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Coffee Filter Butterflies

I'm not sure where I first read about/saw coffee filter butterflies but I know that I've done them with every group of children I have worked with since. Because the are simple, but allow for self creativity, they've been a hit with every age range from toddlers to grade schoolers. Truth be told, I enjoy making them myself and I'm thirty.

Even though we haven't been crafting much this summer (my boys prefer sand and mud to crayons and paint) I couldn't let our insect unit go by with out making them.


Our Supplies: 
2 coffee filters, a clothespin, a pipe cleaner, scissors, glue, &  dot markers
*if you don't have dot markers using diluted food coloring (dipping or with droppers) works too



Step 1: use dot markers to decorate the coffee filters and clothespin
'

Mini Man's favorite color is green so he had a lot of fun mixing the blue and yellow. 




Step 2: once the coffee fliters are dry (the dry very fast - 30 mins) fold and pinch them to form wings. Then add a line of glue to the inside of the clothespin and place wings where desired.



Step 3: Cut pipe cleaners to make antennas 

Step 4: Put two small drops of glue on the top/clip end of clothespin and place antennas. *To help the antennas stay in place/dry I assist the kids in positioning them so they are held in place by the clothespin - once the glue dries they will stay in place even when he clothespin is opened.

That's it, your butterflies are ready to be displayed! We added ours to our bug mural. 

i don't have a post about the other bugs but they are made out of egg cartons, pipe cleaners, and clothespins

You can also add a adhesive magnet strip to the back of your clothespin and use your butterflies to decorate your fridge as well as hold grocery lists, etc - this makes a sweet gift for moms or grandmothers.



I'm really enjoying the splash of color these butterflies have brought in to our home..my boys are enjoying making up stories about them getting trapped in spiderwebs. 


PS. Coffee filters are one of my favorite mediums to use when crafting with kids. Here are some of our other coffee filter crafts: turkeys, peacocks, & flowers. 

More great kid friendly ideas can also always be found at these link parties: Link and Learn, Made by Little Hands, Montessori Monday, Money Saving Monday, Hip Homeschool Hop, Preschool Corner, For the Kids Fridays, and Show and Share Saturday.

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Comments

  1. Jolanthe ErbAugust 8, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    The wall is so cute! I'm sure the kids love seeing all of their projects displayed! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Erin VincentApril 14, 2015 at 2:54 PM

    What a great idea! I've never heard of these, but I will definitely be trying them :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rachel KaylynnApril 15, 2015 at 9:52 AM

      Thanks for leaving a comment! These are probably my favorite craft! I hope you and your family have as much fun with them as we do.

      Delete

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