Firefly Craft that Glows

One of our favorite parts of summer is running around outside at dusk chasing after fireflies. To capture this we decided to do a firefly craft that really glows in the dark, just like the real thing! This bug craft is simple one, with only a few pieces, but it is very big on imagination. While we did it we talked about how we were using some glitter to make the wings sparkle just like a real lightning bug and about how fireflies blink in order to talk. Our preschool aged daughter loved this firefly craft and asked to do it again and again. The funniest part is that this is the only craft that we hang up in our closet!

What you'll need:

  • Craft foam
  • Firefly Template
  • Scissors
  • White Glue
  • Paint pens
  • Pipe cleaner
  • Tape
  • Glitter
  • Glow-in-the-dark paint
How to make your lightning bug craft:
  1. Print our template and cut the pieces out. Trace the wings onto one color of craft foam and the body onto a different color and cut the pieces out.
  2. Glue the body piece onto the wing piece.
  3. Flip the fire fly over. Cut two small pieces of pipe cleaner and tape them onto the back of the fire fly's head. (hint: taping pipe cleaners works better than glue!) Then flip the fire fly back over to decorate.
  4. Use the glow-in-the-dark paint and fill in the very bottom part of the fire fly's bottom.
  5. Squeeze some white glue onto the wings and use your finger to spread the glue around into a thin layer. Shake some glitter onto the wings to make them sparkle.
  6. Use a black paint pen to draw eyes and smile onto the head.
  7. Use other paint pens (all colors) to decorate the body of your bug!
  8. Expose the finished fire fly to light and then take him into a darkened room and watch him glow just like the real thing!
 firefly craft Finished firefly craft
firefly supplies Firefly craft supplies
lightning bug craft Firefly craft almost complete
glowing firefly craftTook this picture in the dark of it glowing