Spring Craft Project: Chenille Stem Butterflies

Get in the mood for spring by creating these adorable chenille stem butterflies. This spring craft project is fairly simple to make so most children will be able to participate. There are a number of ways this spring craft project can be used to decorate your home for the season. You can create a butterfly mobile, place the butterflies in household plants, use as a fridge magnet or use to decorate a gift.

Before beginning this spring craft of chenille stem butterflies there are a few basic supplies that you will need. The first list of materials is the necessary supplies to make the butterflies and the second list of materials are the supplies you would need to turn the butterflies into various decorations.

Main supplies for this spring craft are as follows: one piece of black chenille stem per butterfly, a choice of bumpy chenille stems in different colours such as yellow, purple, orange, blue, red and pink, pom poms in a choice of colours, wire cutters, needle nose pliers and tacky glue.

The secondary list for this spring craft is as follows: magnets, fishing line or yarn, paper plate, wide craft sticks, paint brush, paint and ribbon.

When you have all of your spring craft materials prepared call the kids and get to work. The first step in the butterfly spring craft is to create the body of the butterfly. To do this take a black chenille stem and cut it in half.

Next decide which colour your butterfly’s wings will be by picking one of your bumpy chenille stems. Pick up your choice and fold the stem in half creating a V shape. Then take one end of the bumpy chenille stem and bend it down toward the bottom of the V. Now bend this part of the bump chenille stem around the V resulting in this part of the stem now pointing upwards. Next repeat the same process with the other side of the bumpy chenille stem. While doing this step have your needle nose pliers handy so that you can use them to put any sharp ends out of sight.

After creating the butterfly wings take a piece of the black chenille stem and fold it in half. When folded take the end with the fold and twist it at about half and inch from the fold.

When complete pick up the butterfly wings and slip them in between the ends of the black chenille stem. Once in place take one black stem end and fold over about one quarter of an inch of it. Then taking the same end fold it over again. When the first piece of black stem is finished do the same thing with the second piece of black stem. This step creates the antennas of your butterfly.

At this point you have a butterfly and can decide to finish with this spring craft project or you can continue.

One nice way to add some more colour to your butterfly spring craft is by using pom poms. If you choose this each butterfly will need four pom poms. Take one pom pom for each open hole in the butterfly’s wings. Place the pom pom in the hole and secure it in place with some tacky glue.

If you would like to use your butterfly on your refrigerator simply glue a magnet to the back of your butterfly spring craft and let it dry. Other fun uses for your butterfly spring craft include using it to decorate your household plants. To do this use a craft stick and either leaving it plain or first painting it a bright spring colour glue it to the back of your butterfly. Once the stick is dry you can use one end to stick into the pot dirt and place your butterfly spring craft in your plant.

It is also possible to make a butterfly mobile. For this you will need to create at least three butterflies. Then decorate your paper plate by painting it springy colours or even painting a sky with clouds on it. Punch holes in the paper plate so that you can attach the butterflies, which will be hanging at the end of the fishing line or yarn.

Finally a butterfly spring craft makes a cute gift topper. Simply use a piece of ribbon and attach the butterfly to the gift.

Reference:

• www.kidsdomain.com/