Let’s make bug art today! We are painting bugs with a simple art technique for kids that uses a wine cork with paint as a stamp and then details are added to make the painted stamps look like bugs, insects, and creepy crawlies! All you need are wine corks, acrylic paint, and markers along with a little bug imagination! This easy bug painting idea works great at home or in the classroom.

Easy Bug Painting Idea for Kids

Have you tried wine cork painting with your kids? This is a fun easy art activity for kids of all ages. Make all kinds of bugs and creepy crawlies using wine corks, paint, and a marker.

Related: More bug crafts

How many different bugs can you make? Pair this art project with a study unit about bugs and insects. Read books about them, study them outdoors, and make fun food to enjoy too.

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How to make bug and insect cork painting

We are going to use corks from wine bottles dipped into acrylic paint to make bugs, insects, and creepy crawlies.

Supplies needed to make wine cork insect art

• Wine corks – assorted sizes
• Acrylic paint – assorted colors
• Paper or card stock
• Marker
• Paper plate

Instructions for making wine cork insect art

Step 1

Pour a little acrylic paint onto a paper plate. Dip the end of the cork into the paint and stamp it on the paper. Continue dipping and stamping just like the caterpillar (pictured above) until you’ve created the main body part for your bug or insect.

Cork art craft tip: You can mix colors, just like we did, by adding more colors to the paper plate and mixing them together just a little bit with the cork.

Step 2

We’ve already shown you what happens when you mix paint colors together. Now, try using corks of different sizes to paint things like butterfly wings or add a smaller head to a beetle’s body. Once you’ve stamped all of the main body parts or wings for your bugs, set your paintings aside to dry.

Step 3

Use a marker to add eyes, legs, feelers, wings, and more to each of your painted spots. We even added a web for our spiders to hang from.

Our finished bug and insect cork painting

Use a shaped paper punch to cut out your bugs and insects. Attach them to colored pieces of cardstock to make gift tags for presents. Or, turn the tags over to make a matching game for kids to play.

More bugs and insects you can make:

• Dragonflies
• Assorted beetles
• Flies
• Fireflies
• Ants
• Butterflies – see more butterfly painting ideas

More Bug Painting Ideas Using Corks

Now that you know you can do a painting craft with corks and make cute little bugs, you can pair the bug paintings with different books. So you’ll have craft and story time!

• Paint caterpillars to go along with The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
• Use your corks and paint bees to go with the book I Am A Bee.
• Spiders don’t have to be scary. Take your paint and corks and paint spiders to alongside with Charlotte’s Web.

This bug painting craft isn’t just easy and fun to do, but you can make it educational too! It’s also great to go alongside any science curriculum as well.

More bug and insect fun from Kids Activities Blog

• Insects coloring pages
• 7 (non-icky) ways to learn about bugs
• Spider coloring pages
• Easy egg carton caterpillar craft
• Ladybug coloring pages
• 20 Bug Crafts and Snacks
• Check out these great ideas to paint rocks or these fun puffy paint ideas too!
• Take a look at these cork diy crafts for kids! They’re so cute.
• Check out these cute bug coloring pages.

Have you made cork painting projects with your kids? How did they turn out?

Pssst… Want to know how to make paint at home? We can show you!