You can make this clothespin butterfly craft quickly and easily in just about half an hour. They’re perfect for making with large groups too because they’re quite inexpensive to make. You can find most, if not all, supplies at your local dollar store.
Create a rainbow assortment of Clothespin Butterflies to use as a place cards, gift tags, or a garland. They are also the perfect size for a tiered tray decoration. Happy Summer Fun Friday!
DOLLAR STORE CLOTHESPIN BUTTERFLY CRAFT
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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post below are affiliate links provided for your convenience. This means that if you purchase something through one of these links, I get a small commission at no added cost to you.
Materials needed:
- Clothespins, Wooden Spring-Style
- Acrylic Craft Paint – White, Two Shades of Pink, Two Shades of Yellow, Blue, Purple
- Chenille Stem, Blue
- Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (you can use liquid craft glue instead but of course, you will have to wait for it to dry)
- Paintbrush
- Scissors
Links provided in case you can’t make it to a dollar store or can’t find the items you need there:
Clorox Wood Clothespins with Spring – Value Pack of 50 Clips, Rust Resistant with Heavy-Duty Coil for Line Drying Laundry, Chip Bags, and CraftsApple Barrel Essentials Acrylic Paint Set, 12, 24 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Peryiter 500 Pieces Pipe Cleaners Chenille Stems 5 Assorted Colors 12 Inch Craft Supplies Bulk for DIY Art and Craft Projects Creative Gift Wrapping Party Decorations (Blue)
Surebonder Cordless Hot Glue Gun, High Temperature, Full Size, 60W, 50% More Power – Sturdily Bonds Metal, Wood, Ceramics, Leather & Other Strong Materials (Specialty Series CL-800F)
Adtech W220-34ZIP30 Hot, 30-Pack of Non-Yellowing Glue Sticks, Clear, 30 Count
Mr. Pen- Paint Brushes, 20 pcs, Paint Brushes for Acrylic Painting, Acrylic Paint Brushes, Acrylic Paint Brush Set, Paintbrushes, Artist Paint Brushes, Brushes for Painting, Craft Paint Brushes
Westcott 13901 8-Inch Titanium Scissors For Office and Home, Yellow/Gray, 2 Pack
Instructions:
STEP ONE
Gather all supplies. Full size wooden clothespins can be found in the laundry section of the dollar store. Remove the metal spring from 11 full size wooden clothespins for each butterfly.
For each butterfly, attach five clothespins together flat side to flat side with a glue gun and glue sticks. Leave the other six clothespins as two separate pieces.
STEP TWO
Use one of the full clothespins for the butterfly body. Line up each wing as follows on your work surface: half, half, full, half, half, full, half, half. Attach the wings together evenly at the base with a glue gun and glue sticks. Using the photo as your guide.
Glue the wings to the right and left side of the butterfly body, using the photo as your guide. Hold the first wing in place until the glue completely sets, and then attach the second wing. Repeat the above steps to complete the second butterfly.
STEP THREE
Paint the front and all sides of both clothespin butterflies with white acrylic craft paint. Set aside to dry and apply a second coat, if necessary.
STEP FOUR
Paint the butterfly bodies with purple acrylic craft paint with a paintbrush. Set aside to dry.
Apply the lightest shade of pink and yellow acrylic craft paint to the butterfly wings with a paintbrush. Set aside to dry.
Paint the inside of the butterfly wings closest to the body with the darker shade of pink and yellow acrylic craft paint, feathering the edges in to blend the colors. Set aside to dry.
STEP FIVE
Embellish the Butterfly body with polka dots in blue, and the darker shade of pink and yellow acrylic craft paint by dipping the end of a paint brush in paint and dotting on the surface. Repeat this polka dot accent on the Butterfly wings in blue, purple, and the darker shade of pink and yellow acrylic craft paint.
STEP SIX
Cut a 12” blue chenille craft stem in half with scissors, and then bend each piece in half. Attach to the top back of each butterfly with a glue gun and glue sticks as the antennae.
Experiment with colors and embellishments and make a whole rainbow assortment!
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