These are some great ideas to make on a rainy summer day or any rainy day
for that matter. These are flat out fun.
Beetle Baby
Materials: Wire (20 gauge), Ruler, Wire cutters, Multifaceted
plastic beads (with diameters of 12 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm), and Needle-nose
pliers.
Instructions:
1.
Cut
two 4-inch lengths and two 2-1/2-inch lengths from the wire (a parent's job).
Thread all 4 through a 12 mm bead (this will be the bug's body).
2.
Bend
2 ends of the 2 long wires upward and slide on an 8 mm bead for a head, as
shown. Bend the remaining 6 ends down to form legs.
3.
Thread
a 4 mm bead onto the tip of each antenna. Then use the pliers to bend the tips
(to keep the beads from sliding off) and curl the tops of the antennae.
Finally, curl the ends of the legs to form feet.
You
can purchase this kit that makes eight mini animals and all the accessories you
need with step by step instructions.
Clay
Critters Craft Kit!
Frightened Fly
Materials: Polymer clay in yellow or orange,
white, and black,22-gauge, permanent-colored copper wire, and Toothpicks.
Instructions:
1.
Roll
and shape all the clay parts shown.
2.
Cut
the end off with a toothpick and use it to fasten the head to the body.
3.
Press
the fly's wings onto its back.
4.
Bend
6 pieces of wire into leg shapes and insert 3 into each side of the fly's body.
Insert the wire antennae into the head and add the clay antennae balls to the
other ends of the wire.
5.
Make
eyes by pressing the small white balls onto the head, adding the yellow balls
on top, and finally press the black balls on for pupils.
6.
Shape
the mouth with a toothpick.
Tips:
To get polymer clay
tips & techniques, click here.
The
hardest part of this craft is deciding which critters to create.
Button Beings
Materials: Buttons, Pipe cleaners, Permanent
markers, Craft glue, Googly eyes, and Craft beads.
Instructions:
1.
Gather
buttons, pipe cleaners, permanent markers, craft glue, googly eyes, and craft
beads.
2.
Then
encourage your child to make any creature he can imagine by threading the pipe
cleaners through the buttonholes.
3.
Get
creative by linking multiple buttons and by molding the pipe cleaners into
interesting shapes such as tails, antennae, legs, wings, and more. (Remember
that you can twist together 2 pipe cleaners for extra length.)
4.
Once
a body's done, add a mouth with a marker and glue on 2 (or 3 or 4!) eyes.
This next group of bugs to make are a welcome sight to see handing out of
anyone’s houseplant and make a great gift to anyone who as houseplants.
Materials: Black pipe cleaner, cut in half, Black
pompom, Large red pompom, Red pipe cleaner, cut in thirds, Multicolored
spiraled pipe cleaner, Craft glue, Googly eyes, Mini red pompom, Thin craft
foam ( in red and black), Red and white spiraled pipe cleaner, and ¼-inch
wooden dowel, 1 foot long.
Instructions:
1.
Create
the ladybug's head and body by wrapping one half of the black pipe cleaner
around the black and large red pompoms. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner
together under the bug's body (see A).
2.
Slip
the three pieces of red pipe cleaner between the black pipe cleaner and pompoms
on the underside of the bug. Bend to form legs (B).
4.
For
the antennae, slip the multicolored pipe cleaner under the black pipe cleaner
on the topside of the bug, just behind the black pom-pom (C). Twist and shape
it, trim the ends if necessary.
5.
Glue
on googly eyes and a red mini pompom nose. Cut a red mouth and black spots out
of foam and glue them onto the bug.
6.
To
attach the bug to the dowel stake, tightly wrap the red and white pipe cleaner
around the top of the dowel and hook the end to the underside of the bug.
Variations:
Kids can adjust the
directions slightly to fashion a bumblebee or greenfly, or better yet, create
completely new multi-legged critters of their own.
Feel free to use your imagination for this rock critters!
Rock Bugs
Materials: Smooth pebbles in different shapes,
colors, and sizes (for the body), Tacky glue, Small twigs, blades of grass, and
pine needles (for the legs and antennae), Leaves in different shapes, colors,
and sizes (optional, for the wings), and Flower petals (optional, for the
wings).
Instructions:
1.
First,
build a body from the pebbles. For example, make a dragonfly by gluing a small
rock (the head) on top of a long skinny rock (the body). Or glue three small
pebbles end to end to make an ant.
2.
Add
appendages by putting a drop of glue on the end of each leg, then pressing it
to the rock. Finally, glue on wings and antennae, if you like.
"Rock Bugs" from the book, "Camp OUT! The Ultimate Kids' Guide" Workman Publishing)
"Rock Bugs" from the book, "Camp OUT! The Ultimate Kids' Guide" Workman Publishing)
Variations:
Share your ideas on this or anything here on the blog either
here or e-mail me at stipple@verizon.net I look forward to hearing from you!
Sandi
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