Positively Pastel Butterfly Craft for Kids

Craft blog by: Emilee Peterman (@emilee.mitchel)

Spring brings me so much joy! The blooming flowers, the warming weather, and the emerging butterflies and baby animals, fill me to the brim with all the positive vibes. Spring is a great place to look when you need inspiration for easy crafts for kids, because they get just as excited for the changing seasons as we do. 

This simple butterfly craft is the springiest Spring DIY – celebrating the butterflies and pastel shades that have become synonymous with Spring. OOLY’s plethora of pastel goodies give artists tons of options to mix and match mediums for highly textured and totally unique butterflies. Whether your kiddos use them to decorate for Spring or to play with until the paper wears thin, you’ll love this fun DIY craft. 

Time Duration: 30 minutes 

Skill Level: Beginner

OOLY Products Needed

Other Items Needed: 

  • Scissors (adult supervision required)
  • Glue 
  • Clothespins
  • Black pipe cleaners

Directions:

Hand holding ooly's white paper sketchbook on white table

Step 1: Cut two circles from OOLY’s White DIY Cover Sketchbook paper. These will become your butterfly wings!

Person folding white circle using the accordion fold method
Person using thumbs to fold edge of circular white paper with markers and pencils in background

Step 2: Using an accordion fold, start at one end of one circle, fold over ½ inch of paper, press down.

Person folding and flipping a white circle above art supplies on a white table
Person folding half inch paper circle above art supplies
Edge of white circle paper being folded by person's hands

Step 3: Flip the circle over, folding another ½ inch of paper down on top of the first fold. Continue doing this until the entire circle is folded.

Person folding paper in half to make a butterfly
Person folding white paper into accordion shape with supplies on white table
Hand holding folded up piece of paper like an accordion with markers and pencils

Step 4: Once the accordion fold is complete, fold the entire thing in half. Now you have one wing ready for decorating!

Step 5: Repeat Steps 2-4 with the second circle to create the second wing.

Hand holding chunkies paint sticks above table with arts and crafts supplies

Step 6: Now it’s time to open up the circle and decorate the wings using OOLY’s favorite pastel products. The line from the fold can help guide how you decorate. 

Since I’m making a few different butterflies, I’m including a few different ideas for how to decorate.

Step 6, Option 1:  Make a rainbow design using Chunkies Paint Sticks in pastel. Alternatively, let your creativity run wild by coloring both inside the folds or outside of the folds. You can also alternate colors if you wish. The possibilities are endless!

Hand holding pastel hue colored pencils above white table
Person using colored pencils to color in different grids on circular paper
Hands on circular paper with colored in squares with colored pencils

Step 6, Option 2:  Create a color block design using Pastel Hues Colored Pencils. Following along the grid made by the folds, you can color each block a different color.

Hand holding circular paper flat on table with arts and crafts supplies on the table
Hand holding paper flat on table and using markers to draw waves around the edges

Step 6, Option 3: Using the Pastel Hues Dual Tip Markers and the Confetti Stamp Markers, get creative with fun designs. You can alternate patterns along each fold, or even use the stamp to create a border design along the outside edge of the circle. 

Pro tip: Mix up the mediums! My daughter loved using all of the above products to create her own, unique design.

Circular paper with designs and arts and crafts supplies on table
Hand holding folded up paper in the shape of a heart or wings with chunkies on table

Step 7: Once your designs are completed, it’s time to fold the circles back up into their butterfly wing shape.

Hand holding clue upside down applying to paper butterfly with art supplies on table

Step 8: Add glue in the middle of each folded circle to keep the wing shape in place.

Clothespin holding pipe cleaner in the shape of antenna ears with art supplies in the background

Step 9:  Now that the wings are complete, you can create the body. Start by folding a black pipe cleaner into a “V” so that it looks like an antenna, and hold it with the clothespin.

Hand holding Elmer's glue to add pipecleaner to folded up paper with chunkies in the background

Step 10: Glue the wings to each side of the clothespin. If you need to, have a grown-up use hot glue for a more secure attachment.

Hands using mechanical pencil and clothespin to draw straight lines on black sketchpaper

Step 11: Now we’re going to add the body decoration. Trace the clothespin onto Black DIY Cover Sketchbook paper.

Hands with rings using Chunkies to draw on black sketchpaper

Step 12: Color in your outline using Pastel Chunkies Paint Sticks.

Scissors and chunkies on top of black sketchpaper with a white background

Step 13: Cut out the body, and glue it onto your clothespin.

Paper Butterfly with decorations drawn on it being held by a kid's hands

Voila – your butterfly is done!

Making these paper butterflies is such a fun and easy way to let your imagination soar! My kids especially love to see how the designs they create on 2D paper, transform into intricate butterfly wing patterns. 

So whether you’re looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon or want to add some DIY decor to your room to celebrate Spring and add some positive vibes to your space, this easy art and craft is sure to send your creative spirit aflutter!

We would love to see photos of your craft projects! Tag us on Instagram at @WeAreOOLY using #OOLYcreateyourhappy.

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