marble spiders - from the mind of grandpa

Spend two minutes with my dad and you'll know where I got my creative side. He is amazing. He can come up with a kids' craft on a moment's notice. Like he did with these marble and wire spiders. One minute he was sitting in his office, working on the computer, the next the boys were huddled around him as he twisted and cut wire into spindly spider legs. I don't know how he gets anything done when we come to visit.

Marble Spiders Tutorial

Supplies
*Marble (any size will do, really)
*Small gauge wire
*Pliers
*Wire cutters

*WARNING* The spider legs can be sharp--this is a toy for a child at least 4 and up, and even then I'd watch out for possible eye pokes!

1. Leave a two inch tail on your wire, then begin wrapping around the marble a couple of times. End with another two inch tail and cut your wire. These are your first two legs.

2. Repeat three more times to create eight total legs. If you want, use your pliers to bend the ends of the legs up so they're not so sharp.

Our spiders are a little beat up after a lot of play--Grandpa is a genius!