Use paint or watercolors to make a paper butterfly! This is an easy process art craft for kids of all ages.
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Process art is a great all-ages activity that’s perfect for summertime. This activity focuses more on experimenting with materials and less on the result.
Set out a variety of supplies and let kids experiment with what they can create. We used watercolor paints and paper, but you can use lots of different mediums. The key is to get the artwork good and wet so that the designs will transfer to both sides when folded.
Talk about the butterflies that live in your area. For younger kids, this is a great way to practice fine motor skills (using a paintbrush) and introducing symmetry. For older kids, encourage them to explore different patterns and mixing colors.
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How to make a paper butterfly
Supplies
- watercolor paper or mixed media paper
- paper trimmer
- watercolors or craft paint
- pipe cleaner stems
Instructions
1. Cut the paper.
Cut a piece of paper to approximately 4×6 inches. We cut our 8.5×11-inch watercolor paper in half. Fold it in half and crease the center, then unfold it.
2. Paint.
Use your preferred paint to create designs on both sides. They don’t have to be symmetrical (yet) but they should be pretty wet.
We tried painting the paper with water first, adding water after painting, and misting the paper with water first. Using a spray bottle to mist the paper before painting with watercolors worked the best, but was also the messiest!
3. Fold and dry.
When you’ve filled the paper with color, fold it in half again along the center crease. This will smear the paint and make the design symmetrical. Leave the paper folded until it has completely dried, at least 30 minutes. You may want to set an object on top to keep it flat.
4. Make the butterfly.
When the paint is completely dry, unfold the paper. You can trim the edges or leave them square. Use a zig-zag pattern to fold the paper in the opposite direction.
Twist a pipecleaner in the center to be the butterfly’s body. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and twist the open ends at the top to resemble antennas, then twist and fold the bottom half for the body.
Enjoy your butterflies! There are a couple of ways to display your paper butterfly:
- Attach a magnet to the back and stick them to the fridge
- Hang them from string for a mobile
- Clip them to ribbon to hang as garland
These are so simple and fun! Make a bunch of butterflies in different colors.
Printable instructions
Paper Butterfly
Materials
- watercolor paper or mixed media paper
- paper trimmer
- watercolors or craft paint
- pipe cleaner stems
Tools
Instructions
- Cut the paper.
Cut a piece of paper to approximately 4x6 inches. We cut our 8.5x11-inch watercolor paper in half. Fold it in half and crease the center, then unfold it. - Paint.
Use your preferred paint to create designs on both sides. They don't have to be symmetrical (yet) but they should be pretty wet. We tried painting the paper with water first, adding water after painting, and misting the paper with water first. Using a spray bottle to mist the paper before painting with watercolors worked the best, but was also the messiest! - Fold and dry.
When you've filled the paper with color, fold it in half again along the center crease. This will smear the paint and make the design symmetrical. Leave the paper folded until it has completely dried, at least 30 minutes. You may want to set an object on top to keep it flat. - Make the butterfly.
When the paint is completely dry, unfold the paper. You can trim the edges or leave them square. Use a zig-zag pattern to fold the paper in the opposite direction. Twist a pipecleaner in the center to be the butterfly's body. Fold a pipe cleaner in half and twist the open ends at the top to resemble antennas, then twist and fold the bottom half for the body.
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