Butterfly, Caterpillar, and Inchworm
Crafts For Kids

How to Make Crafts and Activities Relating to Butterflies, Caterpillars and Inchworms

Caterpillar Changing to a Butterfly Craft

The craft sticks are taped together so that when they are pushed together from the sides they fold up into a compact stack of sticks.

What you will need:

Woodsies Mini Jumbo Craft Sticks -4.5" 50/Pkg - Use good quality craft sticks that lay flat. The 5/8" work perfect with the one-inch tape. *You can use the Woodsies Jumbo Craft Sticks with the 1.5 Inch - 3M Scotch Masking Tape for a bigger Canvas.

3M Scotch Masking Tape, 1-Inch - Other brands will work, but this tape works great! It is the exact color of the craft sticks. (Staple's Tape works better with the washable markers, but it is lighter than the stick and more transparent and doesn't cover the stick as well.)

Pompoms, Chenille Stems, Acrylic Paint, Permanent Markers, Crayons, or Colored Pencils - (The washable markers don't work well because they smear.)

 

How to Make the Caterpillar:

1. To make the caterpillar glue pompoms onto one of the craft sticks. Glue on googly eyes and Chenille stems for the antenne.

How to Make the Folding Craft Stick Canvas:

1. If you are using the mini-jumbo craft sticks, cut the one-inch masking into 4-inch pieces.

2. Place two sticks together, side by side, and tape them together covering both the sticks with the tape.

3. Turn the two sticks over so that they are diagonal to you.

4. Place another craft stick next to and below the two sticks that you taped together. Use another piece of tape to tape the bottom two sticks together.

5. Turn all three sticks over diagonally and place another stick at the bottom of the row and tape the last two sticks together. Keep going until you have a whole row of sticks.

6. You can also cover the first and last stick in the row by placing tape over the stick and then folding it back over the stick. It is easier to write on the tape than the craft stick. The ink soaks into the sticks and blurs.

7. Draw a butterfly design on the craft stick canvas with a pencil. If you make a mistake, you can erase it. When you are happy with your design paint it with the acrylic paint. When the acrylic paint is dry use a black marker to outline your shapes and write the words.

8. To finish fold up the craft stick canvas and then glue the caterpillar onto the top of the butterfly craft stick picture.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2012, Digital by Design, Inc. - See Copyright Information - Bloggers, if you use this craft idea or an adaptation, and link back to this page for the complete directions, let us know and we will put a link to your blog.

 

Caterpillar Changing to a Butterfly Craft Stick Craft for Kids - #2

This craft is basically the same as the above craft except the crafts sticks unfold from the middle forming the wings.

1. First make the caterpillar by taping two sticks together on the front and back of the sticks. Glue the pompoms on the the center of the two sticks. Add the eyes and Chenille stem antenne.

2. To make the wings tape a craft stick to each side of the caterpillar craft sticks placing the tape on what will be the back of the butterfly. (See the directions above.)

3. Then turn the butterfly over and tape two more craft sticks to the first two. The tape will be on the opposite side of the first set of taped craft sticks.

4. Keep adding craft sticks to each side alternating the tape until the wings are long enough.

5. Draw wings onto the craft sticks with a pencil. If you make a mistake you can erase. Once you have the design you would like, paint the craft sticks.

6. When they are dry outline your design with a black marker, and then fan fold the wings to the back of the pompom body.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2012, Digital by Design, Inc. - See Copyright Information - Bloggers, if you use this craft idea or an adaptation, and link back to this page for the complete directions, let us know and we will put a link to your blog.

 

Butterfly Magnet or Pin Puzzle Piece Craft

What you will need:

Puzzle pieces, pipe cleaners, pompoms, googly eyes, acrylic paint, permanent markers, magnet or pin, and glue.

What to do:

1. Find a puzzle piece that has four indents. Buy from Amazon.com - Blank Puzzles Pieces. You can use, but there are only two of this type of piece per puzzle, and 48 per pack of 25 puzzles. Type in 57/6071 in the search box to find the puzzles.

2. Paint the puzzle piece with acrylic paints or permanent markers. If you use markers that aren't permanent markers draw on the side that doesn't have the shiny coating. The markers will stick better without rubbing off.

3. When the paint is dry fold a pipe cleaner in half and then place the folded end at the bottom of the puzzle piece so that the two ends of the pieces are on opposites sides of the puzzle piece. Wind the pipe cleaner ends around the middle of the puzzle several times.

4. Twist the pipe cleaners together at the top of the puzzle piece to make antennae.

5. Glue a pompom on for the head and glue on googly eyes. Glue a magnet or attach a pin to the back of the butterfly.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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Origami Easter Egg Butterflies

What you will need: Printed 6" x 6" Origami Paper or printer paper, plastic Easter eggs, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, matching pompom for the head, and hot melt glue.

You can buy printed origami paper from

The kit includes over 100 sheets of paper and other decorative items. Type in #159450 in the search box on AllCrafts web site.

How to Make Origami Easter Egg Butterflies:

1. Glue a pompom to one end of the Easter egg for the head. Glue googly eyes and pipe cleaners for the antennae on the pompom head.

2. Cut your paper into 6" squares if you are using printer paper. You will need two squares for each butterfly.

3. Paint or color each square and let them dry.

4. Fan-fold each square from corner to corner using 1/2' folds as shown in the picture.

5. Fold the fan-folded squares in half as shown in the picture to the right. Spread out the ends to look like wings.

6. Glue the wings to the sides of the eggs. Glue the center folded part to each other so they don't spread apart.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

 

Butterfly Window Clings

What you will need:

Window Art Deluxe Refill Set

Rhinestones Sequins

Crystal Iris sequins

Tape

 

How to Make Butterfly Window Clings:

1. Print out the Butterfly Patterns (Printing Problems?) or find patterns you would like to use from coloring books or clip art. Cut a piece of vinyl to fit over the pattern and tape it down to the pattern.

2. Trace the outline of the pattern onto the vinyl with the black window cling liner and let it dry for a half an hour to an hour.

3. There are several techniques you can use to make these clings. To make the green butterfly I filled in all the colors at the same time so that they would kind of run together. Then I used a tooth pick to make the swirl effect and blend them together a little more.

4. On the top left butterfly, I outlined the butterfly in black and did the squiggly lines in blue and let them dry. I then added all the other colors at the same time. To finish I used some tweezers to place small clear sequins all around the edge. The sequins pick up all the colors around them.

5. On the top right butterfly I outlined everything in black and let it dry. I then filled in all the colors and used tweezers to drop very small facetted beads onto the outside of the wings and then drop tiny pearl beads in the center of the wings.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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New Life Butterfly Foam Confetti Craft for Sunday School

What you will need:

Foam Confetti from Discount School Supply - Item # FOAMBITS

Flowers, Hearts, & Bug Foam Shapes from Discount School Supply - Item # FFHB

Aleene's Tacky Glue and Low Temperature Glue Gun

Colorful Cardstock

 

How to Make the New Life Butterfly with Foam Confetti:

1. Print out a Butterfly Pattern onto colorful card stock (Heavy Paper). (A pattern is available to members on The Resource Room with the words "New Life" on the top of the page and pattern with no-words on the Members Only section.)

2. Pour the confetti into cups.

3. Have your children place glue on the butterfly where they want their first color and then sprinkle the confetti over the glue.

3. Then place glue where they want the second color and sprinkle the confetti over the glue.

4. You can add more colors to the confetti by using a hole punch to cut shapes from leftover foam pieces.

5. To finish have your children glue flower foam shapes on the butterfly.

Paper Plate Fluttering Butterfly

This butterfly is attached to a stand which allows it to flutter in the wind.

What you will need: Dinner-sized paper plates, scissors, crayons, paint or markers.

How to Make Paper Plate Fluttering Butterfly:

1. Print out the Butterfly Pattern (Printing Problems?) and cut it out. Place the pattern on the paper plate so that the top and bottom wings touch the edge of the plate. Trace the pattern then turn it over and place it on the other half of the paper plate and trace it. It should look like a butterfly.

2. Cut on the solid lines. Do not cut the line between the antenna.

3. When it is cut out color it and then fold the butterfly in half so that the top of the paper plate is up. Fold the other piece between the top wings and antennae down or the opposite way. Then fold the line between the antenna down. This will be the stand. You may have to cut the stand a little flatter on the bottom edge.

4. Place a small piece of tape on the back side of the butterfly between the antenna and the butterfly at the fold.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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Fan-Fold Butterfly Paper Craft for Kids

What you will need:

White paper

Water Color Paint or markers

Pipe cleaners

Scissors

Glue

 

How to Make Fan-Fold Butterfly:

1. Cut your paper in squares. You will need two squares for each butterfly.

2. Paint or color each square and let dry.

3. Fan-fold each square from corner to corner as shown in the picture.

4. Fold the fan-folded squares in half as shown in the picture to the right. Spread out the ends to look like wings.

5. Place the two pairs of wings together at the middle and secure them with a pipe cleaner. Bring the ends of the pipe cleaner up the center to form antennae.

6. Spread out the wings and glue them together at the tops and sides. You can cut the wings any shape you would like to finish.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

This craft idea was sent in by Susan Vaughn

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Caterpillar Sock Puppet Craft for Kids

Sock Puppets are easy and inexpensive to make. And children will get hours of entertainment from them. Buy colorful socks after Christmas or at second-hand stores. This puppet cost less than $2.00 to make. All you need is a sock, felt squares, pom poms, googly eyes, and some card board from a cereal box.

Go to the Puppets Craft Page for directions for this craft.

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Inchworm or Caterpillar on a Leaf Craft for Kids

What you will need:

Chenille Stems

5mm Wiggle Google Goggley Eyes

All Purpose Glue

Needle nose pliers, paper and scissors.

 

How to Make Inchworm or Caterpillar on a Leaf:

1. Use some needle nose pliers to bend down the sharp ends of the pipe cleaners.

2. Print out the Leaf Patterns (Printing Problems?) and cut them out. You can use green paper or color the leaves green.

3. Wind one or two pipe cleaners around a thin paintbrush and then pull them off to make the inchworms body.

4. Glue on two tiny eyes to on one end. Then glue the inchworm or caterpillar to the leaf.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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Make Inchworm or Caterpillar Refrigerator Magnets

Use the directions above to make the inchworms. Cut tiny pieces of magnets to glue to the feet. You can also glue pieces of the hook Velcro to each end. Let the children experiment on what the inchworms will stick to.

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No-Sew Sock Caterpillars

Children will enjoy making their own sock caterpillars. These adorable little critters are just long socks stuffed with fiberfill and bound with rubber bands.

You can make the craft even easier by gluing on pom pom feet instead of using the rubber bands.

Go to the Sock Crafts Page for Directions

Inchworm Bookmark Craft for Kids

Print out the Pattern (Printing Problems?) onto card stock. Cut them out. Have your children color them in class. Add yarn and beads to finish. This craft is also available on The Resource Room with the words, "God's Love is Immeasurable."

Caterpillar/Inchworm Math

1. Compare Inchworms - Give each child a small piece of play dough or clay in the shape of a one-inch inchworm. Tell them to roll it out and make the longest string they can without breaking it. Give them one minute. When time is up measure each string to see who made the longest.

2. How Long is An Inch? - Give each child a small amount of green play dough and show them how to make inchworms by rolling the dough into a ball and then rolling it between their hands and then scrunching it up in the middle. Use a pencil to poke holes for eyes. If you have older children, give them rulers and tell them to try to make an inchworm that is exactly one inch long. Tell them that inchworms aren't actually worms. They are a type of caterpillar. They have three sets of legs in the front and two set of false legs in the back. Some people call inchworms loopers because they make loops in their bodies when they walk.

3. Place Value Caterpillar War - Children fill in the place values on their caterpillar cards to try and get the highest number. Give each child a caterpillar card. Review the place values. Break your children up into teams of two or three and give each team a die. Children take turns rolling the die and deciding in which place value they want to place the number they roll. When all the place values have been filled in, the children compare the caterpillars and decide which number is the highest. Have them read the number on their caterpillars out loud. The child who has the largest number gets to keep the caterpillars.

A Pattern for this activity is available to members only.

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"Gerber" the Caterpillar

What you will need: Three or more 3.5 oz. Gerber plastic baby food containers, four six-inch pipe cleaners, two two-inch pipe cleaners, acrylic paint, googly eyes, paint brushes, hole punch with a small hole, black permanent marker, and craft glue.

How to Make Gerber the Caterpillar:

1. Wash and dry the boxes.

2. Punch holes with small hole punch into each of the boxes as follows:

(a) The box used as the head will have six holes (two for the antennae on the top edge of the end chosen for the face, two in the end opposite the end you plan to use for the face, and one on each side for the legs. These holes should be closer to the end that is opposite the face). The end holes and leg holes should be at the same height.

(b) The center box (body) will have a total of eight holes (two holes on each side for the legs, two holes on each end at the same height as the leg holes).

(c) The end box will have four holes (two in the end that will attach to the center box and one on each side for the legs. These holes should be closer to the end that connects to the center box.

3. Select paint color(s). Paint one light coat of color onto each of the boxes. Let dry completely. Add design color(s) and let dry for at least 10 minutes.

4. Glue googly eyes into place. Draw on a mouth with permanent marker.

5. Starting with the boxes chosen as the head and the center body, insert one of the six inch pipe cleaners into one of the holes on the side of the head box. Thread the pipe cleaner through the side, out the end of the head box, into the end of the body box, and out the side hole nearest the threaded end. Note: This will form a "U" shape which serves to create the legs for the head and body, as well as hold the head box and body box together. Repeat this step for the other side of the head/body.

6. Working with the recently connected head/body boxes and the remaining end box, repeat the process described in Step 4 to attach the end and create the back legs.

7. Even out the lengths of the legs and bend the ends slightly to form feet.

8. Place the 2-inch pipe cleaners into the holes for the antennae.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

"Gerber the Caterpillar" Learn-to-Count Game - Make the craft above and write a number on the top or side of each section of the caterpillar. Help your child learn to count by pointing to the numbers on the boxes as you count. When your child learns all the numbers on the boxes add new boxes and numbers. Your child will love to see how big his or her caterpillar can grow. Note: You can teach your child the ABC's in the same manner.

© 2006, Lisa Heaslet

Practice Printing and Writing ABC Worksheets are worksheets that go along with a Bible lesson relating to the insect or animal on the worksheet. Children practice writing the letter I in print or cursive, or write the complete verse in cursive or print. These ABC worksheets are available to members only.	Make an Inchworm Salad Make inchworms out of green grapes, ladybugs from tomatoes and dates, and bees from Cheddar Cheese and dates. Go to the Cooking Crafts Page for Directions.
Color an Inchworm Picture and Add Real or Artificial Leaves Print out the Inchworm Pattern (Printing Problems?). In class have the children color the picture and then glue on dried, pressed leaves or artificial leaves. You can write the memory verse on the side.	Bible Verse Color Sheet Color a picture of an inchworm with the Bible Verse. This Bible verse color sheet is available to members only.

Measure the Letter I

Print out the "I" Worksheet ''and inchworm measuring tapes. Cut the measuring tapes apart. Children guess how long the first letter I is. Write their answers down and then use the inchworm measuring tape to measure the first letter. They do the same thing with the other letter I's. These worksheets are available to members only. These worksheets come from The Resource Room.

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Measure a Robin and Flamingo

Read "Inch by Inch" by Leo Lionni (You can get this book at your local library.) - Measure a Robin and a Flamingo using an inchworm measuring tape. Use your inchworm measuring tape to measure other things in your house. Compare the inchworm measuring tape to a ruler. These worksheets come from The Resouce Room.

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Inchworm Activities

1. Inchworm Crawl – Place both hands on the ground. Try to keep your knees stiff and legs straight. Walk forward with you hands as far as you can and then walk forward with your feet to meet back up with your hands.

2. Inch Along - An inch is a unit of measurement (noun or a thing) but it can also be a verb or something that show action. To inch along means to move very slowly. Let's see how slowly we can move. Tell the children to line up against one wall and on the word go they are to try to inch along as slowly as they can. They must keep moving forward but move as slowly as they can.

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Inch, Little Inchworm, Inch Along

Written by Carolyn Warvel
(Sing to the tune of "Hush Little Baby"

Inch, little inchworm, up a tree,
Measuring everything you see.
Measuring's fun, don't you agree?
Inch by inch, one, two, three.
Inchworm, please, won't you measure me?
Up my leg and over my knee.
Oh, please, stop. You're tickling me.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

 

Craft Spoon Butterflies Craft

What you will need:

Craft Spoons

10mm Wiggly Eyes

Craft Felt or Craft Foam Sheets

Chenille Stems

Patio Paint

Sequins and Spangles

Magnets

All Purpose Glue

How to Make Craft Spoon Butterflies:

1. Print out free Pattern (Printing Problems?) and trace on to felt foam sheets or paper that has been painted and folded over to make paint blobs. Use the foam sheet if you want a firm body. These are great for hanging on a mobile for example. Use felt pieces if you want a flimsy body that is good for a butterfly puppet. Just add a craft stick to the bottom of the butterfly. The wings will flap back and forth when the butterfly is waved up and down. The paint blob paper is good to use for refrigerator magnets because it isn't as heavy. If you are making the sideways butterfly, use only half of the pattern.

2. Paint two crafts spoons for each butterfly with desired color and let dry. You only need to use one for the refrigerator magnet.

3. Glue the painted spoons onto the middle of the wings one on each side. Glue on eyes chenille stems for antenna and anything you want to decorate the butterfly with. If you are making the puppet glue a craft stick on the bottom of the first spoon and then add the other side. Add a magnet to the back if you are making the refrigerator magnet.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

©2007, Digital by Design, Inc. -*See Copyright Information

Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft

What you will need:

Two Coffee Filters

Two Craft Spoons

Craft Sticks

Craft Spoons

Craft Spoons

All Purpose Glue,

Patio Paint

Food coloring, Ear dropper

How to Make Coffee Filter Butterfly:

1. Paint crafts spoons on one side.

2. Glue eyes on the front of the spoon and antennae onto the back of one spoon.

3. Flatten both coffee filters and cut one so it is smaller than the other.

4. Bunch up both filters to form wings. Glue both filters onto the spoon to form the butterfly as shown. Glue the craft stick onto the bottom of the spoon for a handle and then glue the other painted spoon onto the back of the butterfly.

5. Have ready 3 or 4 cups of water. Add drops of food coloring to each cup. (The more food coloring you use and the less water the brighter the butterfly).

6. Place the butterfly on a paper towel. Now using the ear dropper drop the colored water onto the butterfly to make a pretty design. Let dry.

Comments from Users:

I pre-paint the wooden spoon with a glitter paint, and hot glue the coffee filters to the back of the spoon after first stapling the filter scrunched in the middle. I only use two colors of food coloring, and let the children use Q-tips to apply the color instead of paint brushes. I also glue on loose eyes ahead of time and use pipe cleaners for the antenna. In class I let the kids stick on little butterfly stickers or stars onto the wings after they dry.

I also use a pipe cleaner to make a caterpillar. I bend the pipe cleaner over and over until it is about 1 1/2 " long and wrap the remainder around it and use a black marker to put little eyes at the top. Then I bend it to look like an inchworm and give one to each child!!! They just love it! God Bless, Lorie Kelly

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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Caterpillar to Butterfly Folder Paper Craft

This picture looks like a picture of a caterpillar when you look at it from one direction and a butterfly when you look at it from another direction. This Craft is available to members only. (Join Danielle's Place)

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Easter Butterfly Craft

This craft idea and the following recipe were sent in from Nance in Reno. Thank you so much for sharing these ideas with us.

What you will need:
Ziplock sandwich bags (cheap ones are fine)
Tissue paper scraps, various colors
Pipe cleaner (chenille stem

How to Make Easter Butterfly Craft:
Have the children tear the tissue paper into small pieces and put a couple of tablespoons of the torn paper in a Ziplock bag. Spread out the paper so it looks like stained glass. Fan-fold the bag (like an accordion). In the middle of the bag, twist a pipe cleaner to form the butterfly's body. Curl the ends to look like antennae.

How to Print or Copy these Instructions.

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