Paper Butterfly Sanctuary

Hello spring! You’re officially here!
If it’s snowing where you are, come hang out in our butterfly sanctuary for a bit.
It’ll cheer you right up! It certainly makes me smile.
Last week Lucy made two paper butterflies with her speech teacher. When we got home she asked if we could tape them on the wall….and then she decided we needed many, many more. I totally agreed. So we spent an entire morning in our pjs, just cutting paper, coloring, and making butterflies!
Another craft project that was actually really fun. I love that my kids are getting older and into crafts.
And I really love walking through our archway, into the kitchen. It just makes me smile and adds so much color to the room. We just might leave them up the whole month.
To make butterflies, Lucy gave me the simple instructions:
Fold the paper into a book and then cut them out.”
Simple indeed.
“Then you just color them in”,
“and hang them up!”
This one is Lucy’s favorite:
I like how these turned out:
And then we tried some obvious variations.
Pipe cleaners for bodies:
Folding in places to create cutouts:
Owen wanted to glue the cutouts to another butterfly. Excellent idea.
We used all the paper scraps to decorate more and more butterflies.
(both my kids stick out their tongues when they’re in deep artistic concentration. It makes me laugh).
And by Saturday when Casey got home from a business trip, we welcomed him into our springy sanctuary of butterflies.
I know it’s kind of dumb to get excited about a simple kid’s craft. But it really makes me happy to see these cheerful colors. Happy Spring Monday to you all!

  1. 1) Brenda C

    I just have to tell you how much I love your website. I am a mother of two amazing children as well and believe that there is nothing like hand made gifts to give to them. My little girls face just lights up when she sees the finished project. And that expression on her face is a gift to me. It’s one of a kind there for special. Thank you for your wonderful ideas. Looking forward to what else you come with! (:

  2. Just stopping by to let you know that I’ve featured your craft on Family Fun Crafts! You can see it here:
    http://funfamilycrafts.com/paper-butterfly-sanctuary/

    If you have other kid friendly crafts, I’d love it if you would submit them. šŸ™‚ If you would like to display a
    featured button on your site, you can grab one from the right side bar of your post above.

  3. 3) Lynnea Schliesleder

    wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!! I love how you explain the process of your kids creating…how one idea sparks another, and another! That takes time and more than one person is good too….advocate of art to stay in school and for moms to spend time with their kids!!!!!!! My son and I love to draw together.

  4. Since I don’t have a sewing machine (yet) this is definitely something I can do with my kids. Thanks for sharing.

  5. 5) lara

    lol that is sik fame

  6. Hi there to all, how is all, I think every one is getting more from this web page,
    and your views are nice in support of new visitors.

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