Accordion Folded Butterfly Craft (Easy Paper Craft for Kids)

This Accordion Folded Butterfly Craft is a fun and colorful paper craft kids will love! Using simple folds and bright paper, children can create beautiful butterflies while practicing fine motor skills and following step-by-step directions.

It’s a great craft for spring, summer, insect units, or just a creative afternoon at home.

Accordion fold paper butterfly craft showing printable template on the left and finished colorful butterflies on the right.

Why Kids Love This Butterfly Craft

  • Simple accordion folding technique
  • Encourages hand strength and coordination
  • Easy to customize with different colors
  • Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary kids

And the finished butterflies are so pretty—they look great hanging in a window or on a bulletin board!

Supplies Needed

You’ll only need a few basic craft supplies:

  • Colored craft paper
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Craft glue

Grab this Butterfly Craft Template

Grab the butterfly craft template. Print it, cut out the pieces, and you’ll have everything you need for this easy butterfly craft for preschoolers ready to go.

This template is perfect for:

  • Classroom projects
  • Homeschool activities
  • Library or daycare crafts
  • Fun afternoons at home

Please remember: this butterfly craft template is for personal and classroom use only.

How to Make an Accordion Folded Butterfly

Step 1: Cut the Paper Shapes

Choose lightweight colored paper. Trace and cut out:

  • One large circle for the main wing
  • One small circle for the inner wing
  • One thin strip for the antenna

Step 2: Glue the Inner Wing

Two layered paper circles placed together to begin an accordion fold butterfly craft.

Glue the small circle to the center of the large circle.

Step 3: Start Folding

Fold the circle in half, then fold it in half again.

Step 4: Continue Folding

Fold the circle in half two more times, creating multiple crease lines.

Paper circles folded in half as the first step of making an accordion fold butterfly.
Paper shapes folded again into a long strip for the accordion fold butterfly wings.
Folded paper strip showing layered colors during accordion folding.

Step 5: Unfold Carefully

Unfold the last four folds so the crease lines are visible.

Step 6: Accordion Fold

Use the crease lines as a guide to accordion fold the circle back and forth.

Step 7: Shape the Wing

Fold the accordion-folded piece in half horizontally. Keep one side slightly smaller—this creates a top and bottom wing shape.

Folded paper strip showing layered colors during accordion folding.
Accordion-folded paper strip compressed into a narrow shape for butterfly wings.
Accordion-folded paper bent in the center to form one side of butterfly wings.

Step 8: Glue the Wing

Apply glue along the inner edges and press them together to secure the wing.

Step 9: Make the Second Wing

Repeat all steps to create the second butterfly wing.

Step 10: Create the Antenna

Fold the antenna strip in half. Coil each end outward to form curls.

One completed accordion fold butterfly wing opened into a fan shape.
Two accordion-folded butterfly wings shown side by side before assembly.
Finished accordion fold paper butterfly wings arranged symmetrically on a white background.

Step 11: Assemble the Butterfly

Finished accordion fold paper butterfly with orange and yellow wings and curled paper antennae on a white background.

Glue the antenna strip between the two wings at the top center. Let dry.

Your accordion folded butterfly is complete!

Two completed accordion fold paper butterflies, one purple and one orange, displayed on a light green background.

Learning Tip

This craft is perfect for teaching:

  • Folding patterns
  • Symmetry
  • Following multi-step directions

Ask kids to count folds or talk about symmetry while crafting.

Ways to Use This Butterfly Craft

  • Spring or insect-themed units
  • Classroom or homeschool art time
  • Window or wall decorations
  • Nature or garden lessons

More Easy Paper Crafts for Kids

Be sure to explore more fun and simple kids crafts on Frosting and Glue. We love sharing activities that are creative, doable, and kid-approved!

Happy crafting!

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