If being cooped up inside on a rainy day bugs you, try chasing away the blues with a collection of these little insects. The dragonflies, caterpillars, and beetles are a snap to make and great for sparking your kids' creativity.

Materials

• Wire (20 gauge)
• Ruler
• Wire cutters

• Multifaceted plastic beads (with diameters of 12 mm, 8 mm, 6 mm, and 4 mm)
• Needle-nose pliers

Instructions

1. Start by creating a long straight body. Bend an 18-inch length of wire in half. Use the pliers to curl up a 3/4-inch section near the bend to create the tip of the tail. From the other end, slide nine 6 mm beads onto the doubled wire. Next, add two 8 mm beads followed by one 12 mm bead.

2. Make the wings by threading eighty 6 mm beads onto a 20-inch length of wire. Bend the tips to keep the beads from sliding off. Shape the upper two thirds of the strand into a figure 8 for the top set of wings; then shape the lower third into a smaller set of wings.

3. Set the body on top of the wings and attach the two by wrapping the trailing wire ends of the wings around the body wire between the 8 mm beads.

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• 1 Hour |
• Animal Projects |
• Animal Topics |
• Bead Crafts |
• Bugs |
• School Age |
• Spring

Related Categories:

• Bug Crafts |
• All Spring Crafts