In + Around the RGV

Chasing Fireflies Craft – Holding on to Summer

September 7, 2015

School has started and summer is officially over, but I’m just not ready to let go of that easy breezy feeling that comes with this season.

You know what I mean; the feeling that lingers after a day spent warming in the sun, floating aimlessly in the pool and running barefoot through the cool grass on a late balmy summer night. If I could bottle THAT feeling I would. Alas, I cannot and that’s okay – because once fall hits us here in the RGV I’m all over it like bees on honey 🙂

But not yet…I just want my daughter and I to be chasing fireflies a little bit longer and preferably before bed time 🙂 Luckily, my friend introduced me to a craft that will keep those warm memories burning bright for a little while longer – a firefly jar 🙂

Supplies for Chasing Fireflies Craft

You will need:

Mason jar
Tulip glow in the dark paint
Elmer’s Craft Bond glue
Glitter
Paint brushes (various sizes)
String
Bells

Jazz up that jar

First, pour your paints onto a paper plate.

Next, remove the lid of the Mason jar.

Then, use the brushes to dot the glow in the dark paint on the inside of the jar in a random pattern from the bottom of the jar to the top. The dots of paint represent the fireflies and do not need to be the same size, so feel free to switch up brushes 🙂

Once you’re done with the inside of the jar and you feel like going the extra mile you can adorn the exterior by stringing some jingle bells onto colored string and tying it around the neck of the jar.

Finally, allow your open jar to dry, preferably outside in the sun or under a strong light source (the light will “charge” your fireflies).

Putting on the glitz on the lid

While your jar full of “fireflies” is drying spread a liberal amount of craft bond glue on top of the lid and sprinkle liberally with the glitter of your child’s choosing. Set aside to dry.

Once everything is dry and your paint dots, or “fireflies” have charged up you can assemble everything back together and place it on your child’s nightstand at bedtime. My daughter looks forward to lights out so she can admire the glowing “fireflies” in her jar as she falls asleep and hopefully dreams of all things summer for just a bit longer 🙂