My girls have been fascinated with jellyfish since seeing hundreds of them washed up onto New Smyrna Beach last summer. Together we crafted a sting-free variety out of paper bowls, yarn and glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint. Would you like to learn how?
Materials
- heavy-weight paper bowls
- white yarn
- glow-in-the-dark acrylic paint (we used FolkArt and Martha Stewart brands)
- paint brushes and painting supplies
- scissors
- zipper sandwich bags
- skewer or sharp pencil
Directions
Paint the bowl inside and out. Use two or more coats of paint for a brighter “glow”.
![painting the bowl](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtYamzFSBlw/UWgXB5vKajI/AAAAAAAAERQ/dKTkQdCGUzQ/s1600/jellyfish+4.jpg)
For the tentacles, cut 10 – 12 pieces of yarn approximately 36 inches in length. Place them in a zipper sandwich bag with several squirts of glow paint and seal the bag.
![Yarn tentacles and paint in a zipper sandwich bag](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MgOF9yo8N2A/UWgXAS7QQYI/AAAAAAAAERE/wj8pTs8pgNk/s1600/jellyfish+2.jpg)
Squish! Squish! Squish! until the yarn is completely covered, adding more paint if necessary. If the paint is too thick, add a little water to the bag.
![Squishing the paint](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ImoButIuZF0/UWgW_J0xmFI/AAAAAAAAEQs/xLBdS0yoEqs/s1600/jellyfish+1.jpg)
Hang the yarn to dry.
![Yarn drying](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CkZWlC-x_A4/UWgXB2XsRFI/AAAAAAAAERU/6mD4160-ahE/s1600/jellyfish+3.jpg)
At the center of the bowl, punch two holes about 0.5 inch apart using a skewer or sharp pencil.
![Holes at the center of the bowl](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09qrruEUOAo/UWgXCO0v2UI/AAAAAAAAERc/GfovaOfnjOE/s1600/jellyfish+5.jpg)
Cut a piece of yarn approximately 40 inches long. Thread it through the two holes so that both ends come out the bottom of the bowl.
![Yarn threaded through holes](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yHJtIMv-G1Q/UWgXDWZoWJI/AAAAAAAAERk/X1Xrt04maYw/s1600/jellyfish+6.jpg)
From the inside of the bowl, pull the yarn up to form a small loop. Thread the tentacles through and roughly center them under the loop.
![Yarn tentacles threaded through loop](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DGlWD731jpE/UWgXD8iuI3I/AAAAAAAAER0/JmvvHPvrr0E/s1600/jellyfish+7.jpg)
Flip the bowl, pull the yarn taut and tie a double knot.
![Double knot](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eeYyqF0vCUE/UWgXEQMHDfI/AAAAAAAAER8/3koFgmtcTEE/s1600/jellyfish+9.jpg)
Back on the inside, grasp the tentacles as one bunch and tie a single knot.
![Single knot](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gpTs6M2CIAQ/UWgW_VJWIiI/AAAAAAAAEQ4/zUZSD5xuS2I/s1600/jellyfish+10.jpg)
The frilly appendages flanking the mouths of some types of jellyfish are called oral arms. To recreate these, unravel a few pieces of yarn that hang close to the center of the bunch.
![Unraveled yarn](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16j3ZMMAZ-Y/UWgW_pDXK3I/AAAAAAAAEQ8/9Y7dsbL2sd8/s1600/jellyfish+11.jpg)
![Craftiments: Kids Glow-in-the-Dark Jellyfish Craft](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bb9LLebUeLs/UWgW-bYMJgI/AAAAAAAAEQk/YpK2jtWi2Ec/s1600/Kids+Glow+in+the+Dark+Jellyfish+Craft+2.jpg)
Charge your jellyfish creation in bright light for at least 30 minutes. Turn out the lights and enjoy its luminous glow!
![Craftiments: Kids Glow-in-the-Dark Jellyfish Craft](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jr0Wg194aaY/UWgXDiEGumI/AAAAAAAAERs/cKP5pn5k5WM/s1600/jellyfish+8.jpg)