Quick Recycling Craft: Adorable Ladybugs made from Plastic Spoons

I’ve loved ladybugs since I was a little girl; I think these pretty little beetles are one of the most loved insect species. Despite the nickname, though, the entire ladybug population does not exist purely as ladies, there are males out there, too. There’s an interesting legend behind the “lady” part. It is said that hundreds of years ago, farmers’ crops were being devoured and ruined by pests, so they prayed to the Virgin Mary to ask for help. Apparently, their prayers were answered with a swarm of these spotted beetles that ate the pests and ultimately saved the crops. Mary (aka Our Lady) has always been depicted as wearing a red cloak, so since these savior beetles wore her same color, the farmers were convinced they were sent by her. “The beetles of Our Lady” eventually became “Lady beetles” and then Ladybugs. It’s a cute story.

But I digress…. Let’s learn how to make these cuties!

You’ll need:

• Side-cutting pliers
• Hot glue gun
• Black paint
• Two elongated black beads
• Three plastic spoons – one black and two red (or if you already have white spoons lying around, simply paint them or color them with permanent markers)

Instructions:

• Use the pliers to cut off the arm part of each spoon
• Turn the spoons upside-down
• Apply some glue to either side of the black spoon and attach the red spoons to make the slightly-opened wings
• Glue the beads to either side of the “head” for the antennae
• Use the paint to make little spots on the wings

This is a really fun and cute little craft to get the kids involved. You can use these to decorate your potted plants or walls in the little ones’ bedrooms or playrooms. I’d actually even use them as name tags when having dinner outside!

Simple, quick, easy, and you get to make something out of what would otherwise be trash. The project gallery is available here. Tutorial video by Recycled Bottles Crafts Youtuber.