Adorable and Easy Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Craft

It’s officially Spring and that means bright and cheerful craftiness! Let’s start with something for kiddos like an adorable and easy pipe cleaner butterfly craft. This kids craft is super easy and only needs some of those pipe cleaners I know you have lying around and scissors.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

Looking for a fun and easy spring craft to make with the kiddos? This adorable pipe cleaner butterfly craft is the perfect quick and easy creation! Click To Tweet

My tiny humans are always playing with pipe cleaners. Sometimes, I swear, I don’t even know where they came from (like didn’t we use all of those at Christmastime?). I think part of the draw is that you can turn them into anything. Your imagination is the limit.

They have made bracelets, glasses, animal tails, clothes for dolls, springs… the list goes on and on. While I love letting them create freely, sometimes it’s fun to pass on my own knowledge and watch their eyes light up. That’s exactly what happened with this pipe cleaner butterfly craft. It went from, “That’s so cool, how did you make it” to, “Mom look! That was so easy!”

Of course, the youngest played with his for about 5 minutes before pulling it apart and turning it into something else but that’s also part of the fun. Much like play dough you can create, destroy, and recreate again and again. So grab the pipe cleaners and gather the little ones around the table for some fun and colorful spring creating.

Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Materials

Multi-Color Pack of Pipe Cleaners
Scissors

Step 1

First, grab 2 pipe cleaners of the same color and twist 1 set of ends together.

Step 2

Next, straighten the 2 pipe cleaners into one line and flatten the twisted joint so that it is flush with the pipe cleaner line.

Step 3

Then form a loop at one end of the joined pipe cleaners and twist once to secure.

Step 4

Add a second loop next to the first loop and, again, twist it one to secure. This creates your first wing.

Step 5

Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the rest of your joined pipe cleaners to create the second wing. Wrap any excess pipe cleaner ends around the center to secure in place.

Step 6

Next, grab one pipe cleaner in a different color and secure it to the middle of your butterfly wings by wrapping it 2-3 times around the center of them.

Step 7

Then fold your pipe cleaner in on itself to form the butterfly body and twist it together. Leave a small loop at the top as pictured.

Step 8

Now cut a smaller piece of pipe cleaner in the same color as your butterfly body.

Mom Note:

If your child is still using the plastic safety scissors, you might have to help with this part. They didn’t cut very well for us and I eventually just grabbed my scissors and did it for him.

Step 9

Thread the small piece of pipe cleaner through the loop at the top of your butterfly body and twist the open loop you left in step 7 to secure it.

Step 10

Lastly, curl the ends of the small piece of pipe cleaner to look like antennae for your butterfly.

The great thing about this adorable and easy pipe cleaner butterfly craft is that once you can shape and bend the wings once it is made. Pull the wings slightly together to create a creature that looks as though it is ready to take flight. You can also make multiple pipe cleaner butterflies and thread them together to create a mobile. Or simply let the kiddos take flight on a playful adventure and run around the house with their creations. No matter what you choose, these adorable little critters are sure to be a fun craft to make with the kiddos.

See where I’m linking up!