How to Make Coffee Filter Butterflies

Simple Butterflies Made with Common Materials

May 15, 2009
Melissa Howard

Coffee Filter Butterfly - Melissa Howard

Coffee filter butterflies are made with common household materials making them a perfect craft for children on rainy days.

Coffee filter butterflies are a simple project that needs little or no planning, which makes it the perfect craft project for those rainy days when your children are stuck inside and need a little cheering up. In addition, the expense of the project is free to cheap. Most homes have all the supplies necessary for this project lying around the house. Because the materials can be easily found in most homes, you might even make the collection of the materials a scavenger hunt for the children to play before you have them make the butterfly. Then you could let them guess what it is they are going to create.

Supplies

paper coffee filters
markers or water paints
clothespin (you will need the type of clothespin that has a spring hinge)
tiny google eyes
glue
chenille stems

Coffee Filter Butterfly Instructions

Let the children color the coffee filter. For younger children, random coloring is acceptable. For older children who might want a symmetrical butterfly, fold the filter in half or draw a line down the middle so that they know where the body will be. Markers will produce a butterfly with more vivid coloring while water paints will create delicate pastel colored butterflies.
Have the children draw a smile on the clothespin near the end with the closure. If you are not using google eyes, have the children draw eyes for the butterfly as well.
Cut a length of chenille stem about four inches long. Fold it in half. Twirl each end around a pencil once to make curves for the antennae.
Accordion-fold or scrunch the coffee filter and fit it into the clothespin closure.
Fit the antennae in under the wings so that the clothespin holds them in place when closed.

Ideas and Suggestions

To prevent the chance of the butterfly falling apart if the children squeeze the pin open, use a bit of glue to hold everything in place.
Glue a magnet to the underside of the clothespin so that it can be used as a refrigerator magnet.
Have your children make a collection of them and make a fun spring mobile out of butterflies.
Decorate a tree for Easter or May Day with fun and whimsical butterflies.
Use the butterflies as tie-ons for gifts.
Perch a butterfly on the handle of a May basket or Easter basket.
Because this project does not take long to make and is very simple, it is a great craft to do with groups of children such as Sunday School classes, camping groups, or grade school classes.