Skip to Content

Looking for the best info on potty training your toddler? Click here.

Teens turn bugs into cash

Categories: Teens & tweens, Money & work, Weird but true, Shopping & recalls

We all know that when life you gives you lemons, you are encouraged to make lemonade. But when life gives you an infestation of cicadas, what should you do? Make jewelry, of course.

That's what 17-year-olds Katheryn Maloney and Brady Cullinan did recently after their Massachusetts town was overrun with the insects. After the summer bug bash was over, the enterprising pair paid their friends to collect the little dead bodies. They then sprayed the cicadas with lacquer, dyed them pretty colors and strung them on wires with sea glass and beads to create one-of-a-kind earrings and necklaces.

The results are either beautiful or totally gross, depending on your own personal ick threshold. Me, I could never relax with a pair of dead insects hanging on either side of my head. But clearly there are those who have no problem with wearing wearing bugs as jewelry: the teens made over $200 at a farmers market and a local shop purchased some of their creepy creations as well.

I think these teens are great. Not only are they creative entrepreneurs, they also recycle!

Recent Posts

ParentDish Polls

    Hollywood's Hottest Dad
    51% of you voted Hugh Jackman the Hottest Dad in Hollywood by a landslide. Wolverine edged out Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp -- and we can see why.

    Jewel Samad/Getty Images

    Best Stepdad
    How cool would it be to have Ashton Kutcher as your stepdad? Pretty cool, according to 52% of you. After all, you wouldn't have to teach him how to send a text message or use Twitter! Kutcher is pictured here in 2007 with stepdaughters Rumer and Tallulah Willis.

    Evan Agostini/Getty Images

    Who cares about IQ?
    Not ParentDish readers! 80% of you said that this 24-year-old UK mom should be allowed to keep her baby--even after social workers said she was "too stupid" to take care of her.

    Jenny Goodall, Daily Mail / ZUMA Press

    Enough With the Gosselins!
    Will you buy Kate Gosselin's cookbook? 64% of you say no -- and you're also tired of hearing about her.

    David Livingston, Getty Images

    Best Babysitters
    31% of you said that you would leave your kids with Ellen and Portia, while only 9% would trust Oprah to babysit. Interesting, since none of the celebs are parents.

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Fav Celeb Mom
    Jennifer Garner is your favorite celebrity mom, beating out Angelina Jolie and First Lady Michelle Obama with 37% of the vote.

    Kris Connor, Getty Images

    Bad Mommy
    Dina Lohan and Courtney Love tied for worst celebrity mom, each with 32% of your votes. Only 3% of you said that Kate Moss was a bad mom, though, which says a lot -- mostly what a mess Dina Lohan is.

    Michael Buckner, Getty Images

    Unimpressed
    Only 8% of you think Bristol Palin a better parent than baby daddy Levi. [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Octo Overload?
    60% of you are worried about her kids. Maybe because she reportedly once stripped under the name "Angelina?" [Get the full story]

    Getty

    Tough to Swallow
    45% of you said this Burger King ad was "totally inappropriate." What would the King say? [Get the full story]

    YouTube

Features

Recent Comments