Toddlers and preschoolers can create charming fridge magnets with this simple butterfly craft.
Although it feels a little strange to make spring-themed crafts and think of butterflies while bundling up in hats and mittens, this sweet butterfly magnet project is perfect for chilly days. It’s a hands-on activity that combines art, science, and fine-motor practice.
This is an ideal spring craft for toddlers and preschoolers. It gives children a fun art activity, a chance to observe how colours blend and absorb, and an opportunity to practise using clothespins to strengthen their fine motor skills.
Supplies:
- Coloured water (food colouring or liquid watercolours)
- Paint brushes
- Paper towels
- Clothespins
- Googly eyes
- Glue
- Old fridge magnet
Making our butterfly magnets:
Begin by preparing several shallow dishes of water tinted with food colouring or liquid watercolours. Give each child a section of paper towel and a paintbrush. They can tap and dab the brush into the coloured water and then onto the paper towel, watching as the fibres soak up the pigment and create soft washes of colour.
To make the wings, children simply paint the paper towel with the coloured water. The process is sensory and visual—kids enjoy seeing the colours spread, blend, and change as the paper soaks them up.
While the paper towels dry, have the children paint the clothespins. Clipping the clothespins to a piece of cardboard makes them easier to hold and paint neatly.
Set painted paper towel wings and clothespin bodies aside to dry. You can speed drying with a hair dryer if you prefer, or let them air dry while the children enjoy a snack.
Once everything is dry, pinch the paper towel in the middle to form the wings and secure it with the painted clothespin as the butterfly’s body. Glue a pair of googly eyes onto each clothespin to bring the butterflies to life.
Finally, cut an old fridge magnet into strips and glue one strip to the back of each clothespin so the butterflies can decorate your fridge or any magnetic surface.
More Butterfly Crafts for Kids:
Tissue Paper and Clothespin Butterflies
Monarch Butterflies with Painted Coffee Filters
Crumpled Tissue Paper Butterflies
Painted Clay Dough Butterflies