoa. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or a parent just trying to survive school holidays, we're here with ideas that actually work.

Why Crafting on Rainy Days Is Good for Everyone

Research from the NZ Ministry of Education consistently highlights creative play as essential for children's cognitive development. But it's not just for kids — crafting reduces stress hormones in adults too. A rainy day craft session is genuinely good for the whole family's wellbeing.

1. Kitchen Sponge Stamping

Cut ordinary kitchen sponges into shapes — stars, hearts, circles, koru patterns — and use them as stamps with acrylic paint. It works brilliantly on card, brown paper bags, or even old newspaper. Kids as young as two can do this, and older children can create surprisingly sophisticated repeat patterns.

What you need: Kitchen sponges, scissors, acrylic paint (we recommend washable acrylics for younger children), paper plates for palettes, and any paper or card.

2. Egg Carton Creatures

Save your egg cartons — they're one of the most versatile craft materials going. Cut individual cups to make caterpillars, spiders, turtles, or fantails. Paint them, add googly eyes, and use pipe cleaners for legs and antennae. A single egg carton can produce an entire zoo.

What you need: Egg cartons, scissors, PVA glue, paint, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners from our kids craft range.

3. Watercolour Resist Art

This one looks impressive but couldn't be simpler. Draw designs on white paper using a white crayon — the kids can write secret messages or draw patterns. Then paint over the whole page with watercolours and watch the hidden designs magically appear. The waxy crayon resists the paint, creating beautiful effects.

What you need: White crayons, white paper, and a basic watercolour set. That's genuinely it.

4. Collage from Old Magazines

Grab a stack of old magazines, newspapers, or junk mail. Let kids cut out pictures, words, colours, and textures to create collages on card. Younger children can simply tear and stick. Older kids might create vision boards, abstract art, or funny character mash-ups. It's a brilliant exercise in composition and colour theory, disguised as fun.

What you need: Old magazines, scissors, PVA glue or a glue stick, and card or heavy paper.

5. Salt Dough Ornaments

Mix 1 cup flour, ½ cup salt, and ½ cup water to make a simple dough. Roll it out, cut shapes with cookie cutters or freehand, poke a hole for hanging, and bake at 120°C for 2-3 hours. Once cool, paint with acrylics and seal with PVA glue mixed with a little water. These make wonderful gifts and last for years.

What you need: Flour, salt, water, cookie cutters, and acrylic paint for decorating.

Tips for a Stress-Free Craft Session

Cover your table with an old sheet or newspaper before starting. Set out all supplies in advance so you're not hunting for things mid-project. And most importantly — embrace the mess. The process matters more than the result, especially for younger children.

Put on some music, make hot chocolates, and let everyone create at their own pace. Some of our best family memories happen on days when we can't go outside.

Stock Up Before the Next Rainy Day

Keep a craft box ready to go with basics like paint, brushes, glue, paper, and scissors. That way you're never caught out when the weather turns. We offer free NZ-wide delivery on orders over $50, so you can stock up from the couch.

Frequently Asked Questions