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    Home » Crafts » Kids Crafts

    How To Make A 3D Paper Butterfly Craft [FREE Printable Template]

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    Paper Crafts For Kids
    how to make a 3D butterfly with paper
    how to make 3d butterfly out of paper

    Learn how to make a 3D paper butterfly craft with simple steps. Perfect for crafts, home decoration, or creative projects. A great way for kids of all ages to create these beautiful butterflies.

    paper 3D butterfly

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    The kids are going to love making this 3D Paper Butterfly craft! It's a beautiful Spring craft that will have them peering out the windows to see if any live butterflies just so happen to be fluttering by. 

    The best part about this butterfly craft is that it's simple and easy to do. It's time to let the kids fill the house full of their beautiful 3 D paper butterfly craft creations to really get the house feeling like spring!

    All you need to do to get started is to use the butterfly craft templates at the bottom of the post and gather the needed supplies! 

    3D paper butterfly

    3D Paper Butterfly

    This spring butterfly craft is such a cute activity for the kids. Being able to create a butterfly and give it a fun and special look is the perfect way to celebrate spring. We've made this craft sitting inside at the table or outside on a bright and sunny day - and the best part? Every time that the kids want to make these fun DIY butterflies, they look different each time. 

    The kids will have so much fun creating a beautiful butterfly craft. Not only will it help them work on their listening skills and fine motor skills but it will also help with their creativity, too! 

    Give them the freedom to create a butterfly however, they want as long as they're doing their best to listen and follow along. The result will be a lovely butterfly that you can easily hang up and display for the world to see. 

    If you're looking for a fun and easy paper craft that is certain to bring a smile to your kid's face, this is it! There is no one out there that doesn't love butterflies and being able to create them with paper and other easy supplies is simply the best! 

    Spring is in the air and so are all the butterfly crafts. If you love them as much as we do, then you will not want to miss our other popular butterfly crafts including:

    • Butterfly Popsicle Stick Puppets
    • Easy Paper Butterfly Craft
    • Butterfly Origami
    • Handprint Butterfly
    • Tissue Paper Butterflies
    • Paper Plate Butterfly
    • Pom Pom Butterflies.

    Don't miss our How To Draw a Butterfly Tutorial, Animal Crafts, and Animal Facts For Kids.

    Supplies For Paper Crafts

    Paper Butterfly Supplies
    • Butterfly Printable Template - at the bottom of the post
    • Cardstock Paper or Construction Paper
    • Scissors
    • Single hole punch
    • Tissue paper
    • Craft Glue
    • Pipe cleaner     
    • Yarn or string (not pictured)

    How to Make a 3D Butterfly

    1. Print and cut the butterfly templates out of cardstock

    The first step is to print and cut the butterfly templates out of card stock. There aren't any intricate cuts which makes this a great craft for little hands.

    Body of the Butterfly

    I chose purple cardstock, but any bright color will make a beautiful butterfly.

    I chose purple cardstock, but any bright color will make beautiful different butterflies.

    Using a hole punch, make multiple holes in each of the butterfly wings.

    The next steps start with using a hole punch, to make multiple holes in each of the butterfly wings.

    Four Hole Punched Butterflies

    Make holes in all four butterflies.

    Cut up small squares of tissue paper.

    Cut up small squares of tissue paper.

    Apply glue to the back of each butterfly wing around the holes, and place tissue paper squares over the holes.

    Apply glue to the back of each butterfly wing around the holes.

    Once all wings are covered with tissue paper, glue two of the butterfly wings together, with the tissue paper side on the inside.

    Place tissue paper squares over the holes.

    Bend the butterflies slightly down the middle to make a slight crease.

    Cover all holes on the back of the butterfly.

    Continue glueing the butterflies together, until all of the tissue paper square sides are glued together.

    Make sure all four of your butterflies are covered.

    Make 2 holes at the top of one butterfly for antennas.

    Once all the inside wings are covered with tissue paper, glue two of the butterfly wings together, with the tissue paper side on the inside.

    Bend paper butterfly in half

    Bend the butterflies slightly down the middle to make a slight crease.

    glue four butterflies together

    Continue gluing the butterflies together, until all of the tissue paper square sides are glued together.

    hole punch the top

    Make 2 holes at the top of one butterfly for antennas. Make 2 additional holes on the opposite butterfly, so that they line up.

    Cut a pipe cleaner in half, and thread through the top holes, and twist.

    Cut a pipe cleaner in half, thread through the top holes, and twist.

    Curl the antennas a bit at the ends.

    Curl the antennas a bit at the ends.

    Turn Butterfly into suncatcher

    Cut a piece of yarn or string, thread it under the pipe cleaner, and tie it at the top in a knot. Hang the 3 D butterfly mobile near a bright window, and watch the light stream through the tissue paper holes of the butterfly wings.  

    We highlighted this Spring Craft along with some other fun kid's crafts in our April Crafts for Kids along with our 101+ Easy Craft Ideas for kids.

    You also do not want to miss our 101+ Printable Coloring Pages For Kids and 101+ Printables For Kids full of Crafts and Coloring Pages.

    kids spring crafts

    Other Spring Crafts You'll Love

    • Strawberry Painted Rocks
    • Nature Scavenger Hunt
    • Orange Bird Feeder
    • Picture Flower Kids Craft
    • Popsicle Stick DIY Flower Bookmark
    3D Paper Butterfly Template

    Download The Free Butterfly Template

    Enter your email in the form below and you'll be taken directly to the Free Printable Butterfly Template.

    *For personal use only

    3D Paper Butterfly
    Print

    3D Paper Butterfly Craft

    There is nothing more fun for Spring than a sweet butterfly. This 3D Paper Butterfly is all kinds of fun and making our Spring Happy!
    Course Kids Crafts
    Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes minutes
    Servings 1 3D Paper Butterfly
    Author Alli Ward

    Equipment

    • Scissors

    Ingredients

    • Butterfly Template - Download Below
    • Cardstock
    • Single hole punch
    • Tissue paper
    • Glue stick
    • Pipe cleaner
    • Yarn or string not pictured

    Instructions

    • Print and cut the butterfly templates out of cardstock.
      1. Print and cut the butterfly templates out of cardstock
    • I chose purple cardstock, but any bright color will make a beautiful butterfly.
      I chose purple cardstock, but any bright color will make a beautiful butterfly.
    • Using a hole punch, make multiple holes in each of the butterfly wings.
      Using a hole punch, make multiple holes in each of the butterfly wings.
    • Make holes in all four butterflies.
      Four Hole Punched Butterflies
    • Cut up small squares of tissue paper.
      Cut up small squares of tissue paper.
    • Apply glue to the back of each butterfly wing around the holes.
      Apply glue to the back of each butterfly wing around the holes, and place tissue paper squares over the holes.
    • Place tissue paper squares over the holes.
      Once all wings are covered with tissue paper, glue two of the butterfly wings together, with the tissue paper side on the inside.
    • Cover all holes on the back of the butterfly.
      Bend the butterflies slightly down the middle to make a slight crease.
    • Make sure all four of your butterflies are covered.
      Continue glueing the butterflies together, until all of the tissue paper square sides are glued together.
    • Once all wings are covered with tissue paper, glue two of the butterfly wings together, with the tissue paper side on the inside.
      Make 2 holes at the top of one butterfly for antennas.
    • Bend the butterflies slightly down the middle to make a slight crease.
      Bend paper butterfly in half
    • Continue gluing the butterflies together, until all of the tissue paper square sides are glued together.
      glue four butterflies together
    • Make 2 holes at the top of one butterfly for antennas. Make 2 additional holes on the opposite butterfly, so that they line up.
      hole punch the top
    • Cut a pipe cleaner in half, and thread through the top holes, and twist.
      Cut a pipe cleaner in half, and thread through the top holes, and twist.
    • Curl the antennas a bit at the ends.
      Curl the antennas a bit at the ends.
    • Cut a piece of yarn or string, and thread it under the pipe cleaner, and tie at the top in a knot. Hang the mobile near a bright window, and watch the light stream through the tissue paper holes of the butterfly wings.  
      Turn Butterfly into suncatcher

    Video

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    3D Paper Butterfly

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    3 D paper butterflies

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    About Alli

    Discover a world of creativity and joy with Alli Ward, the creative mind behind Made with Happy. From DIY crafts to delicious recipes, Alli brings happiness to every project!

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    Hi, I'm Alli Ward, the Maker behind Made with Happy. I'm a color-obsessed creative mom of two sharing easy crafts, printables, and home DIY projects that the whole family will love! 

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