Crank up our boomboxes, tease your hair to the sky, and throw on your leg warmers for an insanely rad crafting adventure through the gnarly ’80s! Remember the days of Pac-Man, Atari, and neon everything? Well, we’re kicking it old school with a gnarly collection of ’80s crafts and activities that’ll have you and your little ones totally stoked.
Great SCOTT (Quick! Name that famous eighties Doc…)! Looking for a full week of ’80s activities and crafts? We’re bringing it to you one project at a time with wicked DIYs, rad retro art crafts, ’80s-inspired recipes, totally righteous printables, and more?! You came to the right place. Buckle up for a week of ’80s fun for the whole family…
PS: Stoked on the ’80s Week time travel? Grab your best grunge gear and jump a decade back to the future with us for ’90s Week!
Nothing says the ’80s like a pop-culture song & dance montage, so hit play and warm up with these classic beats (and, oh, those MOVES!) before reading on…
Ready to crank up the DeLorean? Because our back-to-the-’80s totally awesome family crafting extravaganza starts NOW…!
A Big Welcome with ’80s Activities and Crafts!
We’re taking a trip down memory lane with tons of fun throwbacks and a couple of bodacious printable DIYs to get you in the ’80s groove! This *might* be even more fun for you than it’s going to be for the kiddos! Fire up our ’80s Week playlist over on Spotify and let’s roll…
Free Printable Eighties Posters
Jump-start your trip back in time with these rad ’80s-themed printable posters from Oh Creative Day. Decorate your space with iconic ’80s catchphrases and retro designs that’ll have you and your family reliving the gnarly vibes of the decade. Perfect for themed parties, bedroom décor, or just adding a touch of nostalgia to your home, these posters are sure to be a totally tubular hit.
Eighties-Inspired Collages
Unleash your inner eighties artist with these wicked ’80s collage printables from ART CAMP. Mix and match patterns, colors, and designs to create your own unique, ’80s-inspired masterpiece. Perfect for family craft time or as a fun solo project, these printables will have you feeling like a true master of the retro arts.
DIY Shutter Shades
Rock the iconic ’80s look with these DIY 80s sunglasses. Using simple materials like cardboard or a cereal box, you and your family can create your own flashy, colorful eyewear (in three classic eighties styles!) that’ll have you feeling like a true icon of the era. Perfect for themed parties, costume events, or just a fun day at home, these shades are sure to make a statement.
Homemade Pop Rocks Punch
Get ready for a trip down memory lane with this Pop Rocks Punch recipe. Mix up a fizzy, fruity, and oh-so-’80s concoction that’ll have your taste buds tingling with nostalgia. Enjoy this sweet treat with your family as you reminisce about the good ol’ days of the ’80s, and don’t forget to share the fun with friends!
Pop Rocks Art
Have some Pop Rocks left over? Add a burst of ’80s flair to your art projects with these Pop Rocks paintings from Raising Kinley. Using the iconic candy and paint, you and your family can create vibrant, textured masterpieces that capture the excitement and energy of the decade. This unique and interactive art project is perfect for kids and parents alike, offering a fun and creative way to explore the colorful world of the ’80s.
DIY ’80s Toys and Games
You don’t have to have grown up in the ’80s to understand how iconic the toys were…and did somebody say “Double Dare..??” We’re going to help you recreate some old favs with a whole day of play!
DIY Paint With Water Books
Travel back to the classic ’80s childhood with these DIY paint with water books. Using watercolor pencils and our free printable eighties mini coloring pages, you and your kids can create personalized books filled with vibrant, colorful scenes just waiting to be brought to life with a splash of water.
This engaging and mess-free craft is perfect for a nostalgic family art session, kids’ parties, or a simple throwback afternoon activity for toddlers and coloring fans alike.
Troll Doll Art
Bring the iconic ’80s Troll Dolls back to life with this whimsical troll doll watercolor process art project from Raising Kinley. Channel the vibrant and quirky spirit of the Troll Dolls as you and your family explore various watercolor techniques to create your own unique masterpieces.
This nostalgic craft is perfect for a fun family art day, and the resulting colorful creations will be a cheerful reminder of your shared love for the ’80s.
A DIY 80s Game Collection
Time to get your game on, ’80s style! Discover 8 bodacious DIY 80s games inspired by the decade that brought us leg warmers and big hair. From printable board games to a hilarious Pin-the-Shades on Ferris activity (with free printable Ferris shades!), you and your family will be entertained for hours.
These retro games are perfect for family game nights, ’80s-themed parties, or just a fun way to bond with your kids while sharing memories of the grooviest decade around.
’80s Art, Design, and Movie Crafts
The neons, pastels, Miami Vice-style sunsets, crazy patterns, and geometric shapes – the ’80s had their own definitive look, and we’re celebrating them all with some serious arts & crafts. We’re pairing them with essential eighties movies as if it couldn’t get better. I mean, could you just D-I-E, DIE?!?
Eighties New Wave Collages
Embrace the bold and edgy vibes of the ’80s New Wave movement with these striking collages from ART CAMP. Combine vivid colors, geometric shapes, and unique textures to create a one-of-a-kind piece of art that captures the spirit of the decade.
This creative craft is perfect for a family art session, giving everyone a chance to explore their inner ’80s artist and make a memorable piece to proudly display.
80s Paper Sculptures Inspired by Memphis-Milano
Get funky with these ’80s-inspired Memphis style paper sculptures. Utilizing the signature bold patterns and vibrant colors of the Memphis design movement, you and your family can create eye-catching 3D sculptures that are sure to spark conversations.
This craft offers a fantastic opportunity to learn about a unique design style while spending quality time together, making it perfect for an engaging and educational family art project.
Free Printable ’80s Movie Posters
Keep the ’80s movie theater nostalgia going with even more fantastic themed movie printable posters from Oh Creative Day. Showcase your love for iconic ’80s flicks by decorating your space with these retro designs, featuring your favorite characters and scenes.
These printables are perfect for movie nights, eighties parties, or simply adding a touch of ’80s flair to your space. Gather your family and celebrate the unforgettable films that defined the decade!
’80s Books and TV
I’ll never get over ’80s TV (which probably explains my intense Stranger Things obsession). The sitcom classics, the cartoons, the “very special” specials, the PSAs – they’re all such fantastic craft inspiration. And we’re going to dig into some favorite Gen X kids books..because, the more you know…(cue a shooting star – you know what I’m talking about fellow children of the eighties…)!
A Throwback Children’s Book List
Ready to take a literary trip down memory lane? Gather your family and explore a curated list of ’80s childhood kids book favorites that’ll have you reminiscing about the books that captured your heart during your own youth. From picture books to chapter books, see how many you remember and share them with your kids.
Relive the magic of the stories you loved and create craft projects inspired by the characters, scenes, or cover art.
’80s Halloween Crafts!
How do you make Halloween MORE fun? MAKE IT AN ’80s HALLOWEEN. I mean, it’s Friday the 13th…we couldn’t have planned it better if we tried. Yeah, you’re going to want to be sure you have a little backup for this theme day – who ya’ gonna call?
A No-Carve, 80’s-Inspired PUNKin’
Get ready to rock your Halloween decorations with a unique, no-carve ’80s-inspired pumpkin! Introducing Sheena the PUNKin’, a punk rocker with an impressive mohawk that’ll bring some serious attitude to your seasonal decor. We created Sheena’s iconic punk look using our eighties sunglesses DIY, paper cutouts, and a metal chain – complete with piercings and that INCREDIBLE 80s ‘hawk.
This creative and humorous twist on traditional pumpkin decorating is perfect for ’80s enthusiasts, and offers a fun, hands-on craft experience for the whole family.
80s Halloween Movies + Craft Collection
Prepare for a spook-tacular trip back in time with this collection of 25 family-friendly Halloween movie and craft ideas (so many spooky family-friendly ’80s classics in this list!)! From classic spooky flicks to creative craft projects inspired by your favorite eerie characters, this list has everything you need for an unforgettable throwback family night. Don your costumes, grab some popcorn, and get ready for a night of ghoulish fun that’ll have everyone screaming for more.
A PacMan Garland
Add a touch of retro gaming charm to your Halloween décor with this colorful PacMan ghost garland from ART CAMP. Gather your family and create your own fleet of iconic ghosts using simple materials like colored paper or felt. This nostalgic craft is perfect for gamers young and old and adds a fun twist to your Halloween celebrations.
Free Printable Ghostbuster Gift Tags
Make your Halloween treats extra special this year with these Halloween candy chost favors, complete with Ghostbuster-themed gift tags from Oh Creative Day. Wrap your favorite candies in white fabric or tissue paper to create adorable ghosts and attach the themed tags for a fun finishing touch.
This craft is perfect for gifting to friends, family, or trick-or-treaters and adds a nostalgic ’80s twist to your Halloween festivities.
Slime Party Favors
Get slimed this Halloween with these DIY Slimer slime favors inspired by the iconic Ghostbusters character. Create your own ooey-gooey slime and package it in containers with printable ghost trap labels for a fun, ’80s-themed party favor or gift.
This craft is perfect for family bonding, and the resulting slime will provide hours of entertainment for your little Ghostbusters.
20 More 80s Craft Ideas
As usual, we ran out of time before we could make all the rad projects we had in mind. For more 80s craft inspiration, check out this list of 20 kid-friendly eighties project ideas…
- Neon Splatter Paint T-shirts: Design and create colorful, ’80s-inspired neon splatter paint t-shirts (bonus points for making a cardboard t-shirt chincher!)
- DIY Breakdancing Cardboard Mat: Make a portable breakdancing mat decorated with ’80s graphics.
- DIY Jem and the Holograms-Inspired Accessories: Craft colorful, glam accessories inspired by the beloved cartoon series.
- Mini Arcade Game Crafts: Construct miniature arcade game replicas from cardboard and other materials.
- Homemade Glow Sticks: Make your own glow sticks and bracelets using glow-in-the-dark paint.
- Backyard DIY Pac-Man Maze: Create a life-sized Pac-Man-inspired maze game using cardboard and paint.
- Mixtape Collage Art: Design a collage using mixtape covers, ’80s song lyrics, and other retro memorabilia.
- DIY Friendship Bracelets: Learn to create colorful, braided friendship bracelets as a fun bonding activity.
- DIY Trapper Keepers: Using notebooks, cardboard, and velcro, design and personalize a Trapper Keeper with ’80s-themed stickers and drawings.
- Create Your Own Mini Boombox: Construct a mini boombox replica using cardboard and other craft supplies.
- DIY My Little Pony Hair Accessories: Craft hair accessories inspired by the colorful manes of My Little Pony characters.
- DIY ’80s Fashion Paper Dolls: Design and create paper dolls with a variety of ’80s-inspired outfits and accessories to mix and match.
- DIY ’80s Fortune Tellers: Fold paper fortune tellers filled with classic 80s fortunes for a trip down memory lane.
- ’80s Hair Band Popsicle Stick Puppets: Use popsicle sticks and faux fur or yarn to craft your favorite wild ’80s hair band.
- DIY E.T. Phone Home Craft: Create a replica of the famous E.T. phone made from everyday household items for a nostalgic ’80s movie project.
- DIY Gremlins Gizmo Doll: Sew a mini plush version of Gizmo from the classic ’80s film “Gremlins” for a cuddly pop culture companion.
- ’80s-Inspired Shrinky Dink Keychains: Draw and color ’80s-themed designs on shrink plastic, then bake to create one-of-a-kind keychains.
- Make a Miniature ’80s Room Diorama: Create a detailed diorama of a typical ’80s room, complete with mini furniture, posters, and accessories.
- DIY ’80s Style Graffiti Art: Practice graffiti-style lettering and create an ’80s-inspired masterpiece on canvas, paper, or other surfaces.
- Design “Back to the Future” Time Circuits: Craft a replica of the DeLorean’s time circuits from “Back to the Future” using cardboard and LED lights.
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
