Hands On Crafts for Kids - Upright Insects

by Patty Cox
Bet you haven't seen a bug like this one in your back yard! If bugs walked on back legs, this is what they might look like. Have fun with a new technique using Styrofoam, tissue paper and even a little glitter glue. You will need: 4" Styrofoam® egg 1" Styrofoam® ball 4 Black 6mm chenille stems Sheet Dark Green tissue paper Sheet Light Green tissue paper Scissors Two 7mm Wiggle eyes School glue Green glitter gel Craft stick Toothpick Paintbrush
Instructions:
	Cut Styrofoam egg in half using a plastic knife. Hint: It will be easier to cut if you rub an old candle over the cutting edge of the knife. Rub the two halves together to sand any rough edges. Indent chest pattern on the flat side of one half of the egg with a craft stick. Spread glue over the flat side of the egg using a wet paintbrush. Make sure to cover all indented areas. Place a 5" square of light green tissue paper over the glued area, pressing lightly with the craft stick into each of chest indentations. Trim away excess tissue paper, leaving 1/2" around the edges. Glue these edges to the back of the egg. Allow to dry. Spread glue over the back of the egg then place a 5" square of dark green tissue paper on the back. Trim away excess so that it's even with the sides. Cut one 5" square piece of light green tissue paper and set aside. You will use this piece for the head. Cut remaining tissue paper into 1" squares. Spread glue over the back of the egg then stick tissue paper squares over the entire back, alternating dark and light. Brush over the top with glue. Spread glue over the Styrofoam ball. Cover with the light green tissue paper. Paint over the tissue with more glue. Cut away excess tissue. Push one end of the toothpick into the ball at the trimmed edge. Cover the rest of the toothpick with glue then insert the opposite end into the front of the body at the top. (This is the rounded part of the egg.) Cut two of the chenille stems into four equal parts to make six arms and two antennae. Fold each of the two remaining chenille stems in half and twist together to make two legs. Use a pencil to poke three holes on each side of the body for the arms, two holes on top of the head for antennae and two holes at the bottom for legs. Dot ends of the chenille with glue then push into place. Glue wiggle eyes onto the face then add a smile using glitter gel. Shape the arms and legs.