Folding Washcloth Butterflies
Fold the washcloth into an envelope. Take a square washcloth and fold all four corners in towards the center. The point of each corner should meet in the middle. The washcloth can have sharp or rounded corners; the corners won’t be seen.
Secure a rubber band crosswise around the middle. Bunch up the middle of the folded washcloth with one hand, keeping the folded-in corners together in the middle where you’ve placed them. With your other hand, wrap a rubber band a couple of times around the middle to secure the bunch in place. This should leave you with a bow tie shape. How many times you wrap the rubber band depends on how big of a rubber band you have. Wrap it until it is no longer loose – but not so tight that it might snap.
Wrap a rubberband lengthwise around the washcloth. Pinch the outside edges of the “wings” in the middle, and push them inwards towards the first rubber band. Hold the new bunch in place with one hand as you secure a rubber band around it with your other hand.
Shape the wings with your fingers. Now you should see butterfly really taking shape. Use your fingers to lightly push and tug the wings to fluff and shape them to your liking.
Wrap a pipe cleaner around the visible, crosswise rubber band. Place the washcloth on top of the middle of the pipe cleaner, so that the butterfly’s antennae will be even. Twist the ends of the pipe cleaner twice at what is now the “head” of the butterfly. Bend each antenna down a bit.
Decorate the butterfly with stickers or pieces of pipe cleaner, if desired. If you don’t intend for the washcloth to be used, you can add stickers or decorations with glue. For example, cut off bits of pipe cleaner and glue them onto the wings like polka dots. You can use fabric glue or a hot glue gun. For example, try gluing jeweled stickers or craft puff balls onto the wings! If you decorate the butterfly with pieces of pipe cleaner, make sure you turn any sharp ends inwards and downwards before gluing so that they don’t stick out. Make sure to follow all instructions and safety precautions when using hot glue.
Making Bath Towel Butterflies
Fold and bunch a bath towel crosswise. Place the towel on the bed or other surface where you want it to lay. Bring the two long ends of the bath towel together so that it’s folded crosswise. Then bunch the folded towel together crosswise in the middle. Fluff the “wings” with your hands. Use a colorful bath towel if you want a colorful butterfly! The bath towel will form the wings.
Roll a washcloth to make the “body.” Roll up a washcloth so that it is tight and pointy on one end, and thick/bunchy on the other. Tuck the edge of the washcloth into the thick end to form the head. Lay the rolled washcloth on top of the bath towel, in the middle. No binding is necessary, as the towels are stacked loosely on top of each other so they can be readily used. Due to size, the best place to lay your butterfly towel is on the guest’s bed. However, you may also lay it on a large desk, counter or armchair.
Decorate the butterfly. Use your imagination to decorate the butterfly however you like. For example, take a bit of string and tie a knot on each end. Loop the string through the head of the butterfly (or simply lay it down underneath the head) for antennae. Use eye and mouth stickers, if desired.
Making Paper Towel Butterflies
Pour dye into separate containers. You can use food coloring or liquid water colors. Use a small bowl for each color, or put a different color in each compartment of an ice cube tray! Spread out old towels or a vinyl tablecloth to protect the work surface.
Dip or brush the paper towels to color them. Use paint brushes or eyedroppers to apply color to the paper towels. If you want more vivid color (and aren’t worried about cleanup), fold each paper towel (at least twice) into a square. Then dip each corner into a different color. Allow any excess water to drop back into the container. Don’t soak the paper towel too deeply or for very long or it will get overly saturated. The towels don’t have to be completely colored – some white areas will look great, too! This is a good time to explain color mixing while children observe and experiment.
Lay the towels out to dry. Open each paper towel, if you had them folded. Spread out the towels on a sunny sidewalk or driveway, or nearby a fireplace (not too close!). Let them sit until they are totally dry to the touch. You may want to flip them over once if they don’t seem to be drying completely. You can use a hairdryer to help the towels dry. If it’s a windy day, either dry the paper towels indoors or make sure to weigh the corners down.
Secure each paper towel in the middle with a twist tie or pipe cleaner. Bunch the middle of the towel together. Wrap a twist tie or pipe cleaner around the middle and wrap it a couple of times. Fluff out the wings gently with your hands. If you want the wings to have more definition, fold the paper towel accordion-style before bunching it together in the middle. Fold one outer edge to form a thin rectangle. Then flip the towel over and fold the rectangle back onto itself. Flip the towel again and repeat until it’s completely pleated.
Make antennae with straws or pipe cleaner. If you wrapped pipe cleaner around the middle, simply bend or curl the ends to make the antennae. Otherwise, you can make them out of bendy straws! Attach two straws to the middle of each butterfly, and secure them with tape or hot glue.
Decorate further, if desired. Add stickers for eyes, such as googly eye stickers! Use your imagination and add whatever decorations you like – for example, buttons, puff balls, or colorful stickers. Attach your decorations with hot glue or a bit of double-sided tape. Make sure to follow all instructions, age group recommendations and safety precautions when using hot glue. You can hang your butterflies from the ceiling with string, or pin them to a bulletin board.
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