We created these adorable butterflies using a classic technique that creates beautiful watercolour art! The children spent all day on and off doing the different stages of these butterflies and come afternoon we had any adorable set of brightly coloured butterflies!
With butterflies dancing in the garden daily it felt very appropriate to do a fun butterfly craft.
We started by drawing with every day felt tips on the special papers (I shall reveal what papers they are at the end of the post- keep reading to find out). The children really enjoying making lots of patterns and drawings.
It was a fun little practice for the twins too who are currently in Nursery. I have one child who holds a pen correctly and one who keeps reverting back to holding his pen with the fist. This is completely normal at this age but the more exposure he can get to mark making and drawing the more practice he gets using the pincer grip the more this will become a natural hold for him.
They kept coming back and forth drawing and doodling which was great. Once they had a bank of drawings we were ready to move on to the next stage - adding water to spread and disperse the colour!
You can buy the filter papers to make your own butterflies direct from us here - Learning and Exploring Through Play Shop.
We used pipettes and water to achieve the next stage. Operating the pipettes is another fine motor skill. They boys had to really stop and think about how to fill them up and empty them again. It required hand eye co-ordination and because they could see the cause and effect happening before their eyes they just wanted to keep going and going.
Once they had soaked the paper through I laid them out on the Tuff Tray. We had a baking hot day yesterday so within a few short minutes the papers had already fully dried out.
Spin Art Butterflies
Nature Heart Activity
Spin Art Butterflies
Nature Heart Activity
We used some tiny little bands to scrunch the papers together to create our butterfly shapes. The children were able to complete this independently. Another great little task to really get the muscles in the hands working.
Lets see this activity in action:
The final stage was to glue down a stick in the centre of the butterfly. I really loved how the natural sticks looked on the coloured papers. I think they looked great! You could also use popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners or pegs that you hang your washing up with. All of these alternatives are fun and look great too.
But the big question. What papers did we use for this activity?
You can buy the filter papers to make your own butterflies direct from us here - Learning and Exploring Through Play Shop.
It's the first time we have had them. You buy them in large quantities. I think the smallest amount I have seen is in packs of 100. I brought a pack of 250 as I have lots of crafts in mind to try with them that I look forward to sharing with you over the course of the next few weeks.
It's the first time we have had them. You buy them in large quantities. I think the smallest amount I have seen is in packs of 100. I brought a pack of 250 as I have lots of crafts in mind to try with them that I look forward to sharing with you over the course of the next few weeks.
Since we have been on lock down here in the UK we have really appreciated all this time in at home. Usually we venture out at any opportunity we have which is always fun but lockdown has shown us that actually staying at home and crafting in the sunshine is fun too. We are up to something each day and I love that. The children are really getting a burning desire to create and make.
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