There are a lot of things that are pretty iconic when you think of spring or summer. A warm sun, beautiful grassy areas, vibrant colors and the wonders of nature. And as part of that, butterflies are often associated with these wonderful seasons, as they gently flutter around gardens with their colorful wings and patterns.
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So, what better spring or summer craft activity to plan with your little ones that making your own butterflies at home? Whether it’s an activity sat around an outdoor table in the garden, or something to keep them busy on those rainy spring days, try out some of the beautiful ways you can make your own butterflies at home.
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Beautiful butterfly craft ideas:
Coffee Filter Butterflies
There are two reasons why this is a great craft for toddlers. One, it’s really easy to make the butterfly shape together using a pipe cleaner, so it’s something simple that your toddler can join in with and work on those fine motor skills. And two, it’s almost a little bit magical, as you use water to create stunning patterns on the butterfly wings. Your kids will adore seeing how these simple coffee filters transform before their very eyes.
What you’ll need:
- Coffee filters
- Washable markers
- Pipe cleaners
- Water
Pasta Butterflies
What’s great about this craft is that you already have the wing shape ready made – it’s therefore a really easy butterfly craft for toddlers who aren’t great with those motor skills yet. All they need to do is color it in with paints or markets. I love how simple the grass idea is too – it’s so simple but effective.
What you’ll need:
- Pasta bows
- Paints or markers
- Black sharpie
- Glue
- Paper
Beaded Peg Butterflies
This is definitely more of a shared craft, since you’ll need to be the one to apply the final touches and bring it together. But your toddler can still enjoy most of the craft almost independently as they thread beads onto pipe cleaners, which is a great way of getting used to handling small items. And who doesn’t love a craft with a set of googly eyes?
What you’ll need:
- Pipe cleaners
- Beads
- Clothes peg
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Egg Carton Butterflies
There are a lot of spring crafts that involve eggs – especially around Easter – but don’t throw those egg cartons out. With a little bit of trimming you end up with a simple butterfly shape that your toddler can paint in all kinds of funky colors and patterns. Another one that’s nice and easy, but your kids will love it.
What you’ll need:
- Egg carton
- Scissors
- Paints
- A pipe cleaner
RELATED: Easy Spring Crafts for Toddlers
Toilet Paper Roll and Paper Plate Butterflies
Essentially, butterfly crafts are a way of getting your little ones to think about colors and patterns more. So having them decorate the toilet paper rolls and paper plates for this craft separately is a good idea, because they can then see how it all looks when it comes together. It’s an easy preschool craft that will look great too.
What you’ll need:
- Toilet paper rolls
- Paper plates
- Glue
- Paints or markers
- Pipe cleaners and pom poms
- Googly eyes
Wearable Nature Butterfly Wings
What’s better than a craft you can use as a toy when you’re done with it? A craft that you can wear to transform yourself into a butterfly. Your kids will absolutely adore this, and if you go with the nature option then it’s also a fun treasure hunt to find colorful things to use. A bit of glue or some sticky strips later and you’ve got an amazing dress-up costume.
What you’ll need:
- Cardboard wings
- Glue or sticky strips
- String to make straps
- Natural decorations
Butterfly Masks
If you like the idea of something dress-up but the wings seem a bit ambitious for your child (or you) then this mask is a good alternative. They can have fun decorating the pre-cut shape in whatever colors or patterns they like, and all you need is a popsicle stick for them to be able to hold it and run around as their favorite flying insect.
What you’ll need:
- Card
- Popsicle sticks (or string to create a wearable mask)
- Glue
- Paints or markers
- Optional glitter
RELATED: Super Cute Flower Crafts for Toddlers
Rainbow Footprint Butterfly
Some of the best crafts are the messiest ones, or those that have a real sensory experience tied in. Most kids will love the sensation of paint on their feet, so they’ll have tons of fun making vibrant footprints that you can then turn into a set of wings. Just be prepared for lots of giggling with those tickly feet!
What you’ll need:
- Paper
- Paints
Sponge Butterfly Craft
So many butterfly crafts end up being ‘something’ for wings, with a pipe cleaner body. This is another example, but sponges have the advantage of being a different sensory experience too, and they’re nice and bright. As your young children stick beads or gems onto the wings they’ll have a lot of fun squashing them too.
What you’ll need:
- Sponges
- Pipe cleaners
- Beads and gems
- Glue
- Optional glitter
Sponge Butterfly Printing
An evolution of the sponge butterflies above – instead of making the sponge into the butterfly, you can use it for printing instead. Printing is a great craft for toddlers as it teaches them about how colors mix, and how to hold something steady as they push down. Plus you can re-use it again and again to make a whole field of butterflies.
What you’ll need:
- Sponges
- Elastic bands
- Paints
- Paper
Handprint Butterflies
I’m not sure why but kids seem to love drawing around their hands. It’s probably something about the pencil feeling a little bit ticklish against the edges of the hand, and just the fascination of seeing your hand on paper when done. So they’ll love turning their hands into fun butterfly wings for this craft.
What you’ll need:
- Paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Googly eyes
RELATED: 15 Rainy Day Crafts for Toddlers {beat the boredom!}
Stick and Leaf Butterfly
Another fantastic nature craft, this is ideal if you want to combine their love of butterflies with a fun outdoor walk. You only need four leaves and a stick, and then can enjoy the sensation of painting onto waxy leaves once they get home and sticking their wings together.
What you’ll need:
- Sticks
- Leaves
- Paints
- Glue
Stained Glass Butterfly
Some of the best craft ideas are those which involve a little bit of magic once the craft has been finished. You can make this toddler-friendly by cutting the tissue paper up in advance and just getting them to stick crazy patterns together. Watch their faces as the sun shines through their finished butterfly – they’ll think it’s incredible.
What you’ll need:
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- Marker (for the outline)
- Glue
- Something to hang it with
Cupcake Liner Butterflies
If you need a quick craft to only fill a small amount of time then they don’t come much simpler than this cupcake case one. A bit of painting on a peg, some folding and you’re done – it’s so easy. You can add extras if you want to, but the simple versions are just as cute.
What you’ll need:
- Cupcake cases
- Clothes pegs
- Paints or markers
- Optional string
Butterfly Life Cycle Craft
Toddlers may not fully understand the life cycle of a butterfly but it’s a good age to introduce them to how caterpillars transform – there’s a reason the Very Hungry Caterpillar is so popular. And you can mix-and-match craft techniques for the different stages to help reinforce the differences too.
What you’ll need:
- A paper plate
- Tissue paper
- Pipe cleaners
- Glue
- Pens and paints
Butterfly Crafts and Activities
Your kids will adore these butterfly crafts in spring and summer, with a lot of fun understanding the bright colors and patterns of butterfly wings. Why not inspire them with a nature walk first, and see who can spot the best butterfly?
MORE CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES:
15+ Simple Ice Cream Crafts for Toddlers!
14 Easy Bug and Insect Crafts for Toddlers
15+ Simple Rainbow Crafts for Toddlers!
15+ Animal Crafts for Toddlers!
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