Make It: Summer Bug Catcher

I'm not actually a fan of catching bugs. Creepy, crawly things gross me out. After moving from California to Texas a few years ago, my bug aversion has gotten worse. The bugs here in Texas are the size of birds, and are nasty things in the form of fire ants and scorpions - yuck.

But my kids like bugs and the summer-time is the perfect time to catch them. I whipped up this cheap and easy bug catcher for my girls, and they spent the whole afternoon hunting for bugs. Older kids (aprox. age 6-9, depending on hand-eye coordination skills) will be able to sew their own - with a little help - but younger kids will need Mom to do it!

Materials:

1 piece of plastic canvas measuring 13.5 x 10.5 (about $ .30 at a craft/fabric store)

yarn

tapestry needle (plastic if your child is doing the sewing) or needle with large hole for yarn

button for the door knob (we used a butterfly button)

scissors

Step 1: Cut plastic canvas

Measurements will be aprox:
-3.5 x 5.25 for 4 sides
- 5.25 x 5.25 for top and bottom
- 2.75 x 3.75 - for door

*make the door cut-out (on the top square) smaller than the door.


Step 2: Sew door over the hole on the top square along one side.

Step 3: Sew all of the sides to the bottom square
Step 4: Sew up the sides to make the bottom of the box

Step 5: Sew the top to the box and snip all the loose strings. Last, sew button to the door, to make a knob for little fingers.


Step 6: hand box over to lil' bug-lover and let him/her fill it with grass and flowers




My kids didn't catch a single bug. But they certainly had a great time!

Enjoy!

xoxo,