We don’t have lightning bugs here. I have lived here 12 years and have seen them only a handful of times while on vacation elsewhere in the state, yet growing up in the north we had tons of them. I have vivid memories of laying in the grass and watching the bugs blink in the fields and marveling at their brightness, and this Memorial Day I wanted to share some of that with my kids. However, seeing that I couldn’t think of anywhere to take them where they would experience the same sort of event, I decided we should make our own memories in a different way.
First I went out and bought some glow-in-the-dark paint, and then I attacked our art supply closet. I found glass jars, paint brushes, paper clips, and a pencil; everything we needed!
I explained to the kids (and The Daddy who joined in on the fun) that we were going to make ‘dots’ on the outside of the jars to represent the fireflies, and that hopefully they would glow in the dark just like the real things.
The Older added the paint using the handle of the brush, and The Younger used a pencil eraser. I started out using an unfolded paperclip, but I got tired of that quickly because it took forever. Patience is not my thing!
As usual, once we got going, the project changed. The Older decided to paint a moon and stars on his jar, and The Younger wanted to pain inside her jar. The Daddy didn’t keep to the guidelines at all, and he actually painted portraits of us…But whatever. Who am I to squelch creativity?
Here they are, finished and waiting to dry. As you can see, they all came out differently, and I loved that.
Although it didn’t turn out quite the way I wanted (I still have to figure out how to get the paint to glow brighter), we had a great time. Plus, I now want to try something else with them: Painting the entire jar, letting it dry, and then scratching out pictures/stars and see what we create 
Such a fun idea! I like how unique each one is.
I love them too!
Seriously?!?! What a GREAT idea! We were just looking at the lightning bugs this week and thinking how even as adults we are amazed by theme! I think I might just do this craft for myself!
Warmest regards,
Joy
http://www.PardonMyPoppet.com
If you do, let me know how it turns out. My kids are thrilled with them, and they sit looking at them every night
So cute! I just asked my husband the other day if he remembered catching firefly’s as a kid. I swear there were more around back then.
I was shocked when I realized my kids had never seen a live one! I’m hoping to change that this summer.
What a wonderful project. I find that the best part of life is the part you don’t plan or expect.
In this family, there is a lot of that, LOL! It goes against my nature, so I’ve had to work hard at being ‘okay’ with the changes