Bouncing Love Bugs

Great for parties, camps and classrooms, this kid-pleasing craft begins with easy-to-use STYROFOAM™ brand foam and ends with plenty of delighted giggles. Try them as Christmas ornaments, too!

Materials:

• STYROFOAM™ Brand Foam:
  • Balls, several of each size: 2-1/2"; 2"; 1"
  • Eggs, 2-1/2", one or two per bug
• Acrylic paints: pink; red; white; purple
• Coordinating craft foam hearts, assorted sizes
• Coordinating chenille stems
• Coordinating pom poms, 1/8" (optional)
• Wiggle eyes, 1/4", one pair per bug
• White elastic cord
• Serrated plastic knife
• Pencil
• Ruler
• Wooden items: toothpicks; skewers; 1/4" dowel rods
• Round paintbrush
• Disposable palette
• Water basin
• Paper towels
• Scissors
• Extra-long straight pins
• Craft knife (for adult use only)
• Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
• Thick, white craft glue

Steps:

Note: Some adult supervision required; read instructions before beginning. Encourage kids to mix and match foam shapes and embellishments to make their own delightfully creative critters.

1. Place assorted foam balls and eggs in center of work surface. Refer to photo as assembly guide.
    
2. Select balls and eggs to use for the head, tail and body. Use serrated plastic knife to cut thin slice from one side only of head and tail pieces. Cut a thin slice from opposite ends of each body segment.
    
3. Glue and twist cut edges of foam pieces together until snug. If desired, apply glue along length of a wooden toothpick and push all the way through bug body to secure pieces. For feet, cut smallest foam balls in half or use whole. Let glue dry completely.
    
4. Insert skewer into bottom of each bug to use as handle. Holding skewer, paint bugs as desired. If using foam balls for feet and antennae ends, paint these, too. Place skewer in heavy glass or jar to dry. Remove skewer when dry.
    
5. For wings, refer to photo as guide and glue together assorted craft foam hearts. Adult should cut tiny slit in back of bug for wings. Apply dot of glue to slit and insert tips of wings.
    
6. Cut chenille stem legs and antennae as desired; glue ends into bodies and heads. Glue craft foam hearts or small foam balls onto opposite ends of legs and antennae.
    
7. Adult should cut 12" to 18" length from elastic cord and knot one end. Pin knot to bug to determine best placement. Adjust as needed. Use skewer tip to poke small hole into foam by knot. Remove pin and glue knot into hole, using skewer to push it in securely. Let dry completely.
    
8. Tie free end of elastic to end of dowel or skewer so bug "flies."

®™ Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow. For more project ideas, please see styrofoamstyle.com.