Glow-in-the-Dark Firefly Jar

We're very fortunate to live in an area of the country where lightning bugs are a fun part of Summer evenings.  I have so many childhood memories of running around in the backyard after dark collecting fireflies in a jar and I'm so glad that my kids get the chance to do the same thing now. 

Unfortunately, we often have problems at the end of the evening when they have a jar full of fireflies and it's bedtime.  They don't want to part with their glowing, flickering jars of light, but I don't really want a jar full of bugs in the house (especially when it'll be a jar full of dead bugs by morning).  When I came across these cool, glowing jars on Pinterest, I had an a-ha moment that would solve our problems.  I made a jar that would continue glowing even after we let the bugs free and came inside.

By using glow-in-the-dark paint, painted fireflies "glow" with the lights out!

Here's what I did:

1.  Gather your supplies ~ glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint, a sharpie and a jar with holes in the lid ( I used a plastic jar so I didn't have to worry about it breaking and drilled small holes in the lid)

My jar was from a 40oz container of peanut butter

2.  Paint small ovals on the INSIDE of your jar using the glow-in-the-dark paint.  Add a second coat if it needs more coverage.

3.  Using your Sharpie, add the lightning bugs' antennae and wings on the OUTSIDE of the jar.  

4.  That's it!!  On the next nice evening, take your jar outside and fill it with flickering fireflies.  When it's bedtime, let the real fireflies loose and bring your jar inside.  We put ours near a bright light while we brush our teeth, then put it next to our beds to watch the glowing lights as we fall asleep.

It was so simple and has worked great for us!

Flickering over to: 

Smilemonsters 
Katie's Nesting Spot 
Glue Sticks
Tatertots and Jello 
Creative Jewish Mom 
I heart Nap Time 
C.R.A.F.T. 
The Girl Creative 
Craft-O-Maniac 
Beneath the Rowan Tree
Homemaker on a Dime 
Making the World Cuter 
Skip to My Lou 
Confessions of a Stay at Home Mom 
Design Dazzle