MAKE A SWARM OF BUTTON BUGS
YOU WILL NEED Buttons in different colours and sizes; tissue paper in different colours; thin wire or pipe cleaners; googly eyes; beads for feet/feelers (optional); PVA glue; pliers; scissors
METHOD
1. The legs and feelers of these bugs are made from wire and pipe cleaners. We used standard metal craft wire, about 1mm thick, so it is fairly easy to bend, shape and cut. Always ask an adult to help when cutting wire, as you may need to use pliers. If you would like your bug to have fluffy legs, you could use pipe cleaners. These can be cut with scissors.
2. Choose a button to be your bug’s body. For the legs, thread lengths of coloured wire or pipe cleaner up through the holes (see picture 1) and down again. Each length of wire makes two legs so if you would like four legs, use two pieces, if you would like six legs, use three pieces, etc. 3. Once they are all threaded through, twist once underneath to secure. Our leg wires measured about 10cm.
It is best to make your wires too long, as you can always cut them down when your bug is finished.
4. Now take another length of wire or pipe cleaner to make the feelers. Bend the wire in half to find the midpoint along its length and open it out again. Turn your bug so its legs are facing upwards and thread the feelers wire through underneath the leg-twist as far as the midpoint (see picture 2).
5. Twist the leg wires again until they are tight and secure, trapping the feeler wire underneath. Then twist the feeler wire a few times until it is secure.
6. You can then bend your wires into shape to look like legs and feelers. Add beads for extra detail if you wish.
7. Glue on some googly eyes and allow to dry.
TAKE inspiration from nature to make these colourful button bugs. They are so easy to create you could soon have a whole swarm.