I am always looking for little projects to do with my three year old son.  He enjoys helping me clean, bake and cook.  So I have tried to get him into the arts and crafts a little more.   So as usual I go on the internet and try to find some quick projects for us to work on.

As it turns out tonight is going to be a sleepover at my house and I wanted to have something for my son and his friend to do.  I always have a lot of left over pieces of yarn laying around so I wanted to do something to use up the scraps.  I found the cutest project. A summer yarn bug craft. You’ll find lots more of these adorable creatures for all occasions in Making Friends Yarn Bugs section.

summer_yarn_but_081

Supplies

Encore Worsted Yellow (1382) is the closest yellow to the picture
Pattern for Visor and Hands
Pink Craft Foam
Tan Foam Feet Pattern
Tan Foamie Hands Pattern
Wiggle Eyes — 20mm
2-1/2″ Styrofoam Ball
Black and Yellow Pipe Cleaner
Pink Paint Pen
Green Cellophane
5″ Square of Cardboard
Tacky Glue
Scissors (kid friendly)

Instructions

Make a pompom by wrapping yarn around a 5″ piece of cardboard at least 100 times. Mix colors or use all one color. Cut a 6″ piece of yarn and slide it under wrapped yarn. Tie tightly into a double knot. Turn cardboard over and cut completely through yarn on this side. Turn yarn blob sideways and smooth down strands.

Press Styrofoam ball onto a hard surface to flatten bottom. (You can also use an egg carton section.) Cover the top and sides of the ball with tacky glue. Separate the strands of the pompom to fit the Styrofoam ball up inside. Press pompon into place. Arrange yarn.

Print any patterns your bug might need. Staple all around patterns onto craft foam or felt as listed in the supply list. Cut out pieces. Glue the bottom of the Styrofoam ball on to the foam feet. Glue on eyes. For optional arms, cut the pipe cleaner in half. Glue on hands. Poke the pipe cleaners into the bug for arms. Bend at the elbows. Glue on the wiggle eyes.

Form glasses out of the black pipe cleaner. Cut pieces of green cellophane for each lens. Glue to the back of the pipe cleaner eyeglasses. Glue one hand around the eyeglasses, folding down the fingers. On the other hand, make the “hang loose” sign by folding down the index, middle and ring finger and gluing in place. Finish by placing the visor on the bug’s head.

If  anyone other then myself does this project I would love to see some pictures.  Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend 🙂