10 Easy Butterfly Crafts Your Kids Can Actually Do
Are you a busy or not-so-crafty mom looking for simple butterfly crafts that your toddlers and preschoolers can actually do? These 10 easy butterfly crafts are perfect for your kids. Whether you’re looking for a last-minute activity or a fun time with your littles, each of these butterfly crafts is made for moms who want 5-minute wins without the mess.
I’ve also included age suggestions for each craft to make it even easier for you.
All you need are a few everyday items you have at home, plus the most basic craft materials, and you’re ready to have some butterfly fun.
Easy Butterfly Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Let’s get crafting!
1. Footprint Butterfly Craft (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5-10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Kids who love glue and colour
What It Teaches: Colour recognition, fine/gross motor skills
Why Moms Love It: Uses supplies already at home + little to no cleanup
This butterfly craft is a keepsake and a craft in one! It’s one you’ll enjoy making with your child, and it takes a little over 5 minutes to make.
2. Peg & Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Craft (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5-10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Kids who love glue and colour
What It Teaches: Fine motor skills, colour matching
Why Moms Love It: Uses cheap craft materials and ones already on hand. Requires no cleanup at all + no cutting required, and great for building little hand strength.
This is a quick bend, twist and clip butterfly craft that needs only a clothespin, pipe cleaners and googly eyes.
3. Yarn & Pipe Cleaner Butterfly (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5-10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Kids who love yarn or string play
What It Teaches: Fine motor skills, texture exploration
Why Moms Love It: It’s quiet and no mess.
If you’ve got leftover yarn and need a quiet afternoon, then give this craft a try; with just two materials, you’ve got yourself a quiet activity for your toddlers or preschoolers.
4. Spoon & Crepe Paper Butterfly Craft (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Creative play + pretend use
What It Teaches: Sensory exploration, fine motor
Why Moms Love It: Doubles as a puppet for storytime or imaginative play.
You only need crepe paper, a spoon and glue for this craft. With just those three materials, your child has a DIY pretend play craft.
5. Egg Carton Caterpillar to Wrapping Sheet Butterfly (Ages 3–5)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Mess Level: Minimal
Best For: Teaching transformation and talking about metamorphosis.
What It Teaches: Sequencing, nature cycles
Why Moms Love It: Educational and crafty—it’s two crafts in one!
Transform a caterpillar into a butterfly with this easy craft idea.
6. Toilet Paper Roll Butterfly Craft (Ages 3–5)
Time: 10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Recycling fun
What It Teaches: Upcycling
Why Moms Love It: A great way to use up those empty paper rolls lying around.
If you’re like me and always have a stash of toilet paper rolls on hand, you’ll love this easy butterfly idea! And if you want more like this, check out my favourite toilet paper roll activities for toddlers that are just as simple.
7. Paper Plate & Pom Pom Butterfly (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Kids who love glue dots and stickers
What It Teaches: Patterns, colour recognition, fine motor.
Why Moms Love It: Tons of visual fun—and a great toddler hands-on activity. Also, great for a mix of glueing, sticking, and creativity.
This is a fun way to sneak in counting and practice colour sorting or patterns, especially for 2-year-olds. We used a similar setup for our paper plate jellyfish craft—super fun, super simple.
8. Easy Finger Dot Butterfly Craft (Ages 2–4)
Time: 10 minutes
Mess Level: Medium mess
Best For: Little fingers and sensory fun
What It Teaches: Colour mixing, hand-eye coordination
Why Moms Love It: No scissors or glue involved, easy-to-access supplies, minimal prep and great for sensory play.
This butterfly craft activity is a great way to let your child have some sensory fun. And, if you love hands-on, multi-sensory fun, check out my summer sensory activities that toddlers love.
9. Nature Butterfly with Leaves & Twigs (Ages 2–5)
Time: 5–10 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Exploring nature
What It Teaches: Nature appreciation, textures.
Why Moms Love It: Perfect opportunity to sneak in a calming nature walk with your child.
This easy butterfly craft is a beautiful way to mix craft and a nature walk.
For a bonus, add some flower-scented glue or essential oils for a sensory element.
10. Cupcake Liner Butterfly Craft (Ages 2–5)
Time:10-20 minutes
Mess Level: Low
Best For: Mixing colours, visual arts
What It Teaches: Folding
Why Moms Love It: Perfect for last-minute activity time and requires little cleanup
This cupcake liner butterfly is the cutest thing you’ll make with your child. Just fold and glue! Perfect for ages 2–5, busy moms and not-so-crafty moms who don’t want a 10-hour-long process.
Conclusion
These ideas are playful and easy enough for even your 2-year-old to handle (with supervision, of course), and you don’t need to overthink any of the crafts above; just grab your supplies and go. And even better, you do not need to make any store runs because you most likely have all you need around your home.
Which butterfly are you making first?
Leave a comment, tag me @3craftmama, or pin this post for your next craft day!
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