While unpacking at The Farmhouse, I found a sleeve of red paper cups. I can't remember why I had them or what I bought them for. To make things worse, they were a little squished and most of them wouldn't do a great job holding liquids without leaking. When my son asked if we could have a crafts day (yes! The answer is always yes.), I pulled the cups out and had fun making love bugs with him.
These are a great "free choice" craft to do with kids - just set out the supplies and let them come up with their own version. I made the "Queen" love bug on the right but my son made a small army of "ladybugs" with big black pom poms on their backs. This is also a great way to use up party supply leftovers!
Here are the instructions for how to make the queen:
Supplies
- Red paper cup
- 1 pink chenille stem
- 2 White chenille stems
- Scissors
- 2 pink glitter hearts (most often sold as "table scatter")
- 2 Googley eyes
- 4 Heart rhinestones (I used 2 pink, 1 purple and 1 magenta)
- 1 small round rhinestone
- Fast grab tacky glue (for kids) or a hot glue gun and glue (for adults)
Directions
Step 1: Antennae
Cut the pink chenille stem into 4 pieces. Set 2 pieces aside for later. Make antennae by glueing the pink hearts to the ends of 2 of the pink chenille stem pieces. Poke 2 small holes in the top of the cup and insert the antennae. Here is a view from the back of what this should look like:
Step 2: Wings
Give your love bug wings by cutting two white chenille stems in half to make 4 pieces total. Bend the 4 stem pieces into long loops, twisting the two ends of each piece together to secure. Glue the four wing pieces to the back of the cup as pictured. Add a heart rhinestone over the area where they meet.
(pro tip: it may be best for an adult with a hot glue gun to help with this part. Alternatively, use the fast grab tacky glue and hold the wings and heart in place with a pieces of masking tape while the glue sets.)
Step 3: Features
Give your love bug a face by adding googley eyes, a nose (the small, round rhinestone) and a mouth (a heart rhinestones) with the glue. Make arms by bending the 2 remaining pink chenille stem pieces in half at a 90 degree angle. Glue them to the sides of the cup and add a heart rhinestone over the area where they meet the cup.
I hope you enjoyed this craft! I'd love to hear how it turned out for you in the comments or by posting a picture in the Creative Green Living Community Group on Facebook!
Carissa is a lifelong crafter and DIY enthusiast. A green lifestyle expert, she often incorporates recycled elements into her designs and chooses non-toxic supplies whenever possible. She believes that living a greener lifestyle doesn't have to be drab and boring but can beautiful, tasty and fun!
Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group on Facebook.
Follow her on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter or join the Creative Green Living community group on Facebook.
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