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Two golf ball craft bees made with old golf balls image.

How to Make Golf Ball Bees

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
Step by step instructions for using old golf balls to create adorable craft honey bees.
5 from 1 vote
Print Instructions

Tools

  • electric drill
  • 3/64″ drill bit
  • safety glasses
  • wire cutters

Supplies
 

Instructions
 

  • Wash and dry. You need one golf ball for each honey bee figure that you want to create.
    This is a great way to recycle old golf balls that you find on the range or in a thrift store.
    Wash each golf ball with soap and water, we want to create a clean surface before painting.  Let the cleaned balls dry completely.
    Old white golf ball image.
  • Spray a base coat (yellow) on each golf ball – allowing time to dry.  Then rotate the ball to complete spray painting the bottom of each.
    Not all bees are yellow but yellow and black are icon bee colors so we will stick with that!
    Base coat of yellow painted on 3 golf balls image.
  • Legs and antenna. Use wire cutters to cut 6 wire legs ( 1 ½” long)  for each bee and 2 (2” long) wires for the antenna of each bee.
     **Always wear safety glasses when cutting wires!  Bees have 6 legs because they are insects.
    Antennae are another important part of the bee body. One of their functions is smell – yes, bees can smell with their antennae!
    8 pieces of wire and wire cutters for insect parts image.
  • Use pliers to shape your wires.  Give antennas a nice small curl at the end – this works easier if you do both antennae at the same time.
    Shape legs in a soft bend and curl the feet sections to avoid sharp edges.
    craft pliers and wire shaped for bee parts image.
  • Use a marker to mark locations for legs and antenna on each golf ball.  
    Legs should go in a line alone each side near the bottom of the ball.  A pair of holes for the 2 antennae go near the top of the face.   
    Drill the holes ½“ deep.*If you don’t have a vice to hold the golf ball steady – use something else to steady it.
    drilling marked holes in a golf ball for bee craft image.
  • Check to make sure the wire fits into the drilled holes. 
    Now add a small dot of glue to the end of the wire and insert each on into the proper hole. 
    Optional : Glue a small screw onto the back of the ball to simulate a bee stinger. –
    While this is a cute idea for an adult gift – it can be dangerous if someone steps on it – ouch!
    wire bee legs glued into golf ball image.
  • Spray everything with another coat of base paint – yellow and let dry completely.
    Don’t rush this part. The amount of time needed for the paint to dry will depend on the temperature and humidity in the air.
    Golf ball bees with wire parts spray painted yellow image.
  • Use paint marker to draw strips on the yellow body. 
    Draw 2 eyes beneath the antenna (just for looks – bees have 5 eyes!)
    Painting the legs black also will allow some of the yellow to show through giving the illusion of stripes.
    Finished example of golf balls transformed into bee figures image.

Notes

This is a fun craft that adults and older children can enjoy with supervision.
Take care with the sharp wire ends - you might consider wrapping a small piece of black electricians tape around the sharp end - it would give the impression of a bee foot or tarsal toes.
Learn more about bees and using products from the hive!Join me on Instagram - @carolina_honeybees