We have made a Simple Origami Butterfly before, but this easy paper butterfly, I think is indeed EVEN EASIER! Strictly speaking these are not “pure” origami, as there is a little cutting involved, as well as the need for a little bit of string or glue. But I still think it is a great paper craft for kids and a wonderful introduction to origami for beginners as it uses some basic origami folds. You may also love to see these ecclectic and easy butterfly crafts!
These paper butterflies can be used in lots of different ways – turn them into a darling butterfly mobile, decorate your wall. Make small ones and add them to an Alice band or brooch. Decorate a photo frame or glue on top of an Origami Box as a pretty DIY gift box. I would love to hear what ideas you have for using these lovely easy paper butterflies!
These easy paper butterflies where first published in Feb 2017 and have been republished for your convenience
Paper Butterfly – materials:
- a square sheet of paper (we used origami paper, but printer quality paper or thinner works great too. It doesn’t matter too much how big your paper is, but ours was approximately 15cm x 15cm)
- scissors
- a piece of ribbon, wire or thread
Easy Paper Butterfly How To:
In essence the video is a great help for showing you how to make these butterflies, but I will add simple written instructions below it!
- Begin by cutting your square piece of paper in half
- Take one piece and fold it in half LENGTH ways.
- Open it up and fold in the corners, so you have a rectangle with pointy ends.
- Fold in half again – coloured side facing out.
- Now you need to “concertina each side”. Our concertinas are approximately half a centimeter wide.
- Now take the second strip of your origami paper and start folding it into a conertina across the short width.
- Fold both pieces in half.
- Tie with a ribbon or thread and secure.
- Your easy paper butterfly is done!
My kids REALLY LOVE creating concertina paper – I have no idea why it is so appealing to them, but any craft involving making a paper concertina always fascinates them. So this paper butterfly craft is just the thing for them. It is a great way to help them concentrate and follow a simple pattern and introduces the basis of origami for kids. I think that the resulting butterfly craft is simply adorable and looks far more complicate than the craft actually is! I hope you enjoy this paper craft as much as we do!
Easy Paper Butterfly
Equipment
- Paper – 15cm x 15cm
- Scissors
- String for hanging
Instructions
- Cut the square paper in half
- Take one piece and fold it in half LENGTH ways
- Open it up and fold in the 4 corners to meet the
central fold, so you have a rectangle with pointy ends - Now you need to concertina the paper. And then fold
in half - Now take the second strip of your origami paper and
start folding it into a concertina across the short width. Fold in half - Tie with a ribbon or thread and secure. Finished!
Video
Notes
If you liked our easy paper butterflies, you will love this extensive set of origami for kids – check out all the ideas here:
This is so cute! <3 Perfect props for baby portrait shoots <3 I'll recommend this to my client 🙂 Thanks for sharing, Maggy! Lovely blog <3 Cheers! xx
Hi,
The butterfly looks very cute. I tried making it and it came out pretty well. Thanks for the easy to follow instructions.
I tried hanging it on to my window, but it’s going upside down. Do you have any tips on how to hang it straight?
Thanks,
Indu
Ah, good question!! Maybe tape a little string to the edge of one of the wings and let it dangle at an angle instead?
Just a little blue tack in the middle and stick to a wall instead of hanging in your room. Do different sizes and colours and have your butterflies “flying” away! They look great!
Love it!!
WOW !! SO cute
Wow! great
Too bad you can’t see her making it she’s off to the side
I am very confused by your comment. I never go “off screen”, I am just working “off centre”, is this some tunnel vision issue that I am not aware of?
so cute love these
thank you!
I can’t see anything on the video 🙁
I heard the sound but there ´ s no video… is that normal ?
No not normal at all! So sorry about this, will get it fixed ASAP!!
Are you using a MAC by any chance?
LOL no
awww it is so so so cuteeeeeeeeee !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yall should try it.
Enjoy!!!
You saved the day with these butterflies. My daughter picked Oragami as her market day item to sell at school. Well, not as easy as it looks and we were struggling. I came across this on Pinterest. Easy Peasy. We were able to make a ton of them for her to “sell” at school in no time (she’s in the 1st grade). Thank you so much for posting this! Truly would have been in a bind if you hadn’t. 🙂
So happy! YAY!
These are adorable! Your instructions are so easy to follow, too.
So pleased you like them!
I love butterflies these are beautiful. I hang mine in my car from the rear view mirror.!
Oh wonderful!
I made this for my friend’s 21st. At first it was hard to follow, but that was only because I didn’t know what the big word meant. (It began with a C). This was a lot easier than other tutorials I’ve seen.
Thanks.
I made this for my friend’s 21st birthday and at first it was hard to follow but that was because I didn’t know what the big word meant. (It began with a C). She loved it. Thanks
Glad you got there in the end and that she loved it!