# Doll Pin Butterflies
> Kids paint wooden doll pins in bright colors, glue pom poms together in threes, and use pipe cleaners to make figure-eight wings and antennae. Then they stuff the pom poms into the wings for colorful 3D butterflies. It's a great finger-muscle workout of pulling, twisting and stretching.
- URL: https://www.funlittles.com/kids-crafts-doll-pin-butterflies/
- Ages: 4–7 yrs · Difficulty: easy · Mess: medium
- Time: prep 10 min, activity 45 min
- Works for: one-on-one, small group, whole class
- Skills: fine-motor, colors, creativity, counting

## Materials (one batch)
- 1 piece Wooden doll pins
- 1.5 piece Pipe cleaners
- 6 piece Pom poms (assorted colors)
- Fluorescent paint
- 4 piece Paintbrushes
- 1 piece Cup of water for rinsing brushes (household)
- 1 piece White school glue
- 1 piece Tape (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Scissors (household)
- 1 piece Fine-tip marker (optional) (household)
- 1 piece Tray (optional) (household)

## Substitutions
- Instead of paint: Acrylic paint (The author found the non-acrylic paint hard to get to stick on the doll pins, so acrylic may cover better.)
- Instead of glue: Tape (for the antennae only) (The author says you can glue or tape the antennae to the back of the doll pin head.)

## Safety
- Pom poms are small and a choking hazard. Supervise closely, especially with any child who still mouths objects.
- Pipe cleaner ends can be poky. Twist or tuck the ends in.
- An adult handles the scissors when cutting pipe cleaners for antennae.
- Use washable, non-toxic paint and glue, and wash hands after painting.

## Before you start
- Set out the doll pins, paints, brushes, pom poms, pipe cleaners and glue on a tray or table.

## Steps
1. Set out the doll pins, paints, pom poms, pipe cleaners and glue.
2. Paint the doll pins with bright colors.
3. Let the painted doll pins dry.
4. Separate the pom poms into groups of three and glue each group together.
5. Bend a pipe cleaner into a figure eight for the wings.
6. Insert the figure eight into the gap in the doll pin and push it up.
7. Adult: cut a pipe cleaner in half. Each half makes one pair of antennae.
8. Glue or tape the antennae to the back of the doll pin head.
9. Stuff the pom pom groups into the pipe cleaner wings to give the butterfly a 3D effect.
10. Line up your butterflies and show them off!

## Tips
- This craft exercises the kids' finger muscles, since they're doing a ton of pulling, twisting and stretching.
- Since the paint is not acrylic, we had a bit of a tough time getting it to stick on the doll pins. Honestly, this did not faze the kids. They went on to brightly color the doll pins.
- Gluing the pom poms by threes leads to tremendous play time for the children.
- There are several ways to complete the wings. A single pipe cleaner bent into a simple figure eight is the easiest.
- If the kids are not into the process, you can make them as party favors.

## The original post by TurkeyMom (2015)

With a bunch of basic craft supplies this kids craft could possibly be hours of fun - creating gorgeous butterflies from doll pins, pipe cleaners and pom poms. {Collection of [**butterfly activities**](https://www.funlittles.com/tag/butterflies/) here} This is a beautiful and fun kids butterfly craft which exercises the kids' finger muscles since the kids are doing a ton of pulling, twisting, stretching etc. Materials { products links below}

- **[Doll Pins](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002YTHHKQ/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Pipe Cleaners](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00A6VWMYK/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Pom Poms](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00114Q4KO/?tag=blmemo-20)**
- **[Fluorescent Paint](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UG1M3K/?tag=blmemo-20)**

 I used the gorgeous neon colors and the glow in the dark colors I had on hand to set out this craft activity.  The children had a great time painting the doll pins with vibrant colors. Since the paint is not acrylic, we had a bit of a tough time getting the paint to stick on the doll pins. Honestly though, this small part did not faze the kids. They went on to brightly color the doll pins.



The multi colored doll pins looked gorgeous all ready for a even beautiful kids craft.



Next step was to collect all the colorful pom poms. We separated the pom poms by 3 and glued them together to serve as part of the butterfly wings.



Gluing the pom poms by threes leads to tremendous play time for the children.



Once they have the pom poms ready next step is to get the wings ready using pipe cleaners. There are several ways to complete the wings. Using a single pipe cleaner the kids can make a simple figure eight and insert it into the gap in the doll pin and push it up.



Making the antennae is the next part of this kids craft. One pipe cleaner makes 2 pairs of antennae. You can either glue or tape the antennae to the back of the doll pin head.



Stuff the pipe cleaner outline of the wings with the pom poms to give the butterfy a 3D effect.

 

Cute butterflies ready. If the kids are not into the process, you can make them as party favors as well.



### What do you with these?

- Just a fun kid craft
- Kids room decor
- Party favors
- Kids party activity
- Kids party center pieces
- Personalize them with kids' initials and you can make a child's name with these bugs.



Thanks to [**CraftsProjectsIdeas**](http://craftprojectideas.com/) for providing us with the supplies needed to make this kids craft. This is NOT a sponsored post.