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Easy Paper Butterfly with Step by Step Photo instructions

February 1, 2022

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. We love these accordion fold butterflies. A wonderful technique for kids.

How to make a paper butterfly
These easy paper butterflies where first published in Feb 2017 and have been republished for your convenience

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!

How can I decorate with paper butterflies?

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!

Do I need a butterfly template to make these?

No, not at all! Making paper butterflies has never been easier! You just need a paper square cut into two rectangles. You will see how quick and easy it is to make these butterflies. They come out perfectly every time. So no Butterfly Template is needed!

Can I use construction paper to make these paper butterflies?

If you make a larger version of these butterflies, then construction paper should be ok. But personally, I find origami paper or ordinary “printer paper” better! It allows for neater creases and makes that contrast between shadow and light more effective. I find construction paper is “flatter” and somehow absorbs the light more!

How do you make a pleated butterfly?

A pleated butterfly craft is the same as an accordion butterfly! So do read on… and learn how to make an accordion butterfly with us today!

What does it mean to accordion fold? What is accordion fashion?

An accordion fold is a super popular paper crafting technique – which looks great and is easy to do. It is basically an “alternating” fold of same sized panels. Today’s tutorial shows you how to create this accordion fold technique. Read on!

Easy Paper Butterfly – Supplies needed:

You will find that you don’t need many supplies to make these adorable butterflies. No trips to the craft store or hobby lobby to make purchases necessary!

Easy Paper Butterfly Origami - beautiful origami butterflies for kids to make. These look super effective, would look great as a wall decoration, mobile, mirror or picture frame decoration, but also as a hair piece or as part of a greeting card. One lovely butterfly craft for kids. Lots of gorgeous uses! #butterflies #buttefly #paperbutterfly #papercrafts #origami
Easy Paper Butterfly tutorial – simple but effective paper craft for kids
  • 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 – any color paper is lovely)
  • scissors
  • a piece of ribbon, wire or thread for tying and hanging!

Paper Butterfly Lesson Plan

If you find it convenient, I have a short lesson plan and one page worksheet for download in my teachers pay teachers store. Buying this allows you to support the upkeep and running of the blog! People find printing thse full instructions on one sheet of paper for the classroom really handy! ๐Ÿ™‚

How to make an Easy Paper Butterfly tutorial with step photos:

In essence the video tutorial is a great help for showing you how to make these butterflies, but I will add simple written instructions below it!

Step by Step Photo tutorial:

If you prefer step by step instructions with photos (versus the video shared on auto play), read on.

Make your first set of wings

step by step paper butterfly
  • 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.

Make your second set of smaller wings

You can use a different color paper to make the second set of wings if you wish! A lovely way to vary this cute paper butterfly craft and personalise to your DIY project.

paper butterfly
  • Now take the second strip of your origami paper and start folding it into a conertina across the short width. This is what is known as an accordion fold and is a popular paper crafting technique!
  • Fold both pieces in half.
  • Tie with a ribbon or thread and secure. Some people like to secure the two butterfly wing halves with a hot glue gun. But I find robbons work well. Alternatively you can take a pipe cleaner for this part and make butterfly antennae too!
  • 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. I reckon this craft would work well as tissue paper butterflies as well? You could make large ones this way!

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!

These paper butterfly instructions are also available to print – if you which to include a bit more details and step photos, you can get copies on TPT – else grab a quick print out here:

Paper butterfly
Print

Easy Paper Butterfly

Learn how to make a paper butterfly using the paper accordion folding technique, easy and effective
Active Time20 mins

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

We also have some paper flowers using the accordion fold technique, that you may love:

paper flower

If you liked our easy paper butterflies, you will love this extensive set of origami for kids – check out all the ideas here:

origami for kids FB
We love easy origami for kids!
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Filed Under: Origami, Paper Crafts, Spring, Summer, vlogs 34 Comments

Comments

  1. Mizuki says

    February 16, 2017 at 10:24 am

    This is so cute! <3 Perfect props for baby portrait shoots <3 I'll recommend this to my client ๐Ÿ™‚ Thanks for sharing, Maggy! Lovely blog <3 Cheers! xx

    Reply
  2. Indu shalini says

    April 17, 2017 at 8:28 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      April 18, 2017 at 8:58 am

      Ah, good question!! Maybe tape a little string to the edge of one of the wings and let it dangle at an angle instead?

      Reply
    • Julie Moore says

      July 17, 2017 at 7:10 am

      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!

      Reply
      • Red Ted Art says

        July 20, 2017 at 7:22 pm

        Love it!!

        Reply
  3. Royal Chauffeur says

    May 9, 2017 at 2:40 pm

    WOW !! SO cute

    Reply
  4. Kieu Chinh says

    June 6, 2017 at 2:45 am

    Wow! great

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    August 6, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    Too bad you can’t see her making it she’s off to the side

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      August 6, 2017 at 7:39 pm

      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?

      Reply
  6. tamiya says

    September 7, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    so cute love these

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      September 8, 2017 at 8:06 am

      thank you!

      Reply
  7. Line says

    March 11, 2018 at 7:39 pm

    I can’t see anything on the video ๐Ÿ™
    I heard the sound but there ยด s no video… is that normal ?

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      March 12, 2018 at 8:48 am

      No not normal at all! So sorry about this, will get it fixed ASAP!!

      Reply
    • Ricardo says

      October 2, 2018 at 9:52 pm

      Are you using a MAC by any chance?

      Reply
      • Red Ted Art says

        October 3, 2018 at 9:47 am

        LOL no

        Reply
  8. Tanasia Roberson says

    March 19, 2018 at 4:08 pm

    awww it is so so so cuteeeeeeeeee !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yall should try it.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      March 19, 2018 at 4:56 pm

      Enjoy!!!

      Reply
  9. April Z says

    March 29, 2018 at 12:20 pm

    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. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      March 29, 2018 at 6:36 pm

      So happy! YAY!

      Reply
  10. Colette says

    June 19, 2018 at 4:43 am

    These are adorable! Your instructions are so easy to follow, too.

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      June 19, 2018 at 8:28 am

      So pleased you like them!

      Reply
  11. Sally E. Goff says

    January 6, 2019 at 10:49 am

    I love butterflies these are beautiful. I hang mine in my car from the rear view mirror.!

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      January 6, 2019 at 11:13 am

      Oh wonderful!

      Reply
  12. BlindGirlUK says

    February 27, 2019 at 2:29 pm

    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.

    Reply
  13. Libby says

    February 27, 2019 at 2:32 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Red Ted Art says

      March 1, 2019 at 10:01 am

      Glad you got there in the end and that she loved it!

      Reply

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