Easiest Paper Butterfly for Kids (with Free Template)

Make this accordion-fold paper butterfly in 15 minutes using our free printable template. 12 easy steps, perfect for kids ages 5 and up.

Butterflies are one of the easiest spring crafts you can make with paper. This paper butterfly uses simple accordion folds and a free printable template to create layered, fan-shaped wings that actually look like they could fly off the table. The whole project takes about 15 minutes per butterfly, and you only need colored paper, scissors, and glue.

It’s a great project if you’re just getting into paper crafts with kids. You can make a whole collection in different colors and sizes, then use them for wall displays, greeting cards, or classroom bulletin boards.

To make things even easier, we’ve included a free printable template along with a full step-by-step video tutorial. Just grab your paper, scissors, and glue, and let’s start folding your very own paper butterfly!

Project Specifications

• Difficulty Level: Beginner-friendly (great first paper-folding project)
• Cost: Under $2
• Time: 15 minutes per butterfly
• Ages: 5 and up (younger kids may need help with the accordion folds)

Perfect For: Spring classroom displays, greeting card toppers, wall decor garlands, gift wrapping accents

Skills Kids Practice: Accordion folding, fine motor control, following multi-step sequences, symmetry awareness.

How to Make Paper Butterfly

Video Tutorial

Here’s a quick video walkthrough if you’d rather watch than read. It covers every fold in real-time so you can follow along at your own pace.

Step by Step Instructions to Make Butterfly

Step 1: Trace and Cut the Template Pieces

Pick lightweight colored paper for this project. Heavier cardstock makes the accordion folds bulky and hard to crease. Trace the template patterns onto your paper with a pencil, then cut them out. You’ll get three pieces: a big circle (main wing), a small circle (inner wing detail), and a thin strip (antenna).

Step 2: Attach the Inner Wing Circle

Glue one small circle to the center of one big circle. This layered look is what gives the wings their depth once they’re folded. Press the circles together firmly and let them set for a few seconds before moving on.

Step 3: Fold the Main Circle in Half

Fold the big circle in half with the small circle on the inside. Line up the edges as evenly as you can and press the crease flat.

Step 4: Fold Again into Quarters

Fold the half circle in half one more time. You’re dividing the circle into quarters. Press the fold firmly.

Step 5: Fold Two More Times to Create Crease Lines

Fold in half two more times. These extra folds create the guide lines you’ll need for the accordion pattern. If your creases aren’t sharp, run the back of a spoon or a ruler edge along each fold. This is where most people skip pressing hard enough, and the accordion step becomes harder than it needs to be.

Step 6: Unfold to Reveal the Crease Pattern

Open up all the folds carefully. You should see a pattern of crease lines radiating across the circle. Keep these lines crisp and intact, they’re your folding guide for the next step.

Step 7: Create Accordion Folds Along the Creases

Using the crease lines as your guide, fold the circle back and forth in an accordion pattern. Take your time here. Straight, even folds make the wings look neat. If a fold goes off-track, just re-crease it before moving on. This is the same accordion technique used in our paper fan tutorial, so if you’ve made fans before, you already know the motion.

Step 8: Fold the Accordion Piece in Half for the Wing Shape

Fold the accordion-folded piece in half horizontally. You can make one side slightly shorter than the other. The longer section becomes the top wing, and the shorter section becomes the bottom wing.

Step 9: Glue the Wing Edges Together

Apply a thin line of glue along the inner edges of the folded wing and press them together. Too much glue here will flatten the folds and lose that fan shape. A thin line is all you need. Hold for a few seconds until the glue grabs.

Step 10: Make the Second Wing

Repeat steps 1 through 9 to create the second wing. Try to match the fold count and proportions from the first wing so both sides look balanced. Small differences won’t matter much once they’re attached, but getting close helps.

Step 11: Curl the Antenna Strip

Fold the antenna strip in half. Then coil each end by wrapping it around a pencil or thin stick. Gently slide the paper off to get two neat curled ends. If the curls spring open too much, wrap them a second time a little tighter.

Step 12: Attach the Antenna Between the Wings

Glue the folded center of the antenna strip between the two wings at the top. Press and hold briefly to let it set. Once dry, gently fan out the wings to shape them.

And that’s it. Your paper fold butterfly is done.

Display Ideas and Variations

These paper butterflies look great grouped together in different sizes and colors. Try making three or four in a gradient (light pink to deep magenta, or sky blue to navy) and arranging them on a wall. They also work as toppers for greeting cards, scrapbook pages, or gift boxes.

For a spring garland, punch a small hole at the top of each butterfly and thread them onto string or ribbon. Hang it across a window, a classroom board, or a party table.

For a different take on paper butterflies, check out our template-based paper butterflies where you cut and layer flat wing shapes instead of folding them.

If you’re into folding techniques, our origami butterfly tutorial teaches the classic single-sheet fold. Same insect, completely different method. It’s fun to compare the two finished results.

Tips for Parents and Teachers

What kids practice with this craft: Accordion folding builds fine motor control and hand strength (ref). Following 12 sequential steps reinforces patience and working memory. Matching two wings teaches visual symmetry.

Age adaptations:

• Ages 5-6: Pre-cut the circles and strips. Let kids focus on the folding and gluing.
• Ages 7-8: Kids can trace and cut their own pieces. They may need help getting the accordion folds even.
• Ages 9+: Can do the whole project independently. Challenge them to experiment with different circle sizes for varied wing proportions.

Classroom tips: Pre-trace and cut template pieces for a class of 20 in about 30 minutes. Each student finishes in roughly 15 minutes. The project works well as a spring bulletin board activity. Pair it with a quick butterfly life cycle lesson for a cross-curricular tie-in.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use regular copy paper instead of craft paper?
Copy paper works, but it’s a little thin for clean accordion folds. The wings may not hold their fan shape as well. If that’s all you have, just press each fold extra firmly and use slightly more glue on the inner edges.

What size circles work best for this butterfly?
The template circles are about 4 inches in diameter, which gives you a butterfly that’s roughly 5 inches wide when finished. You can scale the template up or down, just make sure you adjust both the big and small circles proportionally.

How do I keep the accordion folds straight and even?
The trick is in step 5. Press every crease line as hard as you can before you unfold. Use the back of a spoon or a ruler edge. If those guide lines are strong and sharp, the accordion folds almost fall into place on their own.