Make Your Own Coffee Container Bug Box For Kids

Here is a quick and easy way to make a bug box out of a used coffee container. If you have all the supplies then this will take under 10 minutes to create a bug box. To make the bug box you will need the following items.

1. A used and cleaned plastic coffee container.  A Folger's 30.5 oz container works well.
2. Mosquito netting utility fabric. Jo-Ann Fabric sells a mosquito netting utility fabric.
3. An X-ACTO Knife or other (sharp) knife.
4. Glue gun, glue (for plastic and fabric Quick Grip works well).
5. Scissors.
6. Sandpaper or something to rough up the plastic before gluing.
7. Something to press the netting to the glue. Thin card stock works.

Start by taking the coffee container and use the knife to but out the Folger's label. Now, make the same cut on the back side of the container. Try to not but to fall outside of the line. The area immediately outside of the cut will be for the glue.

 






Next, take the label cut from the container and lay it on the mosquito netting and cut the mosquito netting about 1/2 inch larger than the plastic label. This is cur wider so it will overlap the glue and adhere to the container.

Take the sand paper and rough up the area on the inside around the area that was cut out. This will help the glue adhere to the plastic. Now, take the glue or glue gun and put a bead of glue on the inside of the container around the opening. Lay the mosquito mesh over the glue and use cardboard or the plastic label cut out to press the mosquito mesh into the glue. Before the glue dries you can adjust the mesh to remove wrinkles. To keep the container from rolling, I found it helps to place it on the lid.

Repeat for the other opening.

There you go! You now have a bug box. Let the container and mesh sit per the drying duration on the glue used. After the glue dries, kids can use the container for bugs, fireflies, frogs, or I suppose small snakes.

Whatever you and your kids chose to put in the container, enjoy the fun of them learning.