Pretend “Bugs in a Jar” Craft
So you are interested in throwing a themed Bug Party? Or you are thinking about it? Or maybe you’re just letting your kids make the kind of bugs that you’ll allow in the house: the pretend kind. Aren’t they the best kind? My daughter loves to catch bugs, put them in jars and then forget about them. They proceed to die long painful deaths and I hate it. I secretly let them out when she is at school, which is not that fun either. But kids and bugs are kind of a thing so I say embrace it and make the pretend kind.
If you are throwing a Bug-themed party, a really cool give-away or take-home party favor is a pretend “Bugs in a Jar” DIY craft; and it’s super easy to put together. All the other parents will be rolling their eyes at how fun and imaginative your parties are and all you really have to do is save the olive jars from your dirty martinis and set up a table of tissue paper and chenille stems for kids to play with. Add some tulle tops and maybe even a decorative bow and your party might even make Martha Stewart jealous. Well, maybe I exaggerate a little.
Supplies Needed for “Bugs in a Jar”
1. matching jars for each child
2. a stick or small branch for each jar
3. some interesting day-glow moss from your local craft store
4. rocks (optional)
5. chenille stem and tissue paper bugs made from our previous craft-a-bug post
6. tulle for the top
7. small rubber bands and/or decorative ribbons
Then sit back and let your little entomologists play. You’ll be surprised with what they come up with.
The best part? Nothing about this pretend Bugs in a Jar is going to be creeping or dying long painful deaths in your house.
A note about assembly: I did break out the hot glue gun* to attach some caterpillars onto branches. I know! I’m sorry. I just can’t help myself sometimes. But it is entirely unnecessary and highly dangerous for little fingers so if you have to be a perfectionist crafter like me, make sure you have a responsible adult on hand using the hot glue gun and wait until the glue cools before handing any freshly glued bugs back to little fingers.
