15 Childhood Crafts from the ’80s That Are Extinct
This list showcases 15 hands-on crafts that many kids from the 1980s grew up making but rarely see today.
- Daisy Montero
- 5 min read
Kids in the ’80s were always making something with their hands. Whether it was Shrinky Dinks or puffy paint, these crafts filled afternoons with creativity and fun. Now, most of them are nearly forgotten. This list brings back some of the most popular ones.
1. Shrinky Dinks
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Kids would draw on plastic sheets, cut them out, and pop them into the oven to watch them magically shrink into hard charms. It felt like real science at the time, and the results were perfect for keychains, necklaces, or magnets. The smell, the waiting, and the reveal made it one of the most exciting crafts of the decade.
2. Loom & Loopers Potholder Kits
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These square plastic looms and bright stretchy loops were a staple in households and classrooms alike. Every child proudly gifted a potholder to a parent or grandparent, even if it was a little lopsided. It was repetitive, colorful, and oddly satisfying to finish a full square.
3. Latch Hook Rug Kits
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Latch hooking taught kids how to create mini rugs using yarn and a canvas grid. You followed the color-coded pattern one square at a time, knotting short yarn pieces with a special hook. The final fuzzy artwork often ended up framed or hung proudly on a bedroom wall.
4. Knitting “Nellies”
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Also known as spool knitting, these little tools helped kids create long yarn tubes by looping thread over pegs. It felt like real knitting but was much easier and more manageable for small hands. Many kids made bracelets, jump ropes, or even outfits for their dolls using this method.
5. Gimp / Scoubidou Keychains
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Plastic lacing crafts were everywhere in summer camps, especially in the form of box or cobra stitch keychains. These bright, glossy strings were twisted and braided into shapes that were more fun to make than actually use. Kids wore them on backpacks or gave them to friends like handmade trophies.
6. Perler Beads
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Beads were arranged on a plastic pegboard to form pictures, then fused with an iron to create solid pieces. You had to be careful not to knock them over before the ironing part, which was often done by an adult. The finished pieces became magnets, coasters, or fridge art.
7. Fashion Plates
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These mix-and-match plates let kids design endless outfit combinations by rubbing crayons over paper laid on top. You could create anything from ballgowns to casual looks, then color them in with flair. It felt like running your own fashion house without needing any drawing skills.
8. Puffy Paint
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Puffy paint gave every shirt or canvas bag some pop — literally. You’d squeeze out thick lines of paint that dried raised and rubbery, sometimes glittery, and always bold. The finished product was more about flair than function, but kids wore them proudly anyway.
9. Scrunch ’n Wear Scrunchie Kit
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This kit let you make your own scrunchies using pre-cut fabric tubes and elastic bands. You stuffed and tied each one, creating custom accessories for your hair. Even if the scrunchie unraveled by the third use, it still felt like an accomplishment.
10. Volcano/Eruption Slime Kits
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Many kids got a thrill from mixing powders to create eruptions or slime that oozed and bubbled. These science-meets-craft kits were messy, fun, and just dangerous enough to feel thrilling. Some were later banned or recalled, but not before they left a gooey mark on childhoods.
11. Plastic Canvas Desk Sets
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Using stiff plastic mesh and yarn, kids stitched together pencil holders, boxes, and coasters. The process was like doing a mix of cross-stitch and LEGO building. Finished sets often lived proudly on desks — even if the corners were a little crooked.
12. Beaded Pumpkin People Kits
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These seasonal kits turned pipe cleaners and pony beads into adorable Halloween characters. Kids followed simple instructions to twist and thread their way to a wobbly jack-o’-lantern or ghost. They were fun to display, even if the eyes never quite lined up.
13. Neon Canvas Art
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Splatter painting with bright neon acrylics was a wild, fun activity that made every child feel like an abstract artist. The bold colors and chaotic patterns looked extra cool under blacklight. It was more about self-expression than following rules, which made it feel freeing.
14. Soap Bars Inspired by the ’80s
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Soap-making kits let kids create colorful bars shaped like stars, hearts, or cassette tapes. The process involved melting soap base, adding scent, and pouring it into molds — perfect for kids who liked crafting with a purpose. The finished soap was usually too cute to actually use.
15. Memphis-Style Mosaic Planters
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Inspired by the bright and geometric Memphis design movement, these DIY planters were covered in funky patterns. Kids glued colorful tiles or painted zigzags onto old cans or clay pots. It added a little 1980s art flair to windowsills and back patios.