This simple craft uses egg cartons to spark a child's imagination. Centered around a favorite kid theme - bugs - it is a perfect summer time craft. It uses simple objects - egg cartons, pipe cleaners, wiggly eyes - to allow children to create their own silly bug. Have fun putting these colorful bugs in your windowsill, in a potted plant or even make a mobile and hang them from the ceiling. It is also the perfect craft for a science unit on bugs.
Egg Carton Bugs
What you need:
- egg cartons - cardboard ones can be painted - styrofoam ones come in pretty pastels
- tempera paints and paintbrushes
- glue googly eyes
- hole punch
- pipe cleaners of assorted colors and thicknesses
- craft glue
- pom poms, sequins, other items to decorate your bug
What you do:
1. First you want to cut the cup part of the egg carton into twelve different pieces. Trim the edges so they are neat. If you are using cardboard egg cartons, now is when you would paint your cups different colors.
This will be the body of your bug when the paint is dry. If you are using styrofoam you can further decorate your bug's body by gluing on sequins, pom poms or adding stripes. Get creative! make your bug unique.
2. Next glue on the wiggly eyes and punch holes for the legs. You will need three holes on each side, spaced directly across from each other. You can draw a mouth or punch a hole in front for a curly tongue. If you are adding the tongue, cut a section of red pipe cleaner and curl it up. Stick it in the hole for the mouth.
3. Now you will need six pieces of pipe cleaners, cut into approximately 4 - 6 inch pieces. These are your legs. Insert the pipe cleaner into a hole on one side and out through the hole on the same spot on the other side. Repeat for all the legs. Bend the pipe cleaners so they resemble legs and feet.
4. For antennae cut two pieces of pipe cleaners into 3 inch pieces. Carefully poke a hole with a pencil above the wiggly eyes and insert the pipe cleaner. Curl into antennae.
You can make a whole army of egg carton bugs out of just one egg carton. This makes a great group craft, especially for younger kids. It is also a great nature craft for summer camps. This is a great recycle craft project too.
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