With Summer nearly here, we have been looking towards our garden for inspiration for our craft projects. I want you to do 50 crafts before you turn 10. As part of my challenge, we have been making a lot of different animal crafts out of paper plates. Oliver still loves the Bumble Bee we made out of paper plates from a few years ago, so we made a Paper Plate Ladybird this time.
The beauty of paper plate crafts, is they require very little in the way of materials. Let’s face it, most of us still have a few extra paper plates from the last kids’ party. With a little paint, you can make anything. well almost.
So, if you want to know how we made our Paper Plate Ladybird, keep reading or save this page for later!
Ladybirds also known as ladybugs or lady beetles are familiar red insects with black spots that show up in gardens and backyards. Their bright colors and unique markings make them a popular subject for kids’ craft projects. Read on to discover over 25 adorable ladybird craft ideas!
Why Make Ladybird Crafts?
Crafting ladybirds with your kids is a fun way to
- Learn about these helpful insects
- Celebrate the coming of spring
- Make cute critters for imaginative play
- Create homemade decorations and gifts
- Enjoy easy arts and crafts together
The projects below use common craft supplies like paper plates, pipe cleaners, pom poms, and googly eyes to transform ordinary materials into buzzing bugs. Most take only 10-30 minutes to complete.
Let’s get started making a cute collection of ladybird crafts!
Paper Plate Ladybird
Turn paper plates into colorful bugs with just a few supplies:
You’ll need:
- Paper plates
- Red and black paint
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Pipe cleaners
Instructions:
- Paint paper plate red and let dry completely
- Use black paint to add spots
- Glue on googly eyes
- Twist pipe cleaner into antennae and glue to head
Easy enough for even little kids to help make!
Clothespeg Ladybird
You’ll need:
- Wooden clothespegs
- Red foam or cardstock
- Black foam/cardstock
- Googly eyes
- Strong glue
Instructions:
- Cut wings and head shape from red foam
- Cut and glue black spots onto wings
- Glue wings and head to clothespeg
- Add googly eyes
Makes a cute critter kids can play with!
Egg Carton Ladybird
Upcycle egg cartons into this adorable ladybird craft:
You’ll need:
- Egg carton
- Red paint
- Black construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Scissors
Instructions:
- Paint egg carton red and let dry
- Cut wings and spots from black paper
- Glue wings and spots on side of carton
- Add googly eyes
- Draw mouth with marker
Such a fun recycled craft!
Coffee Filter Ladybird
You’ll need:
- Coffee filters
- Red and black paint
- Pipe cleaners
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint coffee filter red and let dry
- Cut out wing shapes from dry filter
- Paint black spots on wings
- Twist pipe cleaners into antennae
- Glue on eyes and antennae
These make great sun catchers!
Handprint Ladybird
You’ll need:
- Red and black paint
- Paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint child’s hand red and stamp onto paper
- Paint spots with thumbprints
- Cut out handprint
- Glue on googly eyes
Such a sweet homemade gift for grandparents!
Pompom Ladybird
You’ll need:
- Red pompom
- Mini googly eyes
- Black marker
- Glue dots
Instructions:
- Glue on googly eyes
- Use marker to draw spots and mouth
Easy, peasy ladybird craft for little kids!
Paper Bowl Ladybird
Make this cute paper bowl bug:
You’ll need:
- Paper bowl
- Red tissue paper
- Black construction paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Decoupage bowl with red tissue paper squares
- Cut wings and spots from black paper
- Glue wings and spots on bowl
- Add googly eyes
- Draw mouth
Tissue paper makes it look like stained glass!
Fingerprint Ladybirds
You’ll need:
- Red and black paint
- Paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Paint child’s fingertips red
- Stamp fingerprints onto paper for bodies
- Add black fingerprint spots
- Glue on googly eyes
- Draw mouths
Kids will love making ladybirds with their fingerprints!
Clothespin Bugs
More clothespin critter inspiration:
You’ll need:
- Clothespins
- Red pom poms
- Mini googly eyes
- Paint pens
- Strong glue
Instructions:
- Glue pom pom to clip end for body
- Add googly eyes
- Use paint pens to add spots and mouth
So cute lined up on a magnet strip!
Apple Stamp Ladybirds
Make printed ladybirds with apple stamps:
You’ll need:
- Red and black paint
- Apples cut in half
- Paper
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Instructions:
- Cut apples in half (sliced side down for stamp)
- Stamp paint in red and black onto paper
- Cut out stamped circles
- Add eyes and antennae
Such a clever stamping craft!
Printable Ladybirds
You’ll need:
- Ladybird template printed on cardstock
- Markers or crayons
- Scissors
- Pipe cleaners
- Glue
Instructions:
- Color in the template pieces
- Cut out the sections
- Glue together into a 3D bug
- Add curly pipe cleaner antennae
Print multiple copies for a whole swarm!
Make a Whole Ladybird Craft Collection!
Keep the creativity buzzing! Make a entire collection of ladybirds in different sizes and colors. Here are some more cute options:
- Use pink, yellow or orange paper instead of red
- Glue on rhinestones or washi tape accents
- Attach magnets and make fridge magnets
- Make giant poster-sized bugs for school
- Craft mini ladybirds for dollhouses
- Fold origami paper into ladybird shapes
You could even make a cute ladybird family with small and large sizes. Add trees, plants, and flowers to build a springtime nature scene. The crafting possibilities are endless!
Ladybird Craft Tips
Making amazing ladybird crafts with kids is easy and fun with just a few helpful tips:
-
Use heavy cardstock for pre-cut template pieces to make sturdier bugs.
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Allow painted and glued projects to dry completely between steps to avoid smudging.
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Apply a layer of clear glue over tissue paper or foam sheets for added durability.
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Use a hole punch to quickly cut uniform spots from black paper.
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Draw antennae, legs, and other details with permanent markers.
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Display finished ladybirds on windowsills, shelves, walls, or outdoors in the garden.
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Give ladybird crafts as handmade gifts for birthdays, holidays, and Mother’s Day.
More Fun Bug Crafts
Once you’ve mastered ladybirds, try making some other creepy crawly critters like these:
- Butterflies from coffee filters
- Bees with egg carton bodies
- Caterpillars made with pom poms
- Worms and spiders created with hands and feet
- Dragonflies made from clothespins
Crafting is an amazing way for kids to learn about insects and nature while expressing creativity. Grab your googly eyes and let the fun begin!
Make Ladybird Crafts for Endless Family Fun!
With a simple materials like paper plates, coffee filters, paint, and glue, you can easily turn ordinary household items into buzzing swarms of colorful ladybirds.
Follow the step-by-step instructions above to make over 25 different ladybug crafts with your kids. Just set out the supplies and let their imagination fly!
These hands-on projects help build fine motor skills and get kids excited about learning and exploring nature. Display your handmade insects around the home and garden for a fun decorative touch.
Make ladybird crafts for birthday parties, springtime, classroom gifts, or just for cute critter play at home. Crafting your own whimsical ladybugs has never been easier or more enjoyable!
Pin How to Make a Paper Plate Ladybird for Later!
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
How To Draw A Cartoon Ladybug
FAQ
What turns into a ladybird?
How to make a small ladybug?
How do you make a ladybird craft?
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. Awesome!
How do you make a ladybird body?
Half of an apple will be used as a stamp to make the ladybird body with red paint. Use a black marker to paint the dots. Green card stock provides the leaf. A pretty and fun project that the kids will enjoy! Coffee filters make excellent ladybirds because the body is already made for you!
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.
What to do with a ladybird?
Your little ladybird is ready. Play with it or use it as a prop while listening to a story “What the ladybird Heard”. This can also be used teach shapes – circle and semicircle to kids. Hope You find it interesting and super easy and super quick.
How do you make a ladybird craft from a jug?
Another lid craft can be made from juice and milk jug lids. Just keep saving the assortment of color lids so that you don’t have to paint them – just add dots and faces using acrylic paint. Add some wiggly eyes and you’re done. Super easy! If you have an old collection of CDs or DVDs, they’ll be perfect for a ladybird craft.
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.