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Coffee filter butterflies

Marker-colored coffee filters bloom into tie-dye wings, pinched in the middle with a pipe cleaner body.

Coffee filter butterflies
LevelBeginner
AgesAges 3 to 5
Time30 minutes plus 1 hour drying
Cost$2 to $5

What you'll need

Materials

Tick them off as you find them.

Tools

How to make it

Safety

Fold the pointy pipe cleaner tips under so they don't scratch.

  1. Step 1: Color the filters
    1

    Color the filters

    Flatten 2 filters on a tray. Let your child scribble all over them with markers.

  2. Step 2: Spray them
    2

    Spray them

    Mist each filter with water and watch the colors spread like paint.

  3. Step 3: Let them dry
    3

    Let them dry

    Leave them flat for about 1 hour.

  4. Step 4: Stack and scrunch
    4

    Stack and scrunch

    Stack the 2 dry filters. Pinch them together in the middle like a bow tie.

  5. Step 5: Add the body
    5

    Add the body

    Fold a pipe cleaner in half over the middle and twist it tight.

  6. Step 6: Curl the antennae
    6

    Curl the antennae

    Curl the 2 pipe cleaner ends around a finger. Fluff out the wings.

Edie's tip

Clip butterflies to a string across the window with clothespins for a spring garland.

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