Neat Summer Ideas and Hacks

Updated April 21, 2017
Originally Published April 21, 2016

Raise your hand if you’re ready for summer!! Me too:) We love the freedom of the days and the warm evenings outside. We love to BBQ, continue growing things in our garden, play at the beach, splash in the pool, and genuinely enjoy the season. Looking for some neat summer ideas and hacks, check these things out! Since we’ve all been stuck at home and this summer has been unlike any other, I really REALLY love the painted lawn stars. A fabulous way to decorate for the patriotic holidays and show support for the USA!

Awesome Summer Ideas, party hacks, and decorations!

Neat Summer Ideas and Hacks

1. How to Make a Beach Bag Towel Tote

Love this DIY project! tThe bag unwraps into a beach towel blanket with pillow!

Love this DIY project - the bag unwraps into a beach towel blanket with pillow!

2. Beach Ball Bag

Turn a beachball into a beach tote! This is a great idea for a beach ball that no longer holds air.

Turn a beachball into a beach tote! This is a great idea for a beach ball that no longer holds air.

3. Cinder Block Mosaic Art

Make cinder block mosaics with sea glass, shells, colored rocks, or anything you can find. Line them around the garden or decorate outside. Fun summer idea!

Make cinder block mosaics with sea glass, shells, colored rocks, or anything you can find. Line them around the garden or decorate outside. Fun!

4. Pool Noodle Firecrackers

Dollar store pool noodle fire crackers! To make these you will need 3 pool noodles in red and blue. Cut them so that they are 3 different lengths. Wrap them with white shipping tape (or duck tape and white paper over), then place some patriotic embellishments on top! The embellishments can be found at the dollar store or in the seasonal isle at any craft store. Hang them with patriotic colored garland (as pictured), use them as a center piece/table decor, or just let the kids play with them. Source unknown.

Dollar store pool noodle fire crackers!

5. Hanging Organizers Are Great for Camping

Bring a hanging organizer on a camping trip. It helps clear up space on the table. Brilliant! Source Unknown.

Bring a hanging organizer on a camping trip. It helps clear up space on the table. Brilliant!

6. Crib Sheet Over a Pack ‘n Play

Put a fitted crib sheet over the pack ‘n play to keep the bugs and direct sunlight away from the baby. So smart!

Put a fitted crib sheet over the pack 'n play to keep the bugs and direct sunlight away from the baby. So smart!

7. Plastic Jars for Waterproofing by the Pool

Save plastic jars like this to store your phone and keys in while you’re at the beach or pool. It won’t break and it will help keep things dry. Smart idea! Saving this… (source unknown)

Save plastic jars like this to store your phone and keys in while you’re at the beach or pool. It won't break and it will help keep things dry. Smart idea! Saving this...

8. Homemade Sprinkler Waterfall

Make a homemade sprinkler waterfall for kids using PVC pipes! This is such a great idea for summer!! Some people call it a “kid car wash” ha! This is so much more fun than a traditional water sprinkler.

Make a homemade sprinkler waterfall for kids using PVC pipes!

9. Beverage Fountain made with Plastic Pools

Ice beverage fountain made with buckets and plastic pools. Great summer idea parties & BBQs!

Ice beverage fountain made with buckets and plastic pools. Great idea for summer parties & BBQs!

10. Colorful Popcorn

 

Make neon popcorn with food coloring spray! FUN! (source unknown)

Make neon popcorn with food coloring spray! FUN!

11. Christmas Lights on a Trampoline

Use zip ties to put Christmas tree lights on the trampoline! This would make some fun summer nights for the kids! (source unknown)

Use zip ties to put Christmas tree lights on the trampoline! This would make some fun summer nights for the kids!

12. Serve Food Out of a Covered a Jar

Keep bugs out of the salad by using beautiful jars with lids! From broccoli salad to fruit salad and even drinks, this hack is beyond useful and oh-so-cute!

Keep bugs out of the salad by using beautiful jars with lids! From broccoli salad to fruit salad and even drinks, this hack is beyond useful and oh-so-cute!

13. Outdoor Movies in Inflatable Rafts

This is another fun idea for summer nights. Use blow-up pools (found here) to watch movies outside! Great idea – (source unknown).

This is another fun idea for summer nights. Use blow up pools to watch movies outside! Great idea -

14. Wood Pallet Patio Set

Make a DIY wood pallet “chill out” patio set for the summer. I love the color and it looks pretty easy to make!

Make a DIY wood pallet "chill out" patio set for the summer. I love the color and it looks pretty easy to make!

15. Glow Sticks in a Swimming Pool

For a glowing nighttime swimming party! Source unknown.

Put glow sticks in a pool and go swimming. FUN! Saving this idea for summer....

16. Paint Slip ‘n Slide

Make a huge paint slip ‘n slide – neat idea! A little washable paint, a long piece of plastic, and some willing participants is all you need!

Make a huge paint slip 'n slide - neat idea! A little washable paint, a long piece of plastic, and some willing participants is all you need!

17. Use Mason Jars for an Ice Cream Float Party

An easy way to serve ice cream floats at a party! Have mason jars already prepped with ice cream inside. Keep them over ice and add your favorite soda! Saving this idea…

An easy way to serve ice cream floats at a party! Have mason jars already prepped with ice cream inside. Keep them over ice and add your favorite soda!

18. Champagne Pineapple

Wrap some duct tape around a bottle of champagne, stick on a bunch of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and then add some grass fronds on top – neat! Wrap it in a clear goodie bag and tie a ribbon around it. (source unknown).

 

Wrap some duct tape around a bottle of champagne, stick on a bunch of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, and then add some grass fronds on top - neat!

19. Paint Red, White, and Blue Stars on Grass – Source no longer available

A piece of old cardboard with a star cut out and some construction marking spray paint is all you need to make your yard look patriotic this summer! Great idea. You will need cardboard to use as a stencil and this kind of paint (it doesn’t kill your grass, in fact, it’s designed to use on grass!). I think kids will love creating these painted lawn stars this summer!

A piece of old cardboard with a star cut out, some construction marking spray paint is all you need to make your yard look patriotic this summer! Great idea -

20. Butterfly Fruit Platter

Make a butterfly fruit platter using foil along the bottom and add berries, oranges, grapes, kiwi, oranges and more. Great idea! Source Unknown.

Make a butterfly fruit platter! Use foil along the bottom and add berries, oranges, grapes, kiwi, oranges and more. Great idea!

21. Cinder Block Table

Make a simple and inexpensive porch plant table! All you need is some paint, some cinder blocks, and wood. Cute! Source unknown.

Make a simple and inexpensive porch plant table with cinder blocks!

Using square concrete and pallets painted white, you can make this stunning outdoor bar!

Outdoor bar made with wood pallets

Danielle Medley was inspired to make one with black blocks and beautifully stained wood. I love how she decorated, don’t you?
Cinder Block Table

22. Pineapple Palm Tree

DIY stacked pineapple fruit tray – wow! This is such a neat summer party centerpiece idea!

DIY stacked pineapple fruit tray - wow! This is such a neat summer party centerpiece idea!

23. Bundt Pan Flower Bird Bath

Create a cute flower birdbath using an old bundt pan and a lamp or plant stand! love this idea. (source unknown)

Create a cute flower bird bath using an old bundt pan and a lamp or plant stand! love this idea...

24. Watering Can with Lights

Make a watering can glow at night using fairy lights!

Watering Can with LIghts

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