Butterfly crafts are one of our favorite things to make with preschool and elementary-age kids (like this handprint butterfly!) and this easy craft idea is perfect to celebrate the spring season or to make with a butterfly lover any time of the year!
Clothespin crafts are fun because there are a million things you can make with them, and they are easy to add magnets to for fridge displays to hold other art as well!
Looking for more spring crafts? Check out:
- Bunny English Muffin (An Easy Easter Breakfast Idea!)
- Easter Bingo – Free Printable for Kids
- Froot Loops Rainbow Craft (and Snack!)
- Leprechaun Handprint Craft for St. Patrick’s Day
Why Kids Love Clothespin Butterfly Crafts:
- These butterflies are easy to assemble and kids can pick out all the colors to create their own unique butterfly.
- Kids can learn about types of butterflies in your area and choose colors to match that kind of butterfly as you learn a few facts about them.
- These can be played with outdoors as an interactive toy and fly around from flower to flower!
- Make this craft after doing our Outdoor Scavenger Hunt (Free Printable!) and finding real butterflies outside!
What You’ll Need to Make a Clothespin Butterfly:
- Clothespins
- Pom poms
- Pipe cleaners
- School glue or low-temp glue gun (used with supervision)
- Google eyes
How to Make a Clothespin Butterfly Craft:
- Take two pipe cleaners for the butterfly wings. Cut one pipe cleaner a little shorter to be the smaller set of wings. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner around each other to make a circle, then twist the middle once or twice to make a “figure 8” shape.
- Glue the larger set of wings near the top of the clothespin between the the two pieces that you pinch to open the clothespin. Then, glue the smaller set underneath it so it sits below it.
- Fold another piece of pipe cleaner in half to make a “V” for the antenna and curl the ends outward around a pencil or your finger for the curly edges. Glue in place at top of the clothespin.
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
- Glue your pom poms onto the front of your clothespin to be the body of your butterfly.
- Glue on google eyes to give your butterfly some personality! Once the glue is fully set, your butterfly is ready to play with or display!
More Insect-Themed Crafts and Activities:
- Easy Origami Butterfly
- Insect Memory Game – Free Printable
- Love Bug Craft
- Butterfly Template – Free Printable
- Handprint Butterfly Craft
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I store these clothespin butterflies?
As long as the components are glued on securely, these butterflies should hold up pretty well stored in a box or bin to save or play with later.
The pipe cleaners may need a little reshaping if smushed, but they should go back to their original shape easily.
Get creative ideas for recipes, crafts, decor, and more in your inbox!
Get the How-To
Supplies
- 1 school glue
- pom poms (4-5 per butterfly)
- 3 pipe cleaners
- 2 google eyes
Instructions
- Take two pipe cleaners for the butterfly wings. Cut one pipe cleaner a little shorter to be the smaller set of wings. Wrap the ends of the pipe cleaner around each other to make a circle, then twist the middle once or twice to make a “figure 8” shape.
- Glue the larger set of wings near the top of the clothespin between the the two pieces that you pinch to open the clothespin and glue the smaller set underneath it so it sits below it.
- Fold another piece of pipe cleaner in half to make a “V” for the antenna and curl the ends outward around a pencil or your finger for the curly edges. Glue in place at top of the clothespin.
- Glue your pom poms onto the front of your clothespin to be the body of your butterfly.
- Glue on google eyes to give your butterfly some personality! Once the glue is fully set, your butterfly is ready to play with or display!