I am really into recycling at the moment and a month or so ago I attended an event in London where I got a goodie bag. The hype of the movie is over and I was left with 4 badges that could have easily ended up thrown away. Spring is here and so I decided to try and recycle and make some recycled badge bug craft. I hope you like them.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Bug Makeover Magic: Old name badges or buttons get a fun second life as quirky little bugs!
- Great for Teaching Upcycling: A fun way to show kids how to reuse items instead of tossing them away.
- Clip-On Fun: Add magnets or clips on the back so kids can decorate lockers, fridges, or backpacks!
🎨 Supplies Needed
RELATED POST: EASY PRESCHOOL LADYBUG CRAFT
🖌️ How To Make This Bug Craft
- Step 1: Begin my tearing the covers from the old badges.
- Step 2: Once the badges are clear begin painting the outline of your first bug.
- Step 3: Once the ladybug outline is done paint yellow stripes on the next badge for the bumble bee and purple wings for a butterfly.
- Step 4: You can choose the colours you wish to use, these are just examples.
- Step 5: The final bug I chose to paint was a blue beetle. Once the base layers were painted I was ready to add more detail.
- Step 6: Next, I added black stripes to the bee, a black head to the bee and ladybug and black dots to the ladybug. In the UK we call it a ladybird but as I grew up in New Zealand I like to call it a Ladybug.
- Step 7: Next, I worked on adding detail to the butterfly and blue beetle. Once the bugs were painted I was able to add white eyes to all the bugs.
- Step 8: I used a white posca paint pen to paint on eyes. Make sure the first layer of paint is dry before you add eyes or you may end up with funny looking eyes.
- Step 9: Finally, I added black dots to give the bugs character, adding more details and adding finishing touches.
I wasn't too thrilled with the butterfly but this is trial and error and it's the process that counts not the end product.
It's a great craft idea for kids and I'm sure they will love to make these badge bugs.
So it's that simple, if you don't have posca paint pens you can use ordinary acrylic paint and a paintbrush. Enjoy.
Check Out More Fun Kids Craft Ideas Here
💡 Pro Tip: Create a 'sensory bug' by combining various textured materials on one badge, turning the craft into a tactile learning tool for children to explore and discuss.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Texture Exploration: Encourage children to feel the different surfaces of the badges before decorating, promoting sensory awareness and tactile discrimination.
- Material Variety: Introduce various materials like felt, foam, or textured paper for decorating the bugs, allowing kids to experience diverse tactile sensations.
- Sensory Descriptions: Ask children to describe how each material feels (e.g., smooth, rough, bumpy), enhancing their vocabulary and sensory processing skills.
- Layering Techniques: Guide kids to layer materials, such as placing soft felt over hard plastic, to create contrasting textures and deepen sensory experiences.
- Interactive Elements: Include movable parts like wiggly eyes and flappable wings to effectively engage touch and fine motor skills during play.
- Temperature Sensitivity: Discuss how different materials feel in terms of temperature (e.g., metal feels cold, felt feels warm), fostering environmental sensory connections.
💭 FAQs
Using irregular badge shapes helps them adapt their designs creatively. They learn to work with what’s available, not just perfect forms.
Children begin to tackle design challenges without strict guidelines. Learning to adapt easily encourages creativity when materials change.
Consider adjusting the placement of eyes, wings, or legs based on the available space. This approach helps adapt ideas to fit uneven layouts.
By converting old badges into colorful bugs, children learn how everyday items can be repurposed, fostering creativity and environmental consciousness.
🖌️ Related Crafts
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Recycled Badge Bug Craft
Materials
- Old badges
- Posca Paint Pens
Instructions
- Begin by tearing the covers from the old badges. Once the badges are clear begin painting the outline of your first bug.
- Once the ladybug outline is done paint yellow stripes on the next badge for the bumble bee and purple wings for a butterfly.
- You can choose the colours you wish to use, these are just examples.
- The final bug I chose to paint was a blue beetle. Once the base layers were painted I was ready to add more detail.
- Next, I added black stripes to the bee, a black head to the bee and ladybug and black dots to the ladybug.
- In the UK we call it a ladybird but as I grew up in New Zealand I like to call it a Ladybug.
- Next, I worked on adding detail to the butterfly and blue beetle.
- Once the bugs were painted I was able to add white eyes to all the bugs.
- I used a white posca paint pen to paint on eyes.
- Make sure the first layer of paint is dry before you add eyes or you may end up with funny looking eyes.
- Finally, I added black dots to give the bugs character, adding more details, and adding finishing touches.
- I wasn’t too thrilled with the butterfly but this is trial and error and it’s the process that counts not the end product.
- It’s a great craft idea for kids and I’m sure they will love to make these badge bugs.
- So it’s that simple if you don’t have posca paint pens you can use ordinary acrylic paint and a paintbrush.
- Enjoy.
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