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Folded Paper Morpho Butterfly - Easy Nature Craft for Kids

Brighten your day with these beautiful paper Blue Morpho Butterflies! They're super easy to make with common crafty items like paper, crayons, markers, and pipe cleaners. You can make this butterfly with just about anything: plain white paper, colorful construction paper, or tissue paper. While the directions show you how to make your butterfly look like a blue morpho, you can use any color you like—there's a lot of butterflies in the world to inspire your creativity!

5-10 minutes Ages 5-10 2 steps may need help

About This Project

A 5–10 minutes craft for ages 5–10, using supplies you likely already have — Scissors, Markers, and Crayons.

GlueStick supports kids from setup to cleanup. After they choose a project, we guide them through gathering the supplies, making it, and cleaning up when they're done. We'll even help them share it safely with trusted family and friends.

Ad-free and kid-safe library — designed by a mom who wants kids to explore and create independently.

This project is perfect for:

Nature Craft Projects
Spring Activities
Butterfly Studies
Paper Folding Crafts
Easy Kids Projects

Project Tags

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00:00

Scissors
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Markers
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Crayons
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Paper
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Black Pipe Cleaners
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Glitter Glue
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2
Make Folded Paper Morpho Butterfly

Messy Mode

Cut your paper into a square

The easiest way to cut a rectangular piece of paper into a square is to fold one corner down until it meets the other side. Then, trim off the extra.

Cut into rectangles

Cut the square into two rectangles. One will become your top wings. The second will be the bottom.

Fold the bottom wings

Take one rectangle and accordian fold it from the short side like the piece on the right. This will become your bottom wings.

Make the top wings

To make the top wings, fold the second strip in half lengthwise (see the left image) and open back up. Fold the corners to the center fold (like you're making a paper airplane). Cut off the corners. Next fold it like an accordion along the long edge--use the same size folds as the other strip.

Color your wings

Open your strips of paper and flatten them out. If you're using white paper, use crayons or markers to make the butterfly blue and add a black stripe along the edges as shown. Tissue paper and construction paper butterflies just need the black stripe. Bonus: add red dots along the stripe with glitter glue! If you use glue, you'll need to give the paper time to dry before moving on the next step.

Assemble your butterfly

Cut the pipecleaner in half. Fold the butterfly back up along the creases you made. Fold each strip in half. Place the two folded parts of the butterfly together as shown. Wrap one half of the pipe cleaner around the two wing pieces. This will make the butterfly body.

Add the antennae

Take the second half of the pipe cleaner and slip it under the loop of the first half. Bend in half and twist a couple times to secure. Curl the ends into a loop--this is the butterflies antenna.

Your creative buddy says:

"Let's stick together and make this one!"

Step 1: Cut your paper into a square

The easiest way to cut a rectangular piece of paper into a square is to fold one corner down until it meets the other side. Then, trim off the extra.

Step 2: Cut into rectangles

Cut the square into two rectangles. One will become your top wings. The second will be the bottom.

Step 3: Fold the bottom wings

Take one rectangle and accordian fold it from the short side like the piece on the right. This will become your bottom wings.

Step 4: Make the top wings

May need grown-up help

To make the top wings, fold the second strip in half lengthwise (see the left image) and open back up. Fold the corners to the center fold (like you're making a paper airplane). Cut off the corners. Next fold it like an accordion along the long edge--use the same size folds as the other strip.

Step 5: Color your wings

Open your strips of paper and flatten them out. If you're using white paper, use crayons or markers to make the butterfly blue and add a black stripe along the edges as shown. Tissue paper and construction paper butterflies just need the black stripe. Bonus: add red dots along the stripe with glitter glue! If you use glue, you'll need to give the paper time to dry before moving on the next step.

Step 6: Assemble your butterfly

May need grown-up help

Cut the pipecleaner in half. Fold the butterfly back up along the creases you made. Fold each strip in half. Place the two folded parts of the butterfly together as shown. Wrap one half of the pipe cleaner around the two wing pieces. This will make the butterfly body.

Step 7: Add the antennae

Take the second half of the pipe cleaner and slip it under the loop of the first half. Bend in half and twist a couple times to secure. Curl the ends into a loop--this is the butterflies antenna.
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Clean up
Put things away so your space is tidy for next time.
Tidy up our space

Pick up anything that fell on the floor.

Wipe up any spills on the table.

Put your completed project somewhere safe!

Throw away all your trash and recycling.
Put away our supplies

Check off each supply when it is put away — and any clean-up tips underneath are done too. You might find a fun surprise!

Put away markers. Where they belong:

— Don't forget! Close all marker caps tightly.

Put away crayons. Where they belong:

Put away paper. Where they belong:

Put away pipe cleaners. Where they belong:

Put away glitter glue. Where they belong:

Put away scissors. Where they belong:
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About the Author

STL Motherhood

I’m a boy mom, crafter and former reporter who loves taking my kids to superhero movies. Join me for a mix of traditional kid crafts, STEM fun and 3D printing.

More projects by this author

Folded Paper Morpho Butterfly - Easy Nature Craft for Kids

About This Project

Project Tags

Find Supplies

Make Folded Paper Morpho Butterfly

Step 1: Cut your paper into a square

Step 2: Cut into rectangles

Step 3: Fold the bottom wings

Step 4: Make the top wings

Step 5: Color your wings

Step 6: Assemble your butterfly

Step 7: Add the antennae

Clean up

Tidy up our space

Put away our supplies

Update what we have left

Save

Made something awesome? Keep going.

Save the Memory with a GlueStick Account

Got leftover supplies? Try these ideas!

More projects that are great for Easter

More projects from the Zoo area of the map

Upcycle supplies you already have in a flash

About the Author

STL Motherhood