How to Make a Love Bug Valentine

This little love bug Valentine is sure to melt the heart of its recipients. Children and adults alike will love receiving this bug from one of their favorite kiddos. These bugs are quick to make and are easy enough for most children to make on their own.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Hole punch
• Black craft foam
• White craft foam
• Pink craft foam
• Craft glue
• Three pipe cleaners per bug
• Fine tipped permanent marker

1. Gather supplies--enough for each Valentine you are making. Make the first Valentine entirely, and then use it as an example for your child to make the rest of the bugs.
2. Use a hole punch to punch two circles from the black foam. Cut two slightly bigger circles from white foam. Glue the pieces together and set them aside to dry.
3. Make the legs by tightly wrapping three pipe cleaners around one end of a package of smarties. Separate the pipe cleaners and bend knee and foot joints into the legs.
4. Make wings by tracing two hearts, points together, on the pink foam. The wings should measure approximately five inches across. Punch a hole in the middle of the hearts. Make four small cuts around the hole.
5. Write a message on the back of the wings with a permanent marker. Slide the wings on the smarties so that the legs are in the front of the wings.
6. Use tacky glue to glue the eyes in place on the pipe cleaners. Set each complete bug aside to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Use googly eyes instead of foam eyes.
• Write clever phrases such as "Will you Bee my Valentine," "You've been bitten by the love bug" or "Hope I'm not buggin ya, will you be my Valentine?"
• Small children may have difficulty cutting the heart shapes from the craft foam.