Make an Awesome Dragonfly Ornament

I came across this craft tutorial ages ago and bookmarked it. Then, like the majority of my bookmarks I forgot all about it. Bookmarks… where ideas go to die.

But the other day we were trimming the maple tree in our yard and as the maple keys fluttered into my hair like weird little bats I put aside the creepiness and remembered the awesomeness of this:

Super cool. Right?

Of course the bookmark was buried so I “winged” it. But for real instructions you can check out the link. For my lackadaisical instructions (without photos cause my camera is broke and my webcam sucks), read on.

Step 1: This is totally the hardest part. Or maybe not. It was for me cause I have whiny kids. Plus, on cold days, my ass likes to be plonked in front of my laptop, blanket-wrapped. And on warm days it likes to be plonked in front of my laptop sans blanket. But I remember liking walking in the woods. Before I had kids, that is.

Anyway you’re going to have to bundle the little buggers up and go for a walk. Near some trees. Doesn’t have to be woods, but trees are neccessary. For each dragonfly you need two maple keys and one twig. Twigs with the little separation at the end where they’re budding are best. Bring a bag. Bring two. Cause your kids are going to want to collect everything except what you actually need. You know, unless you have kids that follow directions.

Step 2: Go home. Drink hot chocolate. Realise you’re short on craft supplies. Bundle the little chocolate-smeared devils again and head to Walmart. You want to buy craft glue – I used Mod Podge – and glitter (I know: HERPES!) and small googly eyes or sticky gems. Also, if you don’t have a glue gun or glue sticks for your glue gun, try to remember that now so you don’t need to make a second trip. That’s totally what I did.

Step 3. Hot glue + two maple keys + one twig. It’s actually quite simple. And trust me on this, once you burn one finger tip just keep using that finger to hold the keys down, cause otherwise you’ll have all your fingers burned and one bad one is better than four pretty bad ones.

Step 4: Hand ‘em over to the kids. Let ‘em whack on glue and glitter. If you have a large plastic bubble, put them in it so the glitter doesn’t spread through your house.

Step 5: Stick on “eyes.”

Step 6: Slip some kahlua in your cold hot chocolate. Nuke it. Pat yourself on the back. You did crafts! Natural crunchy-granola mom crafts! You are awesome!