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Water Bottle Lightning Bug Craft

July 19, 2013 by OneMommy

Summer is the time of staying up late, giggles, and catching fireflies.

This lightning bug craft is one of our favorite recycled crafts so far. 

firefly water bottle craft

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We had so much fun catching fireflies and making our fingerprint firefly craft, that we just had to make some lightning bugs that would actually light up at night.

This simple kids craft is fun to do before a camping trip.  Then you can use it for a nightlight!

Lightning Bug Craft

To make your own glowing firefly friend, you will need:

  • an empty water bottle or individual sized pop bottle
  • 3 whole pipe cleaners (legs) and 1 half pipe cleaner (antennae)
  • black construction paper
  • black tissue paper (ours was actually very dark blue)
  • wiggly eyes
  • 1 glow stick
  • white school glue
  • hot glue gun

 

Start by wrapping the 3 pipe cleaners around the bottle, making sure to twist them tightly into place.

Bend the tips to become the lightning bug’s feet.  (You may need to help the youngest crafts twist the pipe cleaners tight enough to stay secure.)

lightning bug water bottle craft

 

Use a paintbrush to apply glue to the bottle, up around the bottle’s neck and in between all the firefly’s legs.

upcycled water bottle craft

 

Wrap the tissue paper around the bottle to give your firefly a dark body.

Cut black construction paper wings and use your glue to add them to the back of the lightning bug craft.

firefly craft for kids

Finally, twist the half pipe cleaner around the bottle’s neck (we used a sparkly one) and hot glue the eyes onto the sides of the bottle’s opening.

water bottle craft: lightning bug craft
Our lightning bugs, waiting for their lights ~

Once the lightning bugs dry, add glow sticks to make them glow.  (You will need to bend them a bit to make them fit inside the bottles.)

Since there is no lid on the bottle, it is easy to swap out glow sticks when needed.

This lightning bug craft makes a fun nightlight for sleepovers or to take camping.

 

You’ll also enjoy:

  • Glowing Lightning Bug Craft from a Plastic Egg
  • Awesome Camp Crafts
  • Super Simple Water Bottle Sun Catcher Craft

 

 

Filed Under: Kids Crafts Tagged With: recycled craft, water bottle craft

Comments

  1. Susie@homemaker-mom.com says

    July 21, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    those look so cute and what a great idea! If I had young ones still I would so do this. If I have any more babies I have to try this with them!!

  2. Sarah says

    July 22, 2013 at 3:52 pm

    These are cute 🙂 It would be fun to make them and take them outside for a picnic dinner, while it’s getting dark!

    • OneMommy says

      July 23, 2013 at 9:22 pm

      Definitely cute for an evening picnic!

  3. Ananasa says

    July 24, 2013 at 12:17 pm

    Amazing idea, we love your creativity!

    Ananasa.com- Home For Handmade

  4. Donna DM Yates says

    July 25, 2013 at 8:04 pm

    Cute, cute craft for summer.

    • OneMommy says

      July 27, 2013 at 7:27 pm

      Thank you! I love that they can change the glow stick easily. Definitely taking them if we go camping!

  5. Carrie says

    July 26, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    What a great craft!! I love it! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!

  6. The Fairy and The Frog says

    July 28, 2013 at 3:12 pm

    Were going camping soon – am going to make some of these when were there. Thanks for joining in the Monday Parenting Pin it Party

    • OneMommy says

      July 29, 2013 at 10:35 pm

      Have a great time camping! I’m hoping we get to put our tent up sometime soon myself.

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