Children can make Butterflies

Despite their small size, butterflies are amazing creatures.  Their beauty, miraculous metamorphosis, and apparently carefree flight all spark a child's imagination.

Coffee filters are a great paper to create unique butterflies.

Colored Butterflies (with markers)

Painted Butterflies

Did you know there are around 20,000 different types of butterflies?  Most are found in the tropics, but butterflies can be found around the world.

If you don't have coffee filters, try the handprint Butterflies,  paper butterflies craft or make a caterpillar tree.  You can read about when we raised live Painted Lady Butterflies.

There are lots of craft and activity ideas in our kids crafts library.

Colored Butterflies (using markers)

I just had a birthday party for my son, we made butterfly's out of a coffee filter.

Materials
coffee filter
markers
pipe cleaners
spray bottle
magnets

Have the children color the coffee filter (the more color the better).  When they are finished spray water on the entire filter (this gives a tied dyed look) let it dry.  Pinch together in the middle wrap a pipe cleaner around it turn the top of the cleaner for the antenna's and put a magnet on the back. They all had a great time making them and my son is still making them. You would also tie a clothes pin to it with pipe cleaner then add the magnet and it could hold messages on your fridge.

This craft activity was sent in by Karen Miller.

Idea

You can buy bug bodies at some craft stores.

Comments from our visitors

"I just wanted to let you know that my girls loved making the butterflies. They like to cut and paste things. Thank you for your web site. It’s very helpful in doing things with the kids."
Lori G.

Painted Butterflies

Thanks to Debbi Reeves for this project idea.

Materials
coffee filter
paint (variety of colors of kid friendly paint)
clothespin
magnets
glue

• Fold the coffee filter half.  Open and place them in front of the kids.
• Many varieties of kid-friendly paint is splattered and dripped onto the filter.
• Have the kids fold the painted filter where the crease is and the paint smears together and makes a wonderful and colorful pattern on both sides such as the wings of the butterfly. The kids are amazed at the colors when they are blended (the colors don't turn black because you space the drippings).
• Let dry (see idea below to keep kids busy while they are drying).
• Pinch the middle, put it between a spring type clothes pin.
• Glue a magnet on the back of the clothespin and they have a finished craft for the fridge to hang other projects from.

Idea

• We then explore a real butterfly wings (via the internet, books, pictures, ...) and it shows that the butterflies the children created are the same.  They have equal colors and designs on both sides. This extra step may take a little longer to dry but it is worth it.

There are lots of craft and activity ideas in our kids crafts library.

Note for Parents:

Every parent must use their own judgment in choosing which activities are safe for their own children.  While Creative Kids at Home makes every effort to provide activity ideas that are safe and fun for children it is your responsibility to choose the activities that are safe in your own home.

Send us a note if you have any questions.

Let us know if your kids have fun making colorful butterflies.

Kids Gifts   Kids Science   Kids Crafts   Kids Games   For Parents   Creative Kids Blog

About Us   Crafts Info   Media   Terms And Conditions   Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2015 Creative Kids at Home