Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft: How To Make This Beautiful Project
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This easy coffee filter butterfly craft is a colorful way to enjoy a frugal and fun spring activity with kids.
This project is delightful for homeschool, classroom, or family use. With only a few supplies, your children can make their very own butterfly. It's a lovely way to add beauty to any room! Whether you're looking for a rainy day activity or a creative way to celebrate the season, this craft checks all the boxes.
I'm sharing step-by-step instructions (with pictures) for making these beautiful butterflies. And I've got tips and creative ideas for using the final work. Find everything you need for a stress-free crafting experience with your students!
Related: Make a gorgeous kite suncatcher craft with this simple tutorial!
Boost Creativity and Learning with This Fun Activity
Do you need a budget-friendly activity to enjoy with your kids? Could you use some help with ideas and inspiration for a creative butterfly craft? Perhaps you are working on a butterfly life cycle lesson and want to simple way to add a special touch?
Well, this simple coffee filter butterfly craft is a brilliant choice for all of those things and more!
After teaching my five boys for over twelve years in our homeschool (well, really since birth!), I've learned some tricks. One of the biggest tricks for making learning stick is to combine reading with hands-on projects, as well as real-life experiences. I think that's why a life cycle of a butterfly theme has been one of my top picks for our homeschool fun activities!
This educational theme was excellent because it's one that can be used with all ages. My older boys could take their learning to the next level by reading books and learning scientific names. They would then work with my younger boys on interactive hands-on projects, like adopting caterpillars (and watching them grow in our butterfly pavilion), our paper chain caterpillars and this coffee filter butterfly craft.
Suggested Supplies for This Butterfly Craft
To make the most of your craft time with kids, I highly recommend that you gather these materials prior to starting. It makes it so much easier to relax and enjoy the creative experience.
Want your butterfly coffee filter craft to look just like the example in this tutorial? Simply follow the instructions! Feel free to use whatever color pipe cleaners you'd like, as well as paint the clothespin a different color.
To make this frugal craft, here's a list of the recommended materials:
- Coffee Filters
- Washable Markers
- Spray Bottle (with water)
- Clothespin
- Paint
- Pipe Cleaner
Related: This easy coffee filter rainbow craft is another excellent frugal activity!
How to Make This Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft
01
Prepare coffee filters
Color the coffee filter with the washable markers. It’s okay to leave small bits of white space. These areas will be colored when the ink spreads.
02
Water the coffee filters
Spray the coffee filter liberally with water. The ink will bleed through to the surface beneath, so it’s best to do this outside or on a piece of cardboard. Allow time to dry completely.
03
Prepare the clothespin body
While the filter is drying, paint the clothespin yellow (or any color you would like). Allow time to dry.
04
Prepare pipe cleaner antenna
While the clothespin is drying, cut a pipe cleaner in half. Bend the section into a V, and curl the ends toward the inside of the V.
05
Prepare pipe cleaner antenna
Once everything is dry, scrunch the coffee filter together in the middle, like a bowtie pasta. Clip the clothespin around the filter. Then, clip the pipe cleaner at the end, as antennae.
Draw two eyes with a black marker.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Coffee Filter Craft
This craft is perfect for preschoolers, elementary-aged kids, and even older kids who enjoy simple art projects. The steps can be adapted for younger kids by having an adult cut and twist the pipe cleaners. Older students can do more of the crafting themselves and add more details.
To make the colors pop, use more marker ink on the coffee filter and ensure the spray bottle has a fine mist. Lightly spraying water will help the colors bleed and mix, creating tie-dye effects. You can also try watercolor paints.
Yes! If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can dip the coffee filter in water or use a wet paintbrush (or foam brush) to gently moisten the filter and help the colors blend. The spray bottle just makes it quicker and easier to get that beautiful watercolor effect.
Creative Ideas for Enjoying Your Butterfly Crafts
This project is a fun, hands-on way to celebrate spring and more. I think it's wonderful for rainy day fun, screen-free activity, Learn About Butterflies Day (March 14), and just because. A few more ideas for when to include this craft in your schedule are:
- Spring theme in your classroom
- Library event (pair it with a butterfly-themed book)
- Homeschool co-op
- Brain break
- Part of a science lesson
Once your butterflies are dry, you can use them to decorate your homeschool space, classroom, or home for spring. Hang them on the walls, on windows, or attach them to a string to create a colorful garland. You can also turn them into gift tabs!
Have more fun with butterflies with these books and other resources:
Explore My World ButterfliesFlutter, Butterfly! (National Geographic Kids Readers, Pre-Reader)Butterflies for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to the Butterfly Life Cycle and Beautiful Species to DiscoverCaterpillar to Butterfly (National Geographic Kids Explore! Readers, Level 1) (National Geographic Kids Readers)Insect Lore Butterfly Garden Kit, Painted Lady Butterfly Kit with Voucher for Live Caterpillars, Butterfly Habitat, STEM Journal & MoreUltimate Butterfly Sticker Book with 100 Amazing Stickers: Learn All About Butterflies and Moths – with Fantastic Reusable Easy-To-Peel Stickers24 Sheets Make a Face Butterfly Stickers Make Your Own Stickers Games Party Favors for Festival Gifts Rewards Arts Crafts School Projects Butterfly Birthday Party SuppliesMudpuppy Butterflies Shaped Memory Match, Multicolor
⭐ Hurray! With these ideas and instructions on making this coffee filter butterfly craft, I hope you'll have a blast with your kids And I'd love to hear your ideas for making and using this project. Please share in the comments area at the bottom of this post!