This easy paper plate butterfly craft for kids uses our favorite shaving cream marbling technique. Simply cut the marbled paper plate into wings and then decorate your butterfly!
Updated May 2022
We are big fans of butterflies here at the Artful Parent – both the real deal and the hand crafted.
We love to raise butterflies from chrysalis to ready-to-fly with this butterfly kit, it’s so exciting to watch the transformation up close! And we are in butterfly sighting mode all summer long (and keep butterflies in mind when choosing what to plant in our garden). But most of all, we adore drawing and painting all kinds of butterflies!
So, while we are not new to butterfly arts and crafts, we did especially like this marbled paper plate butterfly craft!
Paper Plate Butterfly Craft
MATERIALS
- Small 6″ paper plates (the thin, cheap kind)
- Materials for shaving cream marbling (shaving cream & paint)
- Scissors
- Large wooden craft sticks
- Hot glue gun (or regular glue)
- Markers
- Pipe cleaners
- Small googly eyes (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Marble your paper plates
First, marble the backs of your paper plates, following the instructions for shaving cream marbling. Let dry.
- Cut your butterfly wings
Next, cut your paper plate in half, then each half into a butterfly wing shape (cut sort of a curved “V” shape along each of the straight edges.)
- Attach wings to the butterfly body
Glue the wings to either side of the large craft stick with a hot glue gun (quick and easy) or a regular glue bottle (slower to dry).
Glue two short pipe cleaner sections at the top of the craft stick for antennae. You now have your basic butterfly shape.
- Decorate your butterfly!
Finally, decorate your butterfly with marker faces and designs on the body and wings as desired. You can also glue on scrap pieces of the marbled paper plates for extra decoration.
You’ve got to give this paper plate butterfly craft a try! It’s easy and fun and the kids can use the finished butterflies as puppets, wall decorations, as part of a mobile, or as extra special gift cards.
More Butterfly Craft Ideas for Kids
- How to Paint Butterflies for Kids
- Watercolor Butterflies with the Rubbing Alcohol Technique
- Make your own flower fairy wings or butterfly wings
- Raising Butterflies for Kids
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