How did the Glitterbugg project get started?
By SPEEDO
The Spark
In the spring of 2023, I was chatting with a coworker, Bonita, about the rocks on her desk that were painted like ladybugs (see Figure 1). I was curious about where they came from. She said she loved ladybugs and had received them as gifts from a friend who loved to paint rocks.
Janine, another coworker sitting next to Bonita listening to the conversation, said, "Hey Speedo, you're creative and love to work with glitter, why don't you make me a glitter bug?"
That is the birth of the Glitterbugg project.
Prototyping the first Glitterbugg
Prototyping the First Glitterbugg
The first Glitterbugg I created had a white base color and blue wings with clear acrylic beads. Before gluing the flat-sided acrylic beads, I used a decoupage medium called Mod Podge with mixed with blue glitter and applied that over the painted rock. Next, I drew the eyes on with some fine-tip Sharpies (see Figure 2).
I received good feedback on this design, so I continued using different sizes and shapes of rocks, glitter, paints, nail polishes, acrylic beads, and other objects.
Introducing Tech to the Glitterbugg Design
I created a QR Code that, when scanned with a smartphone's camera, navigates to the Glitterbugg.com website.
I printed the image of the code on a small square sticker, placed the sticker on the bottom of the Glitterbugg, used Mod Podge to seal it to the bottom of the rock, and signed it with the year.