How to Make a Butterfly From a Shoebox
A shoebox provides enough lightweight cardboard to make a sensational butterfly that's bigger than life. The 90-degree fold between the bottom and sides works to set the wings at an open angle, on the back of the butterfly. The finished butterfly craft looks good sitting on top of a desk or hanging from the ceiling.
Instructions
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1
Use scissors to cut down the folds around the sides of a shoebox. Cut down all four folds, all the way to the bottom.
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2
Fold one long side of the shoebox against the bottom. Draw an outline of one butterfly wing on the outer side. Make the inside edge of the wing design meet the fold at the top and bottom. Make the upper portion of the wing larger than the lower. Draw the outline of a butterfly body on the other long side of the box.
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3
Hold the side with the wing outline against the box bottom, and cut along the outline. Cut through the side and bottom, along the wing perimeter. This makes a pair of wings that meets at the fold. Cut out the cardboard butterfly body from the other side of the box.
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4
Place the wings and body over selected colors of two pieces of construction paper, and trace the outlines onto the paper. Then cut out the shapes -- the wings and body -- and glue them to the cardboard butterfly shapes. Cut out additional, smaller shapes from other colors of construction paper, if desired, and decorate the butterfly wings by gluing on the embellishment shapes.
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5
Put tape along both sides of the fold of the wings, and stick it to one side of the cardboard body. Tape pipe cleaners to the head, and curl the ends to complete your butterfly craft with antennas.
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Tips & Warnings
Cut a string to 2 or 3 feet. Tape one end of the string to the center of the wings between the fold, and tape the other end to the ceiling to hang your butterfly.
References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot RF/Goodshoot/Getty Images
