Anyone who loves candy—and let’s be honest, who doesn’t?—is sure to love these candy-themed crafts for kids! It is time to go bright, colorful, and creative as you create your own “treats” out of simple craft supplies.
Candy abounds in our lives today. We even have entire holidays that seem to revolve around sugar, like Halloween in October or Valentine’s Day in February. However, there is a very specific, lesser-known holiday that crafters absolutely adore: Decorating With Candy Day, which falls on the 1st of February.
While Halloween and National Candy Day (November 4th) focus on eating sweets, Decorating With Candy Day is all about the aesthetic. It is about the swirl of a lollipop, the bright wrapper of a hard candy, and the fluffy texture of cotton candy.
But before we dive into the glue and glitter, have you ever wondered where this sugary obsession began? Who made the first-ever candy in the world? And who ate it?
Well, we don’t have specific names, but historians believe that the first candy originated in Ancient Egypt. It wasn’t the corn-syrup concoction we know today. Instead, it was quite elaborate, made from honey, nuts, and fruits bound together. Needless to say, without modern sugar processing, it was considered a major luxury item reserved for the wealthy!
5 Fun Facts About Candy You Probably Didn’t Know
To get the kids excited about their crafting session, share these fascinating bits of trivia. It turns a simple art project into a learning opportunity!
- The Price of Luxury: The most expensive candy in the world is a chocolate truffle made by the French company Richart. It can cost over $2,000 per pound! (We might stick to crafting paper chocolates instead!)
- A Giant Treat: The largest candy bar ever made weighed over 12,000 pounds and was a whopping 21 feet long. That is bigger than most cars.
- Language Lesson: The first gummy bears were made in Germany and were originally called “Gummibärchen,” which translates adorably to ‘little gum bear’.
- A Magical Name: Cotton candy was originally invented by a dentist (ironic, right?) and was named Fairy Floss. We honestly love that name and think we should bring it back!
- Equine Inspiration: Believe it or not, Lollipops and Snickers bars are both named after horses. “Lolly Pop” was a famous racing horse, and “Snickers” was a beloved horse belonging to the Mars family.
Why Make Candy Crafts Instead of Eating Candy?
We are highlighting candy crafts right now because we are leading up to Decorating with Candy Day on February 1st. This offers the perfect opportunity to indulge in the visual joy of sweets without the sugar crash.
Crafting offers immense developmental benefits for children:
- Fine Motor Skills: Cutting, gluing, and placing small beads helps dexterity.
- Color Recognition: Candy crafts are famously vibrant, helping toddlers identify shades like neon pink or lime green.
- Patience and Focus: Completing a Sudoku puzzle or a complex craft requires attention to detail.
Here are 20 amazing candy-themed crafts and activities to try with your kids this season.
Part 1: Educational Candy Games (Printables & Puzzles)
One of the best ways to channel a child’s love for candy is through games. These activities are perfect for siblings to play together—without fighting over the last piece of chocolate!
1. Candy Themed Bingo
Got friends who are fellow candy lovers? Then this is the game you should be playing! You can easily create or download a Bingo board featuring images of gumdrops, chocolate bars, and candy canes instead of numbers. It is a fantastic party game for classrooms.
2. Sweet Treat Memory Match
This is a game the little ones are sure to love, especially when they get to spot their favorite candy among the rest! Create cards with pairs of matching candies. Flip them over and have the kids find the matches. It boosts visual memory and concentration.
3. Candy Sudoku
One of the best ways to introduce kids to logic puzzles like Sudoku is by trying out pictorial versions first. Instead of numbers 1-9, use 9 different types of candy symbols. It teaches logic and pattern recognition in a low-pressure environment.
4. “I Spy” Candy Jar
Draw a large jar on a piece of paper and fill it with drawn overlapping candies. Have the child count how many jellybeans, how many lollipops, and how many wrapped candies they can find.
5. Candy Color Sorting
This is great for toddlers. Use colored paper cutouts of candies and have them sort them into matching colored bowls. It’s a foundational math skill!
Part 2: Paper & Cardboard Creations
You don’t need fancy supplies to make sweet art. These projects use items you likely have in your recycling bin.
6. Paper Plate Lollipops
Transform a simple white paper plate into a giant swirl lollipop. Paint a spiral using bright colors, wrap the plate in clear cellophane, and tape a sturdy cardboard tube or wooden dowel to the bottom. It looks good enough to lick!
7. Cardboard Tube “Wrapped Candies”
Save your toilet paper rolls! Wrap them in colored tissue paper and twist the ends, securing them with ribbon. These make excellent oversized decorations for a party or a play kitchen.
8. Giant Paper Mache Gumdrops
If you are feeling ambitious, use a balloon as a base to create a paper mache dome. Once dry, paint it a solid color and coat it in glitter to mimic the sugar coating of a gumdrop.
9. Construction Paper Candy Corn Man
Even though candy corn is a Halloween staple, the shape is great for crafting. Cut a large triangle, color it white, orange, and yellow, and give it accordion-folded paper arms and legs.
10. Tissue Paper Scrunched Gumballs
Draw a gumball machine on a piece of paper. Have your child tear small squares of tissue paper, scrunch them into balls, and glue them inside the glass globe area of the drawing. This creates a wonderful 3D texture.
Part 3: crafty Textures & 3D Art
Let’s explore different textures. Candy isn’t just smooth; it can be fluffy, hard, or bumpy.
11. Cotton Ball Cotton Candy
Recreate “Fairy Floss” using cotton balls. Pull the cotton slightly to fluff it up, dip it in powdered chalk or lightly spray paint it pink or blue, and glue it to the top of a paper cone. It looks incredibly realistic!
12. Button Candy Art
Do you have a jar of old buttons? Let kids arrange them on a canvas to create a mosaic of a cupcake or a candy bar. The buttons mimic the look of “Dot” candies perfectly.
13. Pom-Pom Ice Cream Cones
While technically ice cream, it fits the sweet theme! Glue large, colorful pom-poms onto brown cardstock triangles. You can stack them high to make a triple-scoop delight.
14. Salt Dough “Cookies” and “Donuts”
Mix flour, salt, and water to create salt dough. Let kids shape them into donuts or cookies. Bake them until hard, and then set up a painting station. They can paint on “sprinkles” or “icing.” (Note: Ensure they know these are pretend toys, not food!)
15. Pipe Cleaner Lollipops
Take two different colored pipe cleaners (chenille stems) and twist them together. Then, roll them into a tight spiral. Glue a small stick to the bottom. These are great for Barbie dolls or miniature play.
Part 4: Upcycled & Science Crafts
Combine science and recycling for these unique projects.
16. Rock Candy Geodes
This is a craft you can eat! Use a sugar-water solution and wooden sticks to grow your own rock candy crystals. It teaches kids about supersaturation and crystallization.
17. Candy Wrapper Jewelry
Don’t throw away those shiny wrappers! Flatten them out and fold them into tight strips. You can link them together to create bracelets or necklaces. It’s a retro craft that teaches upcycling.
18. Balloon Wrapped “Hard Candies”
Blow up small water balloons (with air, not water). Wrap them in colored cellophane and tie the ends. String a bunch together to make a festive garland for a bedroom.
19. Puffy Paint Cupcakes
Mix shaving cream with white glue and food coloring to create “puffy paint.” When you paint this onto a cupcake drawing, it dries with a 3D, foam-like texture that looks exactly like frosting.
20. The “Candy” Stained Glass Window
Cut a candy cane or candy shape out of black cardstock, leaving the inside hollow. Glue strips of colored tissue paper across the hollow space. When you tape it to a window, the sun shines through like stained glass.
Conclusion
Whether you are looking for a way to use up leftover craft supplies, preparing for Decorating With Candy Day, or just want a sweet activity for a rainy afternoon, these 20 ideas have you covered.
From the history of Egyptian honey treats to the fun of modern-day “Fairy Floss,” the world of candy is full of inspiration. The best part about these crafts is that they encourage creativity and family bonding time without the sugar rush!