33 Best Butterfly Crafts For Kids And Adults in 2026
Whether you’re looking for a fun way to celebrate spring or you want easy crafts to do at home any time of the year, butterfly crafts are an easy, pretty choice. But what materials work best for butterfly crafts? We’ve created a list of beautiful butterfly craft ideas for all ages that, for the most part, use simple materials you probably already have at home.
From butterfly crafts for kids to arts and crafts for adults, these bright and colorful crafts will brighten your spirits. They make great home décor, too! Plus, according to the University of Arizona, crafting has numerous health benefits, including reduced stress and the opportunity to gain knowledge by learning new skills, so you’ll be doing yourself or your little one a favor.
Jump to Section
- Butterfly Crafts For Toddlers
- Butterfly Crafts For Kids
- Butterfly Crafts For Adults
- Simple Butterfly Crafts
- Butterfly Crafts To Sell
- Get Crafty With A Guided Class
Butterfly Crafts For Toddlers
1. Coffee Filter Butterflies
Butterfly crafts for toddlers should be easy and fun, and coffee filter butterflies check both boxes. Simply color the coffee filters with markers and tie a pipe cleaner around the middle. Go the extra mile and try a tie-dye butterfly craft by using water-based markers, placing the filter in a pan and spraying water on it.
2. Bubble Butterfly Art
This is one of the easiest butterfly crafts out there, and it’s engaging enough to keep toddlers from getting bored. Start by cutting out a butterfly shape from any paper of your choice. Then, grab four empty jars with lids and add a different color of paint and a teaspoon of dish liquid to each. Here’s where the kids come in: they’ll take a straw and blow into each mixture to create bubbles, then wave the butterfly over the bubbles so they pop on the paper. Repeat the process until the butterfly is beautifully colored.
3. Symmetrical Butterfly Cards
Butterflies are known for their perfect symmetry, and the best butterfly crafts emulate that. This craft is great for toddlers because all they have to do is splotch some paint on one side of a butterfly-shaped card (the more abstract the design, the better!). Fold the card in half and open it back up to reveal a symmetrical pattern — no art skills necessary.
4. Footprint Butterflies
Footprint crafts are among the best for young children because they make great keepsakes. To make footprint butterfly crafts, start by drawing the head and body of a butterfly on any medium of your choice. Then, dip the child’s feet in paint and gently press them onto the surface to make the wings. You can stick with one color of paint, or draw a pattern (just make sure to do the same design on both feet) for a more intricate design.
5. Color Matching Butterflies
Butterfly crafts for toddlers that double as an educational activity? Sounds like a win-win. Print a sheet of butterflies in different colors, and give the kids stickers to match them to test their color knowledge.
6. Butterfly Sensory Play
Use butterfly crafts to teach kids about the life cycle of a butterfly. Fill a bin with four different pasta shapes to represent each phase of a butterfly’s life (egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and butterfly). Then, label four jars accordingly (with pictures to help the kids learn). Finally, have them sort the pasta into the appropriate jars.
7. Butterfly Sugar Cookies
Edible butterfly crafts for kids are sure to get their attention. Use a butterfly cookie cutter to make sugar cookies that the kids can help decorate. This is an especially great butterfly craft for Easter.
Butterfly Crafts For Kids
8. Origami Butterflies
Origami butterfly crafts for kids don’t just look pretty — they also help kids improve their fine motor skills while being super fun to make. Origami paper is very affordable, so get a bunch of different designs so everyone can choose their favorite. You’ll probably need to look up a tutorial on how to make the butterflies, but the kids will catch on in no time.
9. Butterfly Easter Eggs
Kids will love dyeing Easter eggs and painting beautiful butterflies on them. It's a simple idea that can keep kids entertained for ages.
10. Toilet Roll Butterfly
Butterfly crafts that use recyclable materials are a double win. Paint an empty toilet roll tube, then decorate it like a butterfly using construction paper, googly eyes and markers.
11. Butterfly Mask
Either print out a butterfly mask template or draw your own outline. Cut two eye holes, then let the kid(s) decorate it however they please.
12. Bead Butterflies
If you have any old beads lying around from broken necklaces or bracelets, turn them into butterfly crafts! Start by cutting pipe cleaners into four pieces: two large for the wings, and two smaller for the antennae and body. Then, kids can thread on the beads, twist the pipe cleaners together and bend them into a butterfly shape.
13. Crepe Paper Butterfly
Butterfly craft ideas for kids need to be engaging enough to prevent boredom, and crepe paper is the perfect solution. To start, you’ll need a butterfly template, a glue stick and several colors of crepe paper. Have the kids apply glue to the entire butterfly, then tear the paper into small pieces and stick them on the template. Finally, scrunch the paper for a 3D effect.
14. Butterfly Mosaic or Collage
The best butterfly crafts leave room for imagination. There are so many ways to make a butterfly mosaic or collage, allowing kids to get creative with colors and patterns. For a mosaic, cut scrap paper, such as old newspapers and magazines, into small squares, then glue them onto a larger piece of paper to form a butterfly. A collage is the same idea, but even more versatile; you can use everything from tissue paper to faux (or pressed) flowers.
15. Tissue Paper Butterflies
Speaking of tissue paper, you can use it to make the most adorable butterfly crafts for kids. Cut the tissue paper into rectangles, fold them into an accordion shape and wrap a pipe cleaner around the center to create the butterfly’s head and body. Then, fan out the paper to create the wings.
Butterfly Crafts For Adults
16. Butterfly “Taxidermy”
Don’t worry, no butterflies were harmed in the making of these butterfly crafts! This unique project involves making butterflies from denim and fabric scraps, then framing them with their scientific names displayed beneath.
17. Pressed Flower Butterfly
Butterfly crafts for adults don’t have to be super involved to be beautiful. To make a pressed flower butterfly, simply arrange pressed flowers on a butterfly outline. This is a great way to repurpose Valentine’s flowers so that you can hold that memory in a new way.
18. Butterfly Wreath
Whether it’s for your front door or a child’s bedroom, a wreath is one of the easiest and most versatile butterfly crafts for adults.
19. Crochet Butterflies
Not only are crochet butterfly crafts adorable, but they’re so relaxing to make, too.
20. Decoupage Butterfly Art
Butterfly crafts that look fancy but require little effort are the best. Decoupage paper and canvas are all you need for this lovely craft, and everyone will ask where you got it. You can decoupage a wall hanging, a keepsake box or a gift for your bestie.
21. Butterfly Window Clings
With liquid polymer clay, you can make the most unique butterfly craft ideas that look like stained glass.
Simple Butterfly Crafts
22. Butterfly Garland
Butterfly crafts don’t get much easier than this. Simply cut out butterfly shapes from construction paper and string them together.
23. Paper Plate Butterfly
Use everyday items to simplify your craft creation ideas. Cut two wings out of a paper plate and color them however you wish. Then, use black cardstock paper or a craft stick for the body, and finish decorating with jewels, pom-poms and other craft supplies.
24. Butterfly Candle Holders
Turn ordinary candles into simple butterfly crafts in just a few minutes. All you need are butterfly stickers and candle holders! Light your dining room up with a flurry of color.
25. Clothespin Butterflies
Clothespin butterflies are among the most classic butterfly craft ideas because they’re so cute and easy to make and fun to play with. The clothespins serve as the butterfly’s body, and cupcake liners are the wings. Decorate with basic supplies like markers, pom-poms and pipe cleaners for a fun activity for all ages.
26. Scrap Paper Butterflies
The best butterfly crafts are versatile ones. Use your favorite scrap paper to make the most adorable little butterflies to place anywhere you like. They'll be a great addition to your scrapbook.
27. Embroidered Butterflies
Embroidery can be as simple as you make it. These adorable butterflies don’t require a ton of intricate stitching, making them one of the best beginner butterfly crafts.
28. Butterfly Lantern
Brighten up any room with a paper lantern adorned with colorful cut-out butterflies. Make a typical paper lantern by gluing two edges of cardboard paper together and cutting slits for the light to shine through. Cut butterfly silhouettes with various colors and glue them on, or cut butterfly wings directly. The shadows they make on the wall are the best part.
Butterfly Crafts To Sell
29. Butterfly Magnets
Magnets are surprisingly easy to make at home, and they make beautiful butterfly crafts to sell. Simply stick cut-out paper butterflies onto small adhesive magnets, and you’re good to go!
30. Doily Butterfly Necklaces
Cut butterflies out of lace doilies and attach them to necklaces for a wearable craft that looks like it came from a jewelry store.
31. Butterfly Push Pins
It doesn’t get much simpler than butterfly push pins. All you need are pins and paper butterflies for this quick craft that makes bulletin boards pop.
32. Resin Butterfly Trays
The best butterfly crafts to sell use low-cost materials so you can actually turn a profit. With tin trays from the dollar store, resin and paper butterflies, you can make home décor pieces that look far more expensive than they are.
33. Butterfly Rings
Shrink plastic butterfly crafts are so much fun. Draw your butterflies, bake the plastic, let it cool and attach the designs to the ring backs.
Get Crafty With A Guided Class
Need inspiration for unique butterfly craft ideas? Perhaps an art class or guided pottery workshop is what you need. Bring a beautiful butterfly to life on canvas and take it home to display proudly. Or, take photography classes so you can learn how to take the best photos of real butterflies. Either way, a guided class lets you tap into your creativity in a fun, social environment, with talented instructors to help you hone your skills.
Which one of these butterfly crafts will you make first? With so many fun ideas to choose from, you can spread your wings and let your creativity reach new heights.
For a brilliantly fun guided DIY workshop, check out the experiences happening on Classpop!
