Aloha & welcome to Ocean Child Crafts!

Hi, I’m Marlon, the creator behind Ocean Child Crafts. I’m a Dutch designer and content creator with a love for colorful, hands-on creativity.

I started Ocean Child Crafts in 2020 as a place to share fun and approachable craft ideas for kids. Since then, it has grown into an international creative platform and community of more than 350,000 followers across social media, reaching millions of people around the world.

 

A little about me

I grew up in the Netherlands close to the sea and have always loved being creative. My background is in Graphic Design and Cultural Heritage, and throughout my career I’ve worked across design, education, digital content, online marketing and customer experience.

The story of Ocean Child Crafts actually began in Hawaii. I lived and worked there for several years, including at the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. It was during my time in Honolulu, working on creative and educational activities for children, that I really discovered how much I loved making art and creativity accessible, playful and engaging for kids. Those experiences ultimately inspired me to create Ocean Child Crafts.

 

Behind Ocean Child Crafts

I’ve built and managed Ocean Child Crafts independently since launching the platform. Behind the crafts is a lot of creative and digital work: I develop and design the projects and printables, create photography and video content, manage the website and online shop, run the social media channels and online marketing, and collaborate with brands on creative campaigns.

I love the variety that comes with running the platform, taking an idea from the first sketch all the way to a finished project that can inspire families and classrooms around the world.

 

Creativity made easy

At the heart of Ocean Child Crafts is a simple idea: creativity doesn’t need to be complicated.

I love turning paper, cardboard, recycled materials and other everyday supplies into colorful projects that encourage children to cut, paint, build, imagine and create.

Alongside the craft tutorials on the website, I create and illustrate a growing collection of printable crafts and creative activities for kids. From simple cut-and-glue projects to puppets, 3D crafts and larger themed bundles, each printable is originally designed and illustrated by me in Adobe Illustrator.

You’ll find both free printable resources throughout the website and premium printable activities and bundles in the Ocean Child Crafts shop, as well as on Etsy store and Teachers Pay Teachers.

Whether you’re a teacher looking for your next classroom activity, a parent searching for something fun to make together, or simply looking for a little creative inspiration, I hope you’ll find something here that you love.

 

Work with me

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with brands and creative companies on original content and campaigns. I love developing creative concepts that bring products to life in a way that feels natural to both the brand and the Ocean Child Crafts audience.

Interested in working together? Visit my Work With Me page to learn more about collaborations, content creation and creative partnerships.

 

Let’s stay connected

You can find Ocean Child Crafts on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube, where I share crafts, tutorials, printables and creative inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!