By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer
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What happened to spring?
Summer officially starts June 21, but the weather in Northeast Ohio suddenly went from cold and rainy to hot and steamy in just a few hours.
So much so, some days it was like living in the tropics.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Water, last month was the wettest May on record in this area.
We had so much rain mosquito larvae was washed away.
But guess what? There are still plenty of those stinging insects out there waiting to make a meal out of you.
Just in time to usher out one season and welcome the next, I made a whimsical spring butterfly from Jenny Mueller and published in the online edition Summer Crafts for Kids eBook from Fave Crafts. Online instructions are at http://www.favecrafts.com/Crafting-with-Kids/Spring-Butterfly.
Supplies you will need:
• Paper towel tube.
• Construction paper.
• Two 10 mm wiggle eyes.
• Curling ribbon.
• Fishing line, thread or clear plastic lacing.
• Chenille stem.
• Black marking pen.
• Glue dots or tacky glue.
• Ruler.
• Tape.
• Hole punch.
• Scissors.
Cut the paper towel tube to measure 81/2-inches in length. The easiest way to do this is to mark the required length in several places around the tube. Individually cut slits up to the marks from the end you will not use so you can remove the excess cardboard without flattening the tube as you cut it.
Cut a piece of colored construction paper 51/2-inches by 81/2-inches. Wrap it around the tube and attach with glue dots or tacky glue.
Cut wings out of a different color of construction paper than you used for the tube. To make sure they are the same size and shape, fold the sheet in half and draw the shape from the fold outward. Connect the wings at the fold to the back of the tube where the construction paper meets what you used to cover the butterfly’s body. Use another color paper to make spots for the wings. Glue to the wings.
Glue eyes to the top of the tube, about 3 inches from the top end.
Cut a chenille stem in half, curl one end on each and tape to the inside of the tube above the eyes for antennae.
Punch two holes at the top on either side of the tube. Thread string, fishing line or clear lacing through the holes and knot the ends together.
Cut four different colors of curling ribbon into 30-inch lengths and use the scissors to curl the ribbon. Tape to the back on the inside of the tube at the bottom.
Use a black marking pen to draw a butterfly’s mouth below the eyes.
Kathy Antoniotti writes a craft column for the Beacon Journal. If you have a craft idea or question, contact Kathy Antoniotti, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron OH 44309-0640; 330-996-3565; or via email at kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com.