Not So Lazy Days: Making rocking ladybugs
Arts & Crafts
Most children love ladybugs and love trying to count their spots. Today, we made ladybugs we can see and play with whenever we want to.
Supplies:
- rocks
- paintbrushes
- red and black paint
- white t-shirt paint with a fine tip for writing
First, we had to find rocks. Not just any rocks, either-- they had to be round, smooth rocks. We took a walk around the neighborhood, watching the edges of the sidewalk for the best rocks. By about half-way around the block, we had found three.
After cleaning and drying the rocks, we placed them on plastic shopping bags in the grass and completely painted each one red. Once the red paint was dry (only about a half hour in the sun) we first painted little black heads and then as many black dots as we wished, counting as we painted.
For the finishing touch, I squirted two beads of white t-shirt paint on the heads for eyes.
If you use washable paint, as I did, and wish to keep the rocks outside, add a step of painting clear nail polish completely over each ladybug. There are probably other products specificly made for this sealing purpose, but the nail polish works and it's cheap.
About the Not So Lazy Days series
I've challenged myself to find a new activity to do five days a week every week of the kids' summer vacation. Activities will fall under one of three categories: Arts & Crafts, Sports & Games or Field Trips. Follow me on Twitter @readallaboutsam for immediate updates on posts!