Glowing Glow Bugs

These super cute glow bugs had my children captivated. They were flying them round the yard for ages - and then they lined up on their shelf as night lights when they went to bed!

Project Info

Materials

• Black Acrylic Paint
• Glow Sticks
• Google Eyes
• Hot Glue Gun
• Large Water Bottle
• Optional (Glow Paint)
• School Glue (PVA) e.g. Elmers
• Small Water Bottle (Empty)

Instructions

• Step 1

• Step 3

• Step 5

• Step 6

• Step 6

1. Preparation Step 1: Cut wing shapes from your large water bottle
2. Preparation Step 2: Make a mixture of 1 part black paint to 1 part glue (half a tablespoon of each should be sufficient for several glow bugs)
3. Paint the small water bottle with the paint mixture, leaving the lid and the bottom half of the bottle unpainted (this will be the bug's tail). If you wish you can paint black stripes on the bottom section.
4. If desired paint veins on the plastic wings and paint in glow paint!
5. Leave the bottle and wings to dry
6. ADULTS ONLY: Using Hot Glue, attach the googly eyes to the lid of the water bottle and the wings to the bug's back. (When attaching the wings, apply only light pressure - if you distort the plastic then when you let go, the plastic will reshape causing the glue to become unstuck)
7. When it is dark, get a glow stick and shake to activate. Carefully fold the glow stick in half and place inside the water bottle. This works best if you push the folded end in first.
8. Take your bug into the dark, and enjoy! :)

Tips

1. BE CAREFUL: the heat of the hot glue will pass through the plastic. Use caution so as not to burn your hands.
2. It's a bit tricky getting the wings to adhere. You'll find it easiest if the base of the wings is relatively small (e.g. around 0.75") and if you apply only gentle pressure when attaching with the hot glue.
3. Make sure you are well organised before you start this project, gather all the materials together before you tell the kids what fun is in store! By MotherHen - June 19

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