25 Crazy April Fools Day Crafts To Prank Your Family & Friends

happy fools day

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If laughter is the best medicine, why not make a day for it? Several stories surround the origin of April Fool’s Day, but the three most known revolve around the change from Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1582. Whatever the source, let’s make good-natured April Fool’s Day crafts and see if you can pull these pranks.

Many April Fools Day pranks have gone wrong, leading to arrests, someone getting fired, breakups, and one almost caused a war! After 500 years, April Fool’s Day is the most hated but most anticipated day, where everyone wants to out-prank everyone.

Get ahold of your DIY supplies, and let’s make some fun April Fools Day crafts that everyone will love after a good laugh.

Classic April Fools Day Crafts & DIYs

Here are some classic April Fools Day crafts and DIYs you can make to prank your family and friends. These are easy enough to make, so you’re off to a good start. 

1. Bursting Juice Box

burst box

Do you have someone who still drinks directly from the juice box? It’s time somebody learns his lesson the wet way. This is the best prank a mom can pull on her kids. 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Open the bottom of the empty juice box.
  2. Stick your balloon into it, carefully positioning the opening of the balloon on the mouth of the juice box.
  3. Fill the balloon with water and put the cap on. Tape back the bottom of the juice box. 
  4. Replace the juice box in the fridge. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Add food coloring to the water for a more fun prank. 

2. Soap Prank

soap prank

Handwashing is essential, but what if the soap doesn’t work? This is an excellent prank to pull on germaphobes and OCDs. Just be sure to have a real soap at hand before everything goes awry. One guy thought the stunt was genius until his mom got him to remove the nail polish. Guess the prankster just got pranked. Lol!

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Coat a new bar of soap with red nail polish. Use matte, so it doesn’t look too glossy. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Carefully cut a hole in the soap using a ball scoop. Add a few drops of red food coloring to a cotton ball and put it inside the hole. Using hot glue, put back the scooped-out soap. When the soap gets wet, the food coloring “bleeds” into the soap. 

3. Spider in the Bathroom Prank

spider prank

You can do this trick three ways. The classic spider prank will scare the wits out of someone scared of creepy, crawly things. This trick is hilarious, except for that one time someone peed on his pants as he ran out of the bathroom and nearly punched everyone who was laughing.  

Things You'll Need

Directions

Option 1: Draw a spider on the toilet paper using a black Sharpie.

Option 2: Place a realistic-looking spider on the toilet paper holder. Use hot glue, so it does not fall off easily. 

Option 3: 

  1. Draw 2 tiny spiders on a piece of paper using a black Sharpie, making sure they fit together. 
  2. Cut them out and insert a piece of thread between the two cutouts before gluing them together. 
  3. Unroll 4-5 toilet paper squares, place the spider and the thread, and roll it back. Be sure to position the spider so it “falls off” when someone uses the toilet paper. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

A little creativity goes a long way. Instead of a spider on the toilet paper, leave this wooden box on the bathroom sink. The curious will want to see what’s inside this innocent box. Just think of the shrieks when the spider jumps out!

4. Crayon Eraser Prank

crayola prank

Every family has an artist, one who always sketches or doodles. But imagine the look on their face when instead of erasing the imperfections, the sketch gets colored in! You might want to do this April Fool’s Day prank when the victim is not using his eraser to allow the crayon to dry. 

Things You'll Need

  • A piece of rubber eraser used by the victim
  • A piece of crayon (use the same color as the eraser)

Directions

  1. Microwave a piece of crayon for 2 minutes.
  2. Dip the eraser into it and let dry.

Prankster’s Pro Tip

If you have a photocopier, make a clear copy of the sketch or doodle that your victim is working on so the actual artwork doesn’t get damaged. 

5. April Fool’s Card

april fools card

This card is one of the classic April Fools Day crafts you can make for your family and friends. Kids will love to deliver their cards to a favorite uncle or aunt and grandparent. Though the older recipients can guess what’s inside, it will still bring out peals of laughter.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Cut your construction paper according to these sizes: 3x5”, 4x6”, 5x7”, 6x8”, 7x9”, 8x10”, 9x12”. Use a different color for each piece.
  2. Make your prank message using a 2x2-inch Post-It or construction paper. You can use an April Fools Day crafts sticker instead. 
  3. Mark the center of each card and fold it so the card’s edges meet at the half-point mark.
  4. Tie a ribbon around each card and set it aside. 
  5. Nestle the cards on top of the other. Leave the ribbons on and glue the second largest card on top of the largest card, allowing a ½-inch margin around the card. 
  6. Open the second card, and repeat Step 5 on the following cards until you have all the cards into the assembly. Align the ribbons well. 
  7. Close each card by tying the ribbon. Decorate the outermost piece with hearts or other designs without hinting at the actual message inside. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Surprise your receiver with a popping card. Fold a strip of construction paper accordion style. Stick at the back of a silly emoji and arrange it on the centermost card, so it pops out when opened.

6. Bathroom Sloth Prank

Bathroom Sloth Prank

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Roll a bath towel on both ends so that the rolls meet at the center. Fold the towel in half, rolled part in.
  2. Hold the edges of the towel firmly. Grab the two edges on the end of each roll and pull them out, so it appears to have four limbs.
  3. Turn over and arrange the sloth’s “tummy” by overlapping the edges near the center. Set aside. 
  4. Fold the washcloth into a triangle, then take the triangle’s edges and bring them together to the triangle’s centermost tip to form a square. 
  5. Turn over and fold in half to form a smaller square. Fold to make another triangle, leaving the folded part visible to the user. 
  6. Arrange the washcloth, so it resembles a face with long, floppy ears. Add googly eyes. 
  7. Hang your sloth towel by its hands using a skirt hanger. Position the head carefully on top of the sloth’s body.  

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Activate a glow stick and insert it below the sloth’s head. Turn off the light in the bathroom and let the glow stick do its work. Position the sloth, so it’s the first thing that someone sees when he/she enters the bathroom.

7. Cracked Screen Cell Phone Prank

Cracked Screen Cell Phone Prank

Here is another classic prank you can pull off on your friends who can’t live without a smartphone. Others use a cracked screen wallpaper, but it won’t rattle your friend much. Give his phone a makeover by adding an authentic cracked phone look. Use double-sided tape to attach the screen protector, so it does not damage the actual phone screen.   

Things You'll Need

  • Screen protector (use the type compatible with your friend’s phone)
  • Hammer
  • Double-sided tape 

Directions

  1. Crack the screen protector using the hammer. 
  2. Stick it on the mobile phone using double-sided tape. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Saw the tip from a 2” nail and carefully glue it on the mobile phone screen. 

8. Popping Door Prank

Popping Door Prank

If you love watching your friends jumping out of their skin, this is one of the perfect April Fools Day crafts to make. This prank is perfect for roomies who love to pull tricks on each other. Use durable balloons and tie it off well, so it doesn’t shrink soon.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Pump air into your balloons, at least three of them. 
  2. Stick the balloons on the door using duct tape folded in half, so it sticks on both sides.
  3. Position your pushpin on the wall so that when the door opens, it pops the balloons. Hot glue or duct tape should do the trick. 
  4. You may need to try it a few times, so you know it works. 
  5. You can support your balloon, so it does not droop or fall off by tying a thread around it, taping the other end of the thread to the door.

9. Explosion Gift Box

Explosion Gift Box

Who doesn’t love to receive gifts? This lovely gift box is one of the April Fools Day crafts easy enough for kids to make as a gift to their friends. We love explosion boxes, but instead of filling them with pictures like most do, we filled them with treats for kids to enjoy. Maybe we sneaked an even bigger prank there, but who knows?

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Take a 24 x 24 cm piece of cardboard. Divide the box into nine 3 x 3 cm squares. 
  2. Cut off the 4 corner squares. Score the edges of the box  by cutting a ⅛-inch 
  3. Take the center of the four outer flaps and puncture a hole through them. 
  4. Stick in a rubber band into the hole and secure it with a toothpick on the outside. Pull the rubber band and stick it through the hole on the opposite side of the box.
  5. Repeat Step 4 on the other sides of the box. 
  6. Cut a 9 x 9 cm cardboard piece for the lid and a 2 x 37 cm strip of cardboard for the siding. Remove the top layer of the cardboard strip so it has a ridged effect. 
  7. Hot glue the cardboard strip around the lid piece. 
  8. Decorate your box by using acrylic paint or Sharpies. The side with the toothpick should be inside the box. 
  9. Fill the box with confetti, stickers, and other treats. When someone takes the lid off, the package will explode, making a shower of confetti and treats.

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Treat your friends and kids with a buggy surprise by adding a toy spider or beetle into the box. 

10. This Mouse is Not Working Prank

This Mouse is Not Working Prank

Here’s another classic prank that people won’t even think about until it’s too late. Technically, it’s not a craft, but it’s so simple yet so mean that we can’t help ourselves but include it. We think this one is perfect for someone who is cramming with work to build up frustration. 

There’s nothing much you need here but a small lump of modeling clay or a sticker. Just cover the sensor, and voila! The perfect prank! We just hope the victim won’t throw a perfectly working mouse.

11. Key Fob in Sea of Balloons Prank

Key Fob in Sea of Balloons Prank

Ever had that moment when you’re out of the door only to realize you don’t have your keys with you? We know that’s frustrating, but it’s even more frustrating when you find hundreds of balloons and one of them holds your key or key fob.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Select a few balloons to fill with treats like small chocolate bars, candies, wafer bars, and the key fob. If you have 4 or 5 colors of balloons, we suggest you take one from each color to fill with the treats. 
  2. Pump your balloons and throw them around the house. 

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Make this prank messier by filling some balloons with confetti or if you’re feeling nastier, spritz some Liquid Ass into the balloons. Be sure you have time to air out your house, though, because things will be super stinky. Tone it down by adding some fake cat poop from item #25. 

12. Stringed Popcorn

Stringed Popcorn

It’s movie night, and a friend who’s known to be a popcorn hog is coming over. Pull a trick on him that will tell him that popcorn is meant for sharing. Serve in single-serve containers, so no one gets suspicious. 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Make your popcorn according to package instructions. Let cool.
  2. String your popcorn using the needle and thread. A length of 2lb monofilament fishing line is a good choice as it is not readily visible like the thread.
  3. Drop it into your popcorn boxes and drizzle some cheese powder or any popcorn seasoning. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Be subtle. Don’t make other pranks, so everyone is anticipating building up the tension. 

Nasty April Fools Day Crafts & Pranks

Below are nasty April Fools Day crafts to try on your family and friends. Be sure to work on them in secret so you’ll surprise everyone.

13. Headless Driver Prank

Headless Driver Prank

You don’t want to wait for Halloween to prank a friend, do you? Try this parking lot practical joke but be sure someone doesn’t have a weak heart, or you’ll end up in the ER.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Take your mannequin hands and stuff them into the sweater sleeve cutoffs. 
  2. Hot glue along with the cuffs of the sweater to keep the hands in place. 
  3. Stuff the sweater sleeves with polyester stuffing and seal with hot glue. 
  4. Position the hands on the steering wheel, using some double-sided tape to hold it on. 
  5. Tape the hands on the sides of the car seat.  

Prankster’s Pro Tip

Try draping something on the side mirror to arouse curiosity in people to check on your car and spook them. You can also activate your car alarm as soon as someone comes near it. Be sure to be somewhere near (or maybe with your friends?) when you pull this prank. 

14. Brussel Sprouts “Cake Pop”

Brussel Sprouts “Cake Pop”

Brussels sprouts belong to the most-hated vegetables, especially among kids. According to studies, some people may have a genetic predisposition to hate some food based on their taste. This recipe tops the list of April Fools Day crafts to prank supertasters. 

For one, brussels sprouts are very bitter. The chocolate may not even be enough to mask the bitterness. If you have a sensitive stomach, you better stay away from it because it induces bloating and gassiness. We don’t even need a prankster’s pro tip because it’s already nasty on its own.    

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Stick a pop stick into the brussel sprouts. 
  2. Blanch the brussel sprouts for 2 minutes in slightly salted water, then rinse in ice water to stop the cooking process.
  3. Pat dry with a paper towel and set aside.
  4. Microwave your dark chocolate and white chocolate in separate bowls.
  5. Dip your brussel sprout lollies “cake pop” into the chocolate and let dry.
  6. Decorate by drizzling some chocolate on the pops. If you want to add chocolate sprinkles, add them while the chocolate is wet.

15. “Minty” Oreos

“Minty” Oreos

This recipe is a classic trick to bring to the table. Don’t forget to serve with a glass of milk to make it look more authentic, and no one should suspect. We think it is the simplest of April Fools Day crafts to make without much effort, and people will fall for it immediately. Seriously, who doesn’t love Oreos? 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Remove the center of the cream filling on each Oreo sandwich. You can also use other Oreo flavors: strawberry, lemon creme, brownie, or carrot cake without raising any suspicion.  
  2. Fill the hole with minty toothpaste and return the other half of the cookie sandwich. 

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Why don’t you go ahead and add a few chopped mint leaves, matcha, or even wasabi to the toothpaste cream? What do you think?

16. Glow in the Dark Eyes

Glow in the Dark Eyes

We know it’s not yet Halloween, but why wait months when you can scare your friends now? These glow-in-the-dark eyes are the perfect April Fools Day crafts to add to your party decors as you cap the day’s events. Everyone loves horror movies so take a step closer by bringing in a scary prank where they least expect it. 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Draw creepy eyes on your toilet paper rolls. Cut them out carefully. 
  2. Activate the glow sticks and tape them inside the toilet paper rolls.
  3. Put the “eyes” where people walk by and scare the wits out of them. 

Prankster's Pro Tip: 

Take the prank a notch further by using these LED balls that make eerie sounds.

17. What’s the Toilet?

What’s the Toilet?

Ever wonder what’s under that toilet lid? Maybe someone failed to flush correctly and left something gross, or the toilet seat is wet because someone was unable to lift it earlier. 

But wait till your friend opens the toilet lid, and a gaping monster’s mouth is waiting for him. Just pray he’s not holding his pee.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Choose a scary animal with its teeth, jaws, or fangs out to print. 
  2. Print it in two A4 sheets of bond paper.
  3. Tape it together, careful that the image doesn’t get distorted.
  4. Slip the printout under the toilet set and cut off any extra paper. 

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Add a few drops of red soap dye into the flush bowl. When someone gets past the shock of the monster’s gaping mouth, they get “bloodied” water instead.

18. Cake Pop “Chicken Nuggets”

Cake Pop “Chicken Nuggets”

How would you feel when you’re too hungry and craving for some fast food only to end up munching on something sweet? Anyone with a sweet tooth will love this prank. It’s even better if you can sneak just a few in the actual meal, so the surprise is more authentic. 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Crush some vanilla cake in a bowl. 
  2. Add some frosting and mix to form a dough. Add more frosting if the dough is too crumbly.
  3. Take a tablespoon of cake and form it into nuggets. Chill for 15 minutes. 
  4. Melt some cake frosting or white chocolate in the microwave.
  5. Dip the “chicken nuggets” into the frosting or white chocolate and roll in crushed Grahams. Chill for another 30 minutes to set.  
  6. To serve, sneak a few “chicken nuggets” under the real nuggets and wait for your friend’s reaction. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip 

Take your trick a notch higher, mix red cake frosting and corn syrup and serve as catsup. Your friend will think this is the trick but wait till he takes a bite on the fake chicken nugget. 

19. Bursting Pinata Cake

Bursting Pinata Cake

Give your birthday girlfriend a double dose of fun with this bursting piñata cake. Piñata cakes gained popularity in 2021. Instead of the usual cake, you get treats like chocolate, gummies, and fruits. But instead of using a mallet, try a knife.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Make the piñata by melting white chocolate in the microwave. 
  2. Add a few drops of pink food coloring (or any color you fancy). Mix well. You can also leave some unmixed food coloring and lighter chocolate for that marbled effect. 
  3. Pour some of the chocolate into the silicone mold, spreading it evenly to the sides using a silicone pastry brush. Make the other half of the sphere. Chill for 10 minutes before assembling.
  4. Fill up a balloon with air (or water). Paint it with melted chocolate and chill for 10 minutes to set. 
  5. Put the treats into the bottom of the chocolate bowl and position the balloon on top of it. Then, stick the spheres together by adding a few points of chocolate around the lip of the lower half of the globe. 
  6. Put a ribbon around it to seal it in. You can decorate the outside with frosting, etc. 

20. Moldy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Moldy Chocolate Chip Cookies

A treat on the table? Who wants to eat a moldy cookie, even if it’s a chocolate chip one (or not). Anyway, you can make two batches of these cookies - one that’s kid-friendly and one for the adults who can stomach some nasty stuff.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Preheat an oven to 350F. 
  2. In a bowl, cream together the sugar and butter, then add 2-3 drops of moss green food coloring.
  3. Add the egg, mix well.
  4. Add the sifted flour and baking soda and mix until you have a firm dough.
  5. Take a handful of dough and put it in a separate bowl. Set aside.
  6. Add the chocolate chips to the mixing bowl and incorporate them into the dough. Chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.
  7. Add more moss green food coloring to the handful of dough and knead it again.
  8. Take a small pinch of the greener dough, roll it into a ball and drop it into the sanding sugar. Set aside in a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then pop it into the freezer to freeze it. 
  9. Scoop out your chilled cookie dough into a baking tray lined with a silicone baking liner. 
  10. Cut the frozen green balls in half and press them on the chocolate chip cookies. The frozen balls will cook differently, and the sanding sugar will give it a slightly glossy but gross appearance.  

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Give this cookie a serious gag factor by using black beans instead of chocolate chips.

Serious April Fools Day Crafts & Pranks

Here are some next-level April Fools Day crafts and pranks you should pull even once in your life. These are classic ones that we gave a naughty twist while others are pure evil.

21. Buttery Lotion

Buttery Lotion

If you’re living with a roomie, it’s more likely you have to share stuff with them, including personal things like lotion and shampoo. Did anyone try to share your deodorant too? Time to let them have a dose of their trickery. Don’t worry; it won’t harm your friend. Just a greasy feel that may need lots of hot showers to remove the body butter. Serves them right for using other people’s toiletries.   

Things You'll Need

  • Lotion 
  • ½ Stick butter

Directions

  1. Melt the butter in the microwave. 
  2. Pour the lotion into a bowl and add the butter. Stir well. 
  3. Pour the lotion-butter mixture into the lotion bottle. 

22. April Fools Day Dentures Prank

April Fools Day Dentures Prank

Remember that time when you were in awe at someone who can “remove” their teeth? We thought it would be cool to prank your friends with these dentures in a denture solution. You can also leave it on the counter for your unsuspecting guests and show them how sloppy you are, leaving your dentures out like that.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Bloom the gelatin in cold water, then stir in hot water. Stir well and divide into three bowls and let cool.  
  2. Mix the condensed milk and cream cheese, then add to half of the gelatin. Pour the mixture into the denture mold. Let it set.
  3. Mix some raspberry jello or pink food coloring into the other half of the gelatin. Pour it over the teeth into the denture mold. 
  4. Heat the water, sugar, and citric acid. Add the remaining bloomed gelatin and let cool for a few minutes. The citric acid turns light blue. 
  5. Fill a glass with light blue jello and drop the “dentures” into the glass. Let it set in the fridge. 

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Let your kids sit on the couch and have them eat these dentures for your guests to see. A well-meaning adult will surely try to take it off their hands, leaving a wailing child and you clutching at your middle as you laugh your heart out. 

23. Earthworm Cake

Earthworm Cake

Gardeners love to start working at this time, planting their favorite flowers and vegetables. How about pranking them by eating “soil and wiggly earthworms”? Make the earthworms more realistic by getting a good earthworm mold so it “wiggles” when you pick it up.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Mix the milk, instant coffee, sugar, and gelatin in a cup. Microwave.
  2. Pour into the earthworm mold. You can also stand some bendable straw in a small glass and pour the coffee mixture over it. 
  3. Crumble some chocolate cake into a bowl to resemble garden soil.
  4. Unmold the earthworm and scatter it over the cake. 

Prankster's Pro Tip:

Take a bite of those “earthworms and soil” while your friend looks at you, trying not to gag at your new soil fetish, wondering if you have pica. 

24. Tasty Fake Dog Poop  

Tasty Fake Dog Poop

Everyone loves furry friends, but no one wants to pick up dog poop. This is one of the classic April Fools Day pranks, but remember, you can only pull this off if you have a pet.

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. Pound the corn flakes just enough to crush them.
  2. Put the chocolate chips and peanut butter into a pan and heat them together until the chocolate chips melt. 
  3. Mix in the crushed corn flakes until well blended.
  4. On a baking dish lined with wax paper, form your “dog poop.” Chill for 10-25 minutes to set. 

Prankster’s Pro Tip 

If you don’t want to eat it, add a few drops of Liquid Ass to give it an authentic poop smell. You can leave some on the toilet seat for some severe crap joke. Ewww!

25. Fake Cat Poop Cake 

Fake Cat Poop Cake

We don’t want to leave out cat lovers, so here’s a great prank that you can make for your friends. This cake may look gross, but it’s a treat if you can look past those cat “poop” made with Tootsie Rolls. You must have a camera ready for your friends’ reactions when they see a full litter box on the table! 

Things You'll Need

Directions

  1. In a food processor, pulse a package of white sandwich cookies. 
  2. Take one cup of the crushed cookie sandwich and add a few drops of green food coloring. Set aside. 
  3. Crumble the chocolate cake, vanilla cake, and the remaining crushed cookie sandwich. Add the vanilla pudding and mix well.
  4. Microwave the Tootsie Rolls for 10 seconds. Make your kitty “poop” out of them. 
  5. To assemble, add the chocolate-vanilla cake and cookie sandwich mixture into the lined litter box.
  6. Sprinkle some of the greenish crushed cookie sandwiches over the cake mixture. 
  7. Drop a few “kitty poop” and sprinkle another layer of the greenish crushed cookie sandwich. Repeat this process until all of the “poop” and “litter cover” is gone. 

Conclusion

Whether you hate or love it, April Fools Day gets you high from the anticipation of whether your prank will be a hit or you’ll be a victim of the worst practical joke ever. These April Fools Day crafts will help you find the best trick for everyone. Remember to reserve the naughtiest ones for your closest friends.

Some of these are even easy enough for kids to make because they’re never too young to pull off a prank on their friends. Who knows, they might even pull a trick on you.

Which of these April Fools Day craft is your favorite? Can you top our prankster pro tips? Share with us the craziest April Fools Day prank you ever pulled on someone. We’d love to hear it!

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