This pretty butterfly is easy to make with just two craft materials. Use the butterfly as a finger puppet for pretend play, or as a table decoration! This is a fun craft to add to your summer theme.
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It’s butterfly season again! We glimpse the flutter of wings or a flash of color across the lawn, and can hardly wait to start our butterfly theme.
Butterflies are fun for kids to explore in books, in crafts, and in natural environments. Here are a few ways to add butterflies to your insect theme in spring or summer.
*Explore butterflies in a nature study unit, like this one from Carrots are Orange.
*Observe the life cycle, from Buggy and Buddy.
*Learn more about habitats, including a feeder from Reading Confetti.
*Discover what it’s like to raise butterflies in the classroom at Pre-K Pages blog.
Making a butterfly craft is another way to explore butterflies. You can make butterflies with simple instructions and a variety of interesting materials.
We’ve made burlap butterflies, a clothespin butterfly, and even with a green leaf butterfly. Now we’re going to make one with lace trim and a chenille stem.
Lace butterfly craft for kids
Choose a chenille stem for the body of the butterfly.
Choose a cotton trim with a pattern resembling butterfly “wings”.
Cut out the “wings” section that will become your butterfly wings.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Step 1. Bend the chenille stem in half in half.
Place the butterfly wings on the chenille stem, leaving more length toward the bend.
Step 2. Twist the open ends at the top together to form antennae.
Twist the opposite end close to the lace cutout to secure the body of the butterfly.
Step 3. Bend the extra chenille stem back to form a circle.
The chenille stem circle can be used in two ways:
- as a stand to support the butterfly as it sits on a table
- as a loop to go around your fingers for a finger puppet
You can be creative with your butterflies.
- Decorate the wings with markers.
- Spread glue on the wings and add glitter or sequins.
Butterflies can be spotted fluttering through gardens in spring and summer, but they are fun to explore any time of year.
Kids can make their butterfly puppets soar up and down through the air like the butterflies they see around them in spring and summer!
Butterfly and Caterpillar Pinterest board