Making Butterflies

Butterflies 4 Smiles supplies are low cost and easy to obtain!

Most of our supplies come from the Dollar Tree, Walmart, Target or Amazon.

Supply List

• Colored markers (not permanent) – we use Crayola or Cra-Z-Art markers
• White paper coffee filters
• Wooden clothespins
• Colorful pipe cleaners
• Spray bottle
• String or twine for hanging the coffee filters to dry
• Hot glue gun or other strong glue
• Water
• Wet wipes or soap and water
• Boxes to hold the butterflies

Step by Step Instructions

1. Get out all necessary supplies – see Supply List.
2. Fold a coffee filter in half.
3. Color the coffee filter on one side with bright colored markers (don't use too much black). Try different designs.
4. Hang a string or twine for drying the coffee filters. You can also use a slack line or othersuitable line. Check the weather to be sure it’s not going to rain.
5. Spray the colored side of the coffee filter with water from the spray bottle.
6. Turn the coffee filter over and spray the other side.
7. Let the coffee filter sit so the colors run together.
8. Open the coffee filter up and hang it on the line with a clothespin.
9. Wipe your hands with wipes or wash with soap and water. The colors will eventually come off your hands!
10. Check from time to time to see if the coffee filters are dry. Drying time depends on the temperature, the amount of sun, and if there’s a breeze.
11. Once dry, take the coffee filters off the line.
12. Carefully scrunch the coffee filter down the middle, forming a wing on either side.
13. Secure the middle of the butterfly with a wooden clothespin. Fluff the wings.
14. Draw a happy face and a body design (stripes, polka dots, use your imagination) on the clothespin with the colored markers. Don't use yellow as it's hard to see.
15. Make the antenna
1. Cut a pipe cleaner in half
2. Fold each half in half
3. Curl the two pipe cleaner tips
16. Open the clothespin and with a hot glue gun put a drop of glue inside near the top. Place an antenna on the glue and close the clothespin. If you don’t have a hot glue gun, you can use other strong glue. Let the glue dry.
17. Have fun making people smile!
18. Go to our Joining the Cause page to let us know you have made butterflies for your community! Send pictures so we can post them on our website.

Watch our video on how to make a butterfly