This autumn leaf butterflies and dragonflies kids craft is a cheerful hands-on project for kids, classrooms, and family craft time. It uses the tutorial steps below as the practical guide while adding helpful planning notes so the project feels easier to prepare, follow, and finish. Gather the supplies first, give yourself a little workspace, and enjoy making something creative from simple materials.
Check out our video for how to make Leaf Butterflies:
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How to make Leaf Butterflies:
- Colourful Leaves, Small Branches, Berries, Thistles, Pinecones etc. (What can you find in your neighbourhood?)
- Tacky Glue
- Scissors
- White Cardstock
- Spray Preservative
We tried to find as many bright and colourful leaves as we could. The bolder the better! Lay your leaves out and start looking for colours and patterns that compliment each other. Grab two that work together. Use one for for the top half and one for the bottom.
Sometimes your leaves will resemble wings naturally, and you won’t have to cut them. But don’t be afraid to cut them to get the shapes you want!
Once you have your upper and lower wings (usually 4 pieces) you can start laying them out on your cardstock. I like to lay out all my butterfly pieces before I glue things down, just to make sure things are looking good. If you don’t like how it looks, you can easily trim certain pieces, or swap out others.j
Find pieces to make your butterfly’s body, head (optional) and antennae. You can use so many different things from nature – small pine cones, twigs, berries, tiny flowers. Get creative – there are no rules!
Once you’re happy with the butterfly shape you’ve created, start gluing the pieces onto cardstock.
I used Aleene’s Tacky Glue and it worked really well! It’s sticky enough that the pieces stay in position much better than regular white glue (although white glue is also an option). And since it doesn’t dry right away you have time to move the leaves and sticks slightly if you need to re-adjust once you lay them down.
I glued the bottom wings first, then layered on the upper wings on top.
Next, add your body, head and finally the antennae!
Aren’t these butterflies SO beautiful?! I love how colourful they all look!
Butterflies aren’t the only things you can make! Try making a dragonfly! Grab a small twig and a couple maple keys and your dragon fly will come together fast! It’s so simple to make and looks SO realistic!
Take walk around your neighborhood or through a park and see what’s around! You’ll be amazed at how many neat little plants you find!
My kids LOVE helping me find supplies for our craft projects, especially when they come from nature. If I ask them for a stick, they’ll enthusiastically come back with about 20 sticks!
I’m not sure what the best way is to preserve these? We made ours over a week ago, and they are still holding up well. But the colours are getting less vibrant, and the edges are curling up a little bit. They still look beautiful, but I don’t think they’ll last forever.
If you want them to last forever, you could try covering them with a layer of Mod Podge? There are a few spray preservatives out there as well. I linked one above! I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments!
See how many shapes and different types of insects you can create!
Such a great fall project! All you need is some glue and some paper. Nature will provide the rest!
These autumn leaf butterflies and dragonflies are SO COOL and they’re really easy to make! Go on a nature walk and see what fun leaves, flowers, pinecones, thistles, and sticks you can find. You can make all sorts of fun creatures from fall leaves! This Autumn nature craft is such a fun fall craft for kids!
For even MORE craft ideas check out:
Easy Tree Painting with Broccoli
Beaded Pipe Cleaner Indian Corn
For more fun craft ideas, check out our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids for 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books- A- Million | Indiebound | Indigo | Amazon Canada
Helpful Tips
- Read through the full tutorial before starting.
- Prepare the listed supplies ahead of time so each step is easier to follow.
- Check the finished craft against the instructions before displaying or using it.
FAQs
Is this tutorial beginner friendly?
Yes. This autumn leaf butterflies and dragonflies kids craft is written with simple steps and extra tips for beginners.
Can kids make this craft independently?
Older kids may be able to work independently, while younger kids should have help with any steps that require close attention or small pieces.
How long does the craft take?
Most versions take about 30 minutes, depending on the materials and the pace of the crafter.
Can I use different colors?
Yes. Changing the colors is one of the easiest ways to personalize the finished craft.
Final Thoughts
Once the autumn leaf butterflies and dragonflies kids craft is finished, take a moment to check the details, compare the result with the tutorial, and display the project somewhere kids can enjoy their work.
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