Make your own fluttering monarch butterfly with this free printable butterfly craft that works on a wristband or attached to a wooden dowel or popsicle stick.
Kids can color their butterflies, cut them out, and attach them to a dowel or popsicle stick or turn them into a fun little wristband with wings that flap as they move their arms. There are even optional fold guides to help the wings stand up and give the butterfly a fun 3D effect!
I love a craft that kids can actually play with when they’re finished, and this one is especially fun because of the beautiful meaning behind monarch butterflies.
The Special Meaning Behind Monarch Butterflies
Every fall, millions of monarch butterflies make their incredible migration south to Mexico, arriving around the time of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).
In parts of Mexico, monarch butterflies are believed to represent the souls of loved ones returning to visit during this celebration.
There is so much I admire about Día de los Muertos, especially the beautiful ways families remember and celebrate the lives of those they love. I think the connection to monarch butterflies is especially meaningful.
Of course, butterflies can hold different meanings for different people. Whether they remind you of someone you love or you simply enjoy their beauty, there’s something special about these little creatures.
What You’ll Need
- Free printable monarch butterfly template
- Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint
- Scissors
- Tape or Glue
- Paper strip, craft stick or wooden dowel
Tip: Regular printer paper works great for this craft! The lighter paper allows the butterfly wings to flutter more easily.
How to Make Your Butterfly Wristband
1. Color your butterfly.
Have fun coloring your monarch! You can use the traditional orange, black, and white monarch colors or come up with your own design.
If you’d like your butterfly to be double-sided, color both butterfly shapes.
2. Cut out, glue, and fold your butterfly.
Carefully cut around the butterfly shapes. Be extra careful around the antennae! Leave a little white space around them so you don’t accidentally snip them off.
If you’d like a double-sided butterfly, glue the two shapes together so your butterfly is colorful on both sides. Or, if you’d rather keep things simple, you can just use one!
Once your glue has dried, gently fold along the light gray dashed lines on the second butterfly. These optional fold guides help the wings stand up and give your butterfly a little extra dimension.
3. Choose how to play!
- Butterfly wristband: Attach the center of the butterfly’s body to a strip of paper using tape or glue, leaving the wings free to flutter. Wrap the strip around your wrist and secure it with tape, or cut along the dotted lines to create a tab and slots. Slide the tab into a slot for an adjustable fit.
- Butterfly puppet: Tape a popsicle stick or wooden dowel to the back of the butterfly. Hold the stick and make your butterfly flutter and fly!
Download Your Free Monarch Butterfly Wristband Printable
Ready to make your own butterfly?
Download the free printable below and enjoy a little creative time together!
Tip for teachers: For younger children, consider cutting out the butterflies ahead of time so they can focus on coloring and assembling their crafts.
A Few More Ideas
This butterfly craft would be fun for:
- Butterfly and insect learning activities
- Nature-themed crafts
- Día de los Muertos activities
- Classroom art projects
- A simple afternoon craft at home
And if monarch butterflies hold a special meaning for your family, this could be a sweet little craft to make while remembering someone you love.
Happy creating!
Love this craft? Try our free printable dragonfly wristband and puppet too! It’s another fun way to make fluttering wings come to life.
