Looking for a simple, low-mess craft to celebrate the arrival of summer? This free “build an ice cream cone” craft is easy to make, fun for kids, and only requires a few simple supplies. Make sure to grab the free template below!
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Not feeling particularly creative? On days where you’re short on inspiration, this craft template is a great way to let your child use their imagination to create something without the need for much (if any) adult involvement.
All you’ll need to do in order to make this summer-themed craft is color, cut and glue the pieces of the template together. Have your child get creative and choose between all the available designs to create something truly unique to them!
Why You’ll Love This Project
- Totally free to download: Unlike some of the other templates you may find online, this one is 100% free and available right in the article. No need to enter your email address or track down a resource library password.
- Simple process and supplies: The process to make this craft couldn’t be simpler—simply print, color, cut and glue the pieces together. And you probably already have everything you need to make this project at home!
- Varied designs: To help spark your child’s creativity and allow them to come up with many unique craft possibilities, I made sure to include lots of different designs for ice cream, cones and fun extras.
- Good for fine motor practice: Whether you choose to make one ice cream cone or several, this project is a great way to help kids work on their scissor skills and practice coloring within the lines!
Love crafts that you can color, cut and assemble? Check out this Build a Monster Printable or this Build a Santa Printable!
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Required Materials
- Cardstock: I recommend that you use white cardstock for this project because it is thicker and sturdier than regular paper, and won’t tear as easily. If you don’t have any, you can use regular printer paper, but keep in mind that it is more prone to tearing.
- Markers, colored pencils or crayons: Choose whatever your child prefers! If you decide to use markers, make sure you print the template on cardstock, which is thicker and less likely to allow the marker ink to bleed through.
- Scissors: Make sure the scissors you use are sharp and comfortable to use, because this craft requires a lot of cutting.
- Glue: A glue stick is best for this project because it dries quickly and won’t cause the paper to become wavy. If you don’t have one, you can use a small amount of liquid school glue instead. (Take care not to add too much!)
The full supply list and instructions can be found in the how-to card.
Download Your Free Ice Cream Template
Click the text links below the images to be redirected to the PDF files. (The preview images are not print resolution.)
Please note that this template is for school and personal use only and cannot be redistributed. When sharing this free printable, please link to this article rather than directly to the files. You can read our full printables terms of use here.
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Printing Instructions
This file was designed to be printed on US Letter-sized (8.5 x 11 inches) paper or cardstock. If you wish to print it on A4 paper, make sure to adjust the “Scale to Fit” setting on your printer to ensure that none of the printable area is being cut off.
How to Build an Ice Cream Cone (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Color shapes. Print all the pages on white cardstock. Choose the shapes you’ll be using to build your ice cream cone (including cones, ice cream and extras), and color them all in.
Step 2: Cut shapes. Once you have colored in all the shapes you need, use scissors to cut them out.
Step 3: Glue cone and ice cream. Use a glue stick to stick the cone and ice cream together by adding glue to the top of the upward-facing cone and pressing it against the back of the ice cream scoop. (You can glue the ice cream together in the same way if using multiple scoops.)
Step 4: Add extras. Decorate your cone by adding syrup, chocolate chips, cherries or any of the other extras on page 3 of the template. Depending on the type of decoration, you may need to add the glue to the front or back of the shape in order to keep the details visible.
This project was so fun, and my kids were really excited about all the different design possibilities they could choose from! The template makes it really easy for older children to completely this craft completely on their own.
Helpful Tips
- Stick with cardstock: Regular printer paper will do in a pinch, but if you have it, I highly recommend that you print the template on cardstock. It is thicker, sturdier, less prone to tearing, and less likely to allow marker ink to bleed through.
- Start with the edges: This craft is a great way for kids to practice coloring inside the lines! To help them, encourage them to color in the edges of the shapes first, then fill in the inside. (They’ll be cutting along the lines afterwards, but this is a great opportunity to sneak in some coloring practice.)
- Avoid dry markers: If using markers to color in the shapes, make sure the markers have enough ink. This will prevent you from having to start over if the markers run out of ink partway through.
- Try isolating each shape: To simplify the cutting process, cut around each shape to detach it from the full page before you start cutting along the lines. This will make the individual shapes easier to handle.
- Only add glue where needed: To prevent the craft from sticking to your table, be sparing with the glue and only add it to the parts of the template that need it.
Looking for more ice cream-themed crafts? Check out this Puffy Paint Ice Cream or these Pom-Pom Ice Cream Cones!
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question that wasn’t answered here? Let me know in the comments and I’ll be happy to help!
More Summer Crafts for Kids
If you have tried this Build an Ice Cream Cone Craft or any other project on my website, please let me know how it went in the comments below. I can’t wait to hear from you!
Build an Ice Cream Cone Craft
Materials
- free "build an ice cream cone" template
- 3 sheets white cardstock
- colored markers, pencils or crayons
- 1 pair scissors
- 1 glue stick
Instructions
- Print all the pages on white cardstock.
- Choose the shapes you’ll be using to build your ice cream cone (including cones, ice cream and extras), and color them all in. Use scissors to cut them out.
- Use a glue stick to stick the cone and ice cream together by adding glue to the top of the upward-facing cone and pressing it against the back of the ice cream scoop. (You can glue the ice cream together in the same way if using multiple scoops for your design.)
- Decorate your cone by adding syrup, chocolate chips, cherries or any of the other extras on page 3 of the template. Depending on the type of decoration, you'll need to add the glue to the front or back of the shape in order to keep the details visible.
Video
Notes
- Start with the edges: To help your child practice coloring inside the lines, start by coloring along the edges before filling in the rest of the shape.
- Isolate each shape: When cutting smaller shapes, make the cutting process a little easier by cutting around each shape to detach it from the sheet of cardstock.
- Avoid dry markers: If you choose to use markers, make sure they have enough ink to fill in all the required shapes.
- Use glue sparingly: To prevent the craft from becoming sticky, only add glue to the parts of the shapes that need it, rather than covering them completely.
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