With Summer nearly here, we have been looking towards our garden for inspiration for our craft projects. As we work through my challenge of 50 Crafts to Try Before You’re 10, we have been looking at lots of different paper plate animal crafts. Oliver still loves his paper plate Bumble Bee we made a few years ago, so we decided this time to try our hand at a Paper Plate Ladybird.
The beauty of paper plate crafts, is they require very little in the way of materials. Lets face it, most of us have the odd spare paper plate kicking around from the last kids party! That and a bit of paint and you can create anything….. well almost.
So if you would like to see how we made our Paper Plate Ladybird, read on for the full tutorial, or pin it for later!
Ladybugs, also known as ladybirds, are a popular bug that captures children’s imaginations Their bright red bodies with distinct black spots make them easily recognizable Ladybugs naturally lend themselves to arts and crafts due to their unique appearance. Making a ladybug craft is an enjoyable activity that helps develop creativity and fine motor skills in kids. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to make cute and easy ladybug crafts using common household materials.
Supplies Needed
To make basic ladybug crafts, you will need:
- Red and black construction paper or cardstock
- Googly eyes or paper circles
- Glue (white glue or craft glue)
- Scissors
- Markers or paint (optional)
- Pipe cleaners (optional)
Other handy items include
- Wiggle eyes
- Foam sheets or felt
- Tissue paper
- Cupcake liners
- Paper plates
- Toilet paper rolls
Choose materials you already have at home to keep it simple. Gather everything before starting the craft with your child.
Ladybug Craft Ideas
Here are some fun and simple ladybug crafts kids will love:
Paper Plate Ladybug
Paint a paper plate red and let dry. Cut an oval shape from the center for the body. Glue on black construction paper spots. Add eyes, antennas, and draw on a mouth to finish.
Handprint Ladybug
Use red paint or marker for handprints as the wings. Glue on black paper circles, eyes, and antennas. Outline fingers in black for details.
Clothespin Ladybug
Paint a wooden clothespin red and let dry. Glue on black paper spots. Add wiggle eyes and bend pipe cleaner antennas.
Cupcake Liner Ladybug
Cut a toilet paper tube in half for the body. Glue on red cupcake liner for wings. Add googly eyes and paper antennas.
Printable Ladybug
Print pre-made ladybug templates if cutting is difficult. Color and assemble the pieces for an easy craft.
Toilet Paper Roll Ladybug
Paint a toilet paper roll red for the body. Cut wings from red paper. Glue on black spots. Finish with eyes and pipe cleaner antennas.
Tissue Paper Ladybug
Crumple tissue paper on painted paper plate wings. Add contrasting tissue paper spots. Complete with eyes and curly pipe cleaner antennas.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps to make a cute 3D ladybug craft:
1. Cut out the body
Use red cardstock to cut a large oval shape about 4 inches long for the ladybug’s body. Cut carefully around the edges. Set aside when done.
2. Cut out black spots
Cut different sized circles from black paper, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch across. Cut out 6 to 10 spots total. Set aside when finished.
3. Arrange and glue on spots
Arrange the spots on the red oval body. Glue each black spot in place using just a small dot of glue on each one. Press gently when sticking them on.
4. Add the face
Glue on two googly eyes close together towards the narrow top for the head. Draw a curved line between for the mouth. Or use a black marker to draw the face details.
5. Attach antennae
Cut two thin black strips for antennae. Glue or tape them, pointing up on the head. Use pipe cleaners for curly antennae.
6. Finish decorating
Add dots of glue on the wings and sprinkle with glitter. Draw wing lines and veins with marker. Write your child’s name or any other details.
Ladybug Craft Variations
Get creative with different ways to make ladybugs including:
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Make giant ladybugs using paper plates or poster board for the bodies
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Craft fuzzy felt or fabric ladybugs
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Fold cardstock in half to make wings on just one side
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Use red foam instead of paper for texture
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Punch holes around the edges to weave yarn antennae
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Stack two oval bodies for a more 3D effect
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Print out ladybug templates or trace circular cookie cutters for shape
Ladybug Craft Ideas and Activities
Ladybug crafts provide lots of opportunities for learning and pretend play:
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Read ladybug books and make finger puppets to act it out
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Create a mini ladybug habitat in a shoebox to observe how they might live
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Make a ladybug picnic with small toys and stuffed animals as guests
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Play counting and sorting games with different sized and colored ladybugs
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Go on a ladybug hunt in your backyard on a nice day
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Use magnifying glasses to compare paper ladybugs with real ones found outside
Making ladybugs helps build fine motor skills and creativity. Displaying the finished crafts boosts confidence and pride in their work. Most importantly, have fun!
Ladybug Craft Tips
Follow these tips to make the best ladybugs:
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Use bright red paper for vivid ladybug bodies
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Choose textured craft foam for the spots over plain paper
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Start with bigger, simpler shapes for younger kids
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Laminate finished ladybugs between contact paper to make them reusable
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Use markers for facial features instead of glueing everything for less mess
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Cut and glue wiggly eyes on for fun tactile effect
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Allow plenty of time for glue to dry before playing
With just some basic supplies and imagination, you can create cute ladybugs kids will adore. The handmade process engages them much more than store bought toys. Make these cheerful bugs to welcome spring!
What You Will Need
- 3 paper plates
- Black and red poster paint
- Paintbrushes
- Scissors
- Glue
- Hole punch
- Split pin
- Black marker/felt pen
- Pair of googley eyes
- 1 black pipe cleaner
Pin How to Make a Paper Plate Ladybird for Later!
How To Draw A Cartoon Ladybug
FAQ
What turns into a ladybird?
Ladybirds lay eggs on plants, usually near aphids or similar infestations. Baby ladybirds are called larvae – they hatch from eggs after 3-4 days. Larvae turn into adult ladybirds after about 3 weeks. Ladybird habitats provide refuge all year round.
What makes a ladybird?
Most ladybirds have oval, dome-shaped bodies with six short legs. Depending on the species, they can have spots, stripes or no markings at all. Seven-spotted ladybugs are red (or sometimes orange) with three spots on each side and one in the middle. Their head is black with white patches on either side.
How do you make a ladybird craft?
Super easy! If you have an old collection of CDs or DVDs, they’ll be perfect for a ladybird craft. Paint them black with acrylic paint, use red construction paper to trace kids hands for the ladybird wings and attach with glue. Make antennae with black construction paper and glue on.
How do you make a ladybird body?
Another handprint craft makes a great body for the ladybird with the fingers close together rather than splayed apart. You can get creative with painting the background of the paper before using the hand stamp, and then continuing painting the spots, head, face and anything else. Very creative!
Can kids make a paper Ladybug craft?
This Paper Ladybug Craft by Mombrite comes with a printable template to make the craft easy for kids of all ages. Kids can either color in the pieces, or if you’re in a time crunch, you can print the pieces on red and black paper and then let the kids assemble their bugs.
How do you make a Ladybird on a toilet paper roll?
Make a simple card stock ladybird and attach to the toilet paper roll. Glut long strips of green tissue paper to the bottom of the roll and you’re ready to hang this awesome craft! Ladybirds can come in various colours with these refrigerator magnets that kids will enjoy making. Acrylic paint works best for this project.
Can you make a ladybug with tissue paper?
Use strips of tissue paper (or tissue paper squares, which you can find in craft stores) to make this colorful Decoupage Paper Plate Ladybug from Crafts by Amanda. It looks like stained glass and is such a fun take on the traditional ladybug craft. Get More Details! Rock painting is a fun craft the whole family can do together.
What are 20 Ladybird crafts?
These 20 ladybird crafts range from using construction paper, rocks and golf balls to using recycled household items as well as fingerprints and hand stamps. You can even go beyond the traditional red and black theme to create multi-colored ladybirds that brighten up any decor with their adorable dotted wings.