Since warm weather is here to stay, I thought a fun way to celebrate would be with a Colorful Clothespin and Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft.
My daughter and I have seen this made a couple different ways with either crayons or markers but decided to add our own spin by using a spray bottle for a tie-dye effect.
This activity is great for young children because it is a no glue craft and allows them to use their creativity. Not to mention, it is wonderful for hand eye coordination and can be used to reinforce colors.
If you would like to recreate this Clothespin and Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft, you will need the following:
– Coffee Filters
– Clothespins
– Washable Markers
– Fuzzy Sticks AKA Pipe Cleaners
– Spray Bottle
– Sticky Magnets
– Safety Scissors
– Paper towels
Tip: Most of these items can be found around your home or purchased from a craft store.
Directions:
To get started, first lay down paper towels to protect surfaces. Then, select the color markers your child would like to use on the Clothespin and Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft.
Next up, lay the coffee filter out flat on the paper towel and start making designs on it with the markers. Your child can make rainbows, hearts, lines, the possibilities are endless.
Once complete, take the spray bottle and lightly mist the areas that have been drawn on with the marker. You will see the colors start to fade and combine.
If your child wants the colors to mix even more, pick up the coffee filter and let the water spread downward. Once complete, transfer the coffee filter to a new piece of paper towel to allow it to dry.
My daughter made 5 different designs and we then laid these out in the sun for about an hour.
Next, it is time to start creating the butterflies. Take the dried coffee filter and start folding it like an accordion. Then, squeeze the middle and clamp it with the clothespin.
Tip: These coffee filters can also be turned into flowers. Simply follow the directions for the butterflies but instead of using the clothespin take a fuzzy stick and wrap it around the folded accordion shape to make a flower design. You can take multiple coffee filters and combine them together to make even bigger flowers.
You can now add the antenna to the top of the Butterfly. First, take a piece of fuzzy stick and cut it in half. Then, take one of the pieces and wrap it around the top of the clothes pin that is open.
Once complete, these butterflies can be displayed by adding a magnet on the back to hang on a refrigerator or another metal surface. You can also take another fuzzy stick and attach it to the butterfly as well as a craft stick and use that to insert the craft into a plant or a vase.
Looking for another craft to compliment this activity? Check out this Flower Bookmark Craft.
As you can see this Clothespin and Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft is a simple yet beautiful activity and I hope your family also has fun putting it together.
Carlee @ FLL
This craft was also featured in the April/ May Edition of Nextgen Magazine.
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