Adorable Upcycled CD Ladybug Easy Kids Craft

Do you love the cute little black and red ladybugs?  I adore those little critters and so this idea came to mind when trying to use up old CDs.  Making a precious little upcycled CD ladybug is the perfect addition to your garden or to your home.  Grab supplies and get started making your own today!

Ladybug Garden Decoration

I love being able to upcycle old CDs and DVDs. There are so many things that can be created with them. This ladybug is just one of many adorable ideas that is great for spring and summer.  My favorite part of this project is that it is super kid-friendly and a perfect idea for a group to make.  

If you like ladybugs as much as I do, then you will LOVE some of our other ladybug projects.  My favorite is probably how to make the little hand-painted ladybug stones, but you can also make a cute little upcycled flower pot ladybug or even this adorable tin can ladybug organizer.  Of course, the big upcycled bowl ladybug idea is precious and great for party decor!

How do I Make This Easier For Little Kids to Make? 

The only part of this that might be a challenge with younger kids is the spray paint.  There are a few ways you can approach this to make it a bit easier for you and the kids to create this craft. 

• Spray all of the CDs ahead of time and then present to the kids with the rest of the supplies to assemble. 
• Cut out craft paper, foam paper, or felt in the same size as the CD and have kids glue it into place. 
• Let kids use regular craft paint or markers to color in the CD to be red all over. 

What Can I Use to Create the Ladybug Look?

Polka dots are the key to making anything look like a ladybug.  Since no two bugs are the same, it’s super easy to customize yours with your own style.  I love this for kids because it doesn’t have to be exact.  That is especially handy with the little ones how may still be working on their hand and eye coordination and motor skills. Below are some ideas to create the dotted look. 

• Black marker (what we used)
• Bingo markers
• Round stickers
• Felt rounds
• Craft foam rounds
• Construction or craft paper rounds

You don’t have to make them black, but that is the traditional look.  So, cutting these out or using what you have that is black works great.  For those items like the felt, foam, or paper that don’t happen to have glue or backing that sticks, a bit of craft glue is great for kids or hot glue for adults. 

Where Should I Display My Ladybug? 

Wherever you want to put this, it will look great!  I like the idea of placing them on my deck or around my flower beds.  They can easily tuck into the mulch in my garden or could be used on the picnic table as a cute little “table runner” type decoration.  You can also use them to add to a garden stake and place them in the ground or around the flower beds as a taller decoration. 

Inside the house, they can lay flat on counters or tables, but I love the idea of hanging them on the wall of a kid’s room.  Imagine adding hooks in a fun pattern on a wall and painting your kid’s name in the middle, then surrounding it with these little homemade ladybugs!  Super cute idea!

Can I Hang This in the Garden? 

You can absolutely hang this in the garden. You can attach the string with hot glue or another strong glue. You could also use a metal punch and create a hole and then tie the string through it.

A fishing line is a great choice to string through and hang this from railings, a pergola, or decking.  Just like mentioned above, there are tons of ways to decorate with your little ladybug.  This is just one of them!

What All Can I Use for Ladybug Eyes? 

I grabbed ready-made googly eyes I already had on hand for my ladybug.  These work great, are affordable, and easy to find.  You can use other items you may have on hand to create your own unique eyes.  White paper pieces with black circles added to the center work great.  So do stickers or paint on the eyes. 

Go a bit different and stack together painted bottle caps and buttons so they look like eyes for a 3-dimensional look.  Whatever you choose, just make sure they are noticeable from a distance so it’s obviously a ladybug. 

Supplies Needed

How to Make a Ladybug from an Old CD

Place a CD onto a piece of newspaper or paper, and spray paint one side red then set aside to dry.  

Once dry, use a second CD placed over the bottom edge of the painted one to draw a curved line. 

Fill in the lined area with a black marker. 

Use the middle of a CD as a template to trace circles all over the red area to create ladybug spots. 

Glue googly eyes onto the main black area of the CD. 

Display or prop in your garden. 

More Upcycled CD Crafts

If you liked this idea to take an old CD and turn it into something pretty, then I know you will love my past CD projects.  I love using old scratched ones to be a base of a craft.  They are free (if already on hand), and super versatile.  Check out some of my favorite ideas below and make sure you bookmark them to use for your next craft day! 

These are the perfect decorations for kids’ rooms or birthday parties. 

Add them to your flower beds or mulch around your garden. 

They can be hung or displayed on a garden stake or the edges of the porch railing.