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With summer coming many of us see ladybugs everywhere.
Why not create some special ladybugs you can keep on
the porch or even inside in some special places?
This is a fun craft that kids can do. They may need
some help with putting the tape on to evenly paint a
straight line, and you also may want to handle the permanent
marker (for putting dots onto the ladybug) – but
otherwise should be able to negotiate the project just
fine on their own.
This craft does involve painting parts of the ladybugs
and then leaving it overnight (or for at least four
hours) to dry. This is very important to make sure the
paint sets. This is the perfect craft for a weekend
project to do with children – by the end of the
weekend the bugs are done. Just know going into it that
this is not an instant project so children won’t
be disappointed.
Materials You Will Use:
Rocks that can fit into the palm of your hand. Select
oval or rounded rocks. Can use larger rocks if you wish
to.
Red and black tempura paints
Paintbrushes with assorted widths – medium to
fine sized points
A black permanent marker
Masking tape
Scissors
Optional: gold or silver metallic paint pen (these
are often toxic and are not child safe, if using with
a small child be sure they do not put this in their
mouths!)
1. Clean your rocks with warm soapy water and dish
detergent. Let rocks dry.
2. Paint rocks red and allow them to dry. Drying may
take four hours, or they may need to dry overnight.
It is very important to let rocks dry completely before
going onto the next step.
3. Take a piece of masking tape the width of your rock.
We will now paint the ladybug’s head on. Place
the masking tape on about 1/3 of the way onto the rock,
creating a head. Now use your black paint and paint
a head for the ladybug. Keep the tape on while the black
paint is drying. *** When placing tape onto your ladybug,
you only need to press the side that you will be painting
onto the ladybug, so do not press the entire piece of
tape down. Only press the side that will painted down.
*
**
By using the masking tape – you are creating
very clean and even lines. Your ladybugs will have a
very tidy look to them.
4. Next we will create the black stripe down the ladybugs
back. Take two pieces of masking tape and put them on
the ladybug’s back, allowing for a thin stripe
of red between them. Depending on how large your rock
is, this could be 1/8th of an inch or even 1/4 of an
inch. Paint this stripe black and allow the tape to
remain on until dry.
5. Now it is time to draw dots on the ladybug’s
back. You can use paint or even the permanent marker.
It is your choice. Most ladybugs have many dots, but
for space’s sake you will probably want to put
three or four spots on each side of the ladybug’s
back. Once this is dry you are done!
6. If you have several children making ladybugs consider
writing their name in metallic paint pen along the side
of the ladybug’s body. Your bugs are ready for
summer!
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