How to make Magazine Butterflies

When we chose a garden theme for our daughter Brooke's first birthday party theme, her older siblings (ages 10, 10, 7 and 4) wanted to be in on the decorating.  One of the favorite handmade elements from the party was these adorable magazine page butterflies they made for her:

They didn't just make a few....they made a basketful...

We turned the light over the kitchen table inso something extraordinary...

and they lit on everything  from mantles to picure frames...

Here is how we made them:

1. Tear a page out of an old magazine and trim the edge.
2. Cut the magazine page in half so you have a top half and a bottom half.
3. Accordion fold one half lengthwise and accordian fold the other half  shortwise.
4. Bend a 12 inch pice of pipecleaner in half and twist its rounded end into a small loop.
5. Pinch the middle of each folded square and center them between the pipe cleaner's arms (folds facing outwards, and not flat).
6. Secure the wings by twisting the pipe cleaner armes together above the wings, then pinch the loop closed and crl the loose ends into antennae.

We put the lengthwise folded sheet on the top for fuller top wings. If you want small butterflies, use a 5 inch square of paper and a 4 inch square of paper instead of two halves. We found the bigger sheets of paper were easier for little hands to fold. My sons who are 10 and have special needs were able to do this activity with minimum help and were SO PROUD of the decorations they made for their sister. (Gardening and Food magazines make great choices as their photography includes bright colors). For more great photos of Brooke's party CLICK HERE.

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Enjoy!