Going Buggy with the Crafts at Girls Camp

Attic Gal Rachelle says:

I got to be the gal in charge of the crafts at our church's girls camp a few weeks ago. That meant I got to spend a week up in the beautiful mountains, instead of in the sweltering desert heat, with a bunch of darling girls who just load on the hugs and complements and happy vibes. How could I say no?

The theme this year was B.U.G.S (which stood for Bringing Upright Girls to the Savior) and so everything at camp had something to do with bugs. I had fun trying to come up with some bug-themed crafts that the girls would have a ball with.

First, being the Stampinnut that I am, I decided to have a card making table out at all times so that they could make cards whenever they had some free time. I had all kinds of bug stamps and bug punches, and bug papers for them to play with. There are mailboxes at camp, so the girls really enjoyed making cards for their friends and leaders. I cut and folded an entire ream of white card stock into blank cards, and they used every last one of them.

Another craft that was a huge hit were the fabric flowers that I love so much! I had a ton of fabric scraps and big buttons, and the girls had so much fun picking out fabric, running them through the Big Shot with the huge flower die, and then sewing them together. They were very creative, and there were some fabulous flowers blooming all over camp to attract all those bugs!

Another project that I came up with for the girls were washer necklaces. The girls could stamp on them with StazOn, or hammer their name into them with the iron letter stamps, or both. Then they hung them them on narrow ribbon and slipped a silver bead on them. They were a real hit with the girls.

Finally I came up with a whole bunch of fun bug magnets for the girls to make - butterflies, dragonflies, grasshoppers, ladybugs, and worms.

We made them out of everything from mini clothespins, glass beads, and beads, to pearl pins, paper, and wire. I went a little crazy. I just kept thinking of other bugs we could make! Someone call the exterminator!!!

Here is how we made the easiest of them, the glass button butterfly magnets. Punch the images from card stock with a 1 inch round punch. Then set it on the table, face up. Put a nice pea-sized glob of E6000 on the flat side of the glass and press it down firmly onto the picture until you can see that all of the glue has spread to the edge. Turn it over and let it dry. Then use the same glue to add a round magnet to the back. Done. Very easy!

You can also punch your circles out of decorative paper, or even small photographs. Or, you can use the smaller glass stones, and glue thumb tacks on the back instead to make decorative tacks. The possibilities are endless!

I know I went a bit buggy with the crafts at girls camp. It was a ton of work, and I don't know if I will do it again, but I know the girls, and leaders, for that matter, had a great time making all of these fun buggy projects!