Everything About Ladybugs!

This fun and really involved ladybug craft was kindly contributed by acmoore.com

Ladybug Garden Wreath
Designed By: Annabelle Keller

Supplies:

STYROFOAM* Brand Foam:
Wreath, 18″ x 2-1/2″ x 2″
Eggs, three each: 2″; 2-1/2″; 3″
Sheet, 1″ thick, large scrap

Other Materials:
Acrylic paints: red; black; bright green; white
Satin varnish
Gesso
Pre-mixed patching plaster
Green/white gingham fabric, 45″ wide, 1/2 yd.
Green chenille stem
Green ribbon, #40, 3 yds.
Artificial greenery, one each: ivy bush; white flower stem; forsythia stem
Wire: cloth-covered floral, 18″ length; black plastic-coated, 18- and 22-gauge, one package each
Floral “u” pins, two
Serrated knife
Candle stub or paraffin
Round pencil with new eraser
Yardstick, or ruler
Round toothpicks, 16
Paintbrushes: medium flat; small round
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Scissors
Wire cutters
Needlenose pliers
Awl, or metal skewer
Sandpaper: medium; very fine
Painter’s mask (to be worn while sanding plaster)
Low-temp glue gun and glue sticks
Thick, white craft glue

Directions:

1. Cut gingham fabric into nine 2″ x 45″ strips. Overlapping strips and using glue gun to secure beginning and end of each strip, spiral wrap strips around wreath to cover surface.

2. For hanger, push floral pins halfway into top back edge of wreath, so pins are vertical and 3″ apart. Insert chenille stem through pins; knot stem ends together. Adjust hanger so it does not show above wreath. Push pins firmly into wreath to secure hanger; use glue gun to apply layer of glue over floral pins.

3. Cut 12″ length from ribbon for tails. Fold remaining ribbon length into eight-loop bow with center knot. Secure center of tails to bow center with floral wire. Wire bow to wreath at 10 o’clock position.

4. Use wire cutters to remove stems from all greenery. Using photo as guide, arrange and glue greenery to wreath around bow.

To Make the Ladybugs

1. Wax serrated knife with candle stub or paraffin. Cut all eggs in half lengthwise; set aside one half of one small and one large egg for another project.

2. Insert toothpick into flat side (bottom) of each half-egg body. Holding toothpick, use fingers to coat rounded surface of body with plaster. Push toothpicks into scrap foam; let dry.

3. Sand bug bodies first with medium, then very fine, sandpaper. Recoat, let dry, and sand again. Repeat as needed until completely smooth surface is achieved.

4. Apply one coat gesso to all surfaces of each bug, let dry, then sand with very fine sandpaper. Repeat.

5. Use flat brush to paint bugs red; let dry. Apply second coat; let dry. Using photo as guide, use round brush to paint black head and wing separation line; use round brush handle to paint black wing dots. Let dry.

6. For large bugs, use pencil eraser to paint bright green dots for eyes; use round brush handle to add white highlight dots to centers. For medium and small bugs, use brush handle for eyes and toothpick for highlight dots. Let dry.

7. Apply three coats varnish to each bug; let dry between coats. Remove toothpicks.

8. For antennae, cut the following from 22-gauge black wire: ten 1-1/2″ lengths (small bugs); twelve 2″ lengths (medium bugs); ten 2-1/2″ lengths (large bugs). Use pliers to bend spiral into one end of each antenna. Use awl to poke two 1/4″-deep holes in top of each head, 1/8″ above bottom edge of body and 1/8″ apart. Use white glue to glue antennae into holes.

9. Using photo as guide, arrange ladybugs on wreath. Use glue gun to secure. For each “flying” bug desired, cut one 9″ length from 18-gauge black wire. Use awl to poke hole in wreath at desired location. Leaving 1″ straight wire tail, bend rest of wire length into three irregular loops. Use white glue to glue wire tail into hole in wreath. Glue opposite wire end into bottom of bug at desired angle; use glue gun to secure.