Paper Butterfly Tutorial with Free Download

We have turned some of Rachel's butterfly sketches into a pack of downloadable images. Colour them in, trace them, cut them out or collage them and turn them into 3D butterfly designs. You can make as many as you like! Use your pretty designs in a frame to create an artwork for your home, or add them to journals, scrapbooks or greetings cards.

YOU WILL NEED

A pencil

A pair of sharp scissors

Craft glue

Tracing paper or parchment paper

Scrap papers

Magazine and newspaper clippings

Coloured pens

Our Butterfly Download (see below)

BUTTERFLY TEMPLATES.pdf

Download PDF • 74KB

STEP 1

Print out your template using the button above. Resize it if you'd like to make bigger or smaller butterflies. Trace over the designs using a sharp pencil.

STEP 2

Place the trace face down over your scrap papers. it's fun to look for images in magazines that have pattern or texture. And using sections of type can look lovely too.

STEP 3

Pressing hard, go over the back of the traced lines to transfer the image onto the scrap paper. You can decide which part of the wing you want to trace and whether you want to use the lines within the template to create layers of coloured papers. Or, if you want the wings to be more delicate, just trace the main outline and then use coloured pens to add the details.

STEP 4

Cut out your wing shapes and stick them in layers (if you're using a collage technique). Add any hand drawn details that you'd like to.

STEP 5

Stick the two pairs of wings together using a dab of glue in the centre. You want the wings to lift slightly at the edges.

STEP 6

Trace the body shapes onto slightly sturdier card or paper. Cut them out and add the two parts together using glue. Fold it in half along the centre.

STEP 7

Stick the body to the centre of your butterfly. It can help to pinch the fold gently while it is drying.

The beauty of this tracing technique is that you can endlessly create new unusual designs. It's such fun!

STEP 8

Use a hot glue gun or a dot of craft glue to mount your butterflies onto card and frame them. Why not add a small pin for extra authenticity?