Great craft for
kids of all ages!
Aunt Annie's Crafts
Love Bugs
What you will make:
Here’s a craft that is great for Valentine's Day and any gift-giving occasion. Children of all ages, even as young as two, will enjoy making these love bugs as pins or magnets.
This project is great for family, classroom or group craft time. For a quick and easy group craft, mold the love bugs in advance.
Related craft: It's easy to make a pin or brooch using candy molds and plaster. See how in the Valentine's Day Pins project.
Here's what you need:
- Plaster of Paris
- Plastic spoons and knives
- Plastic cup for mixing plaster of Paris
- Jewelry pin backs or magnets
- Wiggly eyes
- Paints, non-toxic for children
- Paintbrushes or cotton swabs
- Clear glaze or clear spray paint
- Newspaper or wax paper
- Optional: Silk flowers or small potted plant
This project is rated VERY EASY to do.
How to Make Love Bugs
Read all of the steps before starting.
- Step 1: Project Preparation
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Read through the project then gather the materials needed for making love bugs. When doing this craft with a group, mold the love bugs and set the pin backs or magnets in advance. It takes several hours for the plaster of Paris to be dry enough to paint. Cover the work area with newspaper or wax paper to catch drips and splatters.
- Step 2: Mold Love Bugs
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Lay out plastic spoons on the newspaper or wax paper—one for each love bug. Your child can do this while you mix the plaster of Paris.
Pour plaster into the well of each spoon and level with a plastic knife. Let the plaster stand for a few minutes and then press a pin back or a magnet into the plaster. Let the plaster dry completely.
Tip: Use leftover plaster of Paris to make 3-D dots that can be added to love bugs painted like ladybugs or beetles.
- Step 3: Unmold
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Pop the love bug from the spoon by pressing the outer edges of the spoon. Use a plastic knife to smooth any rough edges on the love bug.
- Step 4: Paint
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Paint the love bugs with any color paints. They can be painted to look like ladybugs or something silly and weird. Have small children paint with cotton swabs and older ones with brushes.
- Step 5: Finish
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After the kids are done painting, while the paint is still wet, place two wiggly eyes on each love bug. (You can place them on later but glue will be required.)
When the paint is dry, have an adult spray the love bugs with an acrylic sealer. This will keep the paint from rubbing off.
- Step 6: Make a Gift
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When all dry, place pinned backed love bugs on a silk flower or use real flowers and pin them to the floral paper. Place magnet ones in a potted plant and give to someone special. Tip: Attach a magnet love bug to a potted plant by placing a steel washer on the opposite side of the leaf from the love bug.
Before you start:
- Make a place to work.
- Read all of the directions.
- Gather everything you need to do the project.
- Think about the project. Imagine how it will look and what you will do with it.
Are you ready?
Okay, get started!!!
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Tip: Love bugs make terrific gifts and look really cute
attached to flowers or plants.
This love bug is pinned to Aunt Annie's Paper Flowers.
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Tip: Love bugs can be painted any way you like. Try a
mix of colors for a mottled look or perhaps paint some stripes.
Thanks to...
Thanks to Heather H. for sharing this craft idea in Aunt Annie's Craft Exchange back in 1997.
Heather commented, "My two year old really enjoyed this craft. He gave love bugs to his grandparents and teacher. They really loved getting something hand made and a fresh flower. These make great gifts for Valentine's Day. "
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Tip: Make 3-D dots with leftover plaster of Paris,
paint the dots black, and glue them to love bugs.