Transform your child’s artwork into fluttering butterflies with our easy guide on how to make a simple paper butterfly!
This pretty craft project repurposes kids’ drawings into vibrant butterflies, using just a few basic materials.
The wings are crafted with simple accordion-style folds and secured with a pipe cleaner, making it an ideal activity for kids of all ages, especially preschoolers.
Not only does this project offer a fun way to recycle art, but it also provides a fantastic fine motor workout for little hands. Perfect for creating a swarm of colorful butterflies for a school display!
How to Make a Simple Paper Butterfly with Kids’ Art
Materials:
- Art/Drawings Created on White Card Stock
- A Favorite Coloring Medium (paint, crayons, paint sticks)
- A Round Object i.e Jar Lid
- Pipe Cleaner
Paper Butterfly Step-by-Step
Step 1: Create or gather some colorful artwork!
Create an arty masterpiece on a sheet of white card stock.
Arty Crafty Kids may use their favorite medium for this step.
Step 2: Divide the artwork.
Cut the art work into two segments; a square and a rectangle.
Step 3: Round off the corners of the ‘butterfly wings’.
Round off all the corners of both shapes. This can be achieved free-hand with a pair of scissors or by tracing the edge of a round object.
Step 4: Use a concertina fold on both shapes.
Next, apply a concertina fold to both shapes (start from the longest edge). Try to keep the folds nice and even.
Step-by-Step Concertina/ Zig-Zag Fold
Step 1: Start with a long strip of paper.
Step 2: Fold one end of the strip on top of itself, just a small distance away and create a crease. Take the newly formed flap and fold it back on itself. If you place the paper on its side, you will notice a triangular shape – this becomes the start of a zig-zag formation.
Step 3: Continue the process of folding forwards and backward along the whole strip of paper.
Step 5: Fold each wing in half.
Compact the folds in your hand to create a strip. Fold this strip in half one way and again in the other direction to give the paper flexibility to open into a butterfly wing. Complete this step with both folded shapes.
Step 6: Connect the two folded shapes.
Place the folded square strip on top of the folded rectangle strip and secure together by wrapping a pipe cleaner around both.
Step 7: Tie a pipe cleaner around the paper.
Wrap the pipe cleaner two or three times around the paper strips and secure with a twist. There should be enough pipe cleaner remaining to create the appearance of antennae – if not, unwrap part of the pipe cleaner.
Step 8: Open the butterfly’s wings.
Once the pipe cleaner is firmly in place, open the folds and spread out the butterfly’s wings.
The tutorial for ‘How to Make a Simple Paper Butterfly’ is complete – I hope your Arty Crafty Kids love making their very own butterflies.
More Butterfly Arts and Crafts for Kids
Butterflies are one of our favorite crafting subjects and we have lots of different butterfly arts and crafts for Arty Crafty Kids to enjoy alongside their paper butterflies.
1: 3D Butterfly Coloring Pages
Bring butterflies to life with 3D coloring pages that pop off the paper, adding a fun and interactive dimension to coloring.
2: Butterfly Finger Puppet
Create adorable butterfly finger puppets that kids can decorate and use for imaginative play and storytelling.
3: Color by Number Butterfly Life Cycle
Learn about the butterfly life cycle while coloring by numbers, making education fun and colorful.
3: Doodle Design Butterfly Prompt
Get creative with doodle design prompts that encourage kids to fill butterfly outlines with their own unique patterns and designs.
5: Butterfly Life Cycle Craft
Teach kids about metamorphosis with a hands-on butterfly life cycle craft using various materials to represent each stage.
6. Fingerprint Butterfly Art and Butterfly Bush
Create a beautiful butterfly bush scene with fingerprint butterflies, combining art with a sensory activity.
7. How to Draw a Butterfly
Follow step-by-step instructions to draw a butterfly, helping kids develop their drawing skills and confidence.
Explore these and many more creative butterfly projects at Arty Crafty Kids for endless fun and inspiration! Be sure to share your kids’ makes with the hashtag #artycraftykids
