Glow-in-the-Dark Fireflies
These Glow-in-the-Dark Fireflies are a charming and easy upcycled craft using plastic bottles, glow sticks or tea lights, and a bit of imagination. Perfect for glow parties, campouts, or creative nighttime décor!
Yield: 1 firefly
Cost: 2
Equipment
- scissors
- glue gun or tape
- paintbrush (optional)
Materials
- 1 clear plastic bottle (small water bottle works best)
- 1 glow stick or battery-powered tea light
- black construction paper or foam sheet
- pipe cleaners
- googly eyes
- tape or hot glue
- scissors
- acrylic paint (optional for decorating)
- glitter or stickers (optional)
Instructions
- Lay out all materials on a clean workspace and prepare glue or tape for assembly.
- Remove labels and clean the bottle. Let it dry completely so it’s clear and residue-free.
- (Optional) Paint the bottle with designs and let it dry before moving to the next step.
- Activate and drop the glow stick (or turn on the tea light) and place it inside the bottle to create the glow belly.
- Cut wing and head shapes from paper or foam. Customize them however you like!
- Glue or tape the head and wings onto the bottle’s exterior securely.
- Twist pipe cleaners into spirals for antennae and glue or tape them to the head. Add googly eyes for personality.
- (Optional) Decorate with glitter, stickers, or paint for extra flair.
- Turn off the lights and enjoy the glowing magic of your handmade firefly!
Notes
Use battery-powered tea lights for reusable fireflies. Supervise small children with glow sticks. Hot glue works better for long-term adhesion, but tape can be used for quick crafting. Reuse the body by swapping the light inside as needed!