We have had butterflies on the brain since we've recently played in a Butterfly Small World and Raised Our Own Butterflies.
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So it shouldn't be SO surprising that the other day an amazing thing happened! A beautiful (and I think rare?) rainbow butterfly came to visit our house. It flew from one end of our deck to the other very quickly!
Then it paused for a moment to sun its beautiful wings.
And it was off again! Making a really silly face as it ran by! Baby X and I got to marvel at its beauty (and speed) for quite some time before it disappeared.
If you would like to have a beautiful giant butterfly visit you, we've got some pointers. First, you'll need a big cardboard box. If you have your child lay down by the box, you can eyeball how big the wings of a giant butterfly ought to be. I cut one wing and then used it to trace the opposite. I overlapped them slightly to make the center very strong, taped it with packing tape and used some black adhesive foam to make the shape of a butterfly's body. I punched four holes (one above and one below her shoulder on each side) and threaded some spare orange ribbon through and taped it down.
I added watercolor paper over both sides of the wings and lined the wing edges with black masking tape (the same tape I use to make frames around S's artwork in our Art Room). We used Colorations Liquid Watercolors
(What are Liquid Watercolors?) to paint, but you could also use traditional watercolors and get a similar result (our favorite traditional watercolors are these).
(What are Liquid Watercolors?) to paint, but you could also use traditional watercolors and get a similar result (our favorite traditional watercolors are these).
S wanted to make a pattern on the butterfly's wings, so I cut some shapes out of the black sticky foam and we talked about symmetry. S applied the shapes symmetrically to each wing herself.
Once we had some dry wings, we added some purple pipecleaner antennae to a headband and waited. We were so lucky to have this beautiful butterfly visit - too bad S was missing for the whole thing! ;)
This activity was inspired by these awesome cardboard fairy wings from Outnumbered by Kids.
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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child's parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child's pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.
Love this, Asia! The best thing about them (in my opinion) is that S had a hand in making them. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ann! She had some definite opinions about which colors were to go where and even mixed her own combos of colors in places. I love seeing what she comes up with! :)
DeleteHow adorable and AWESOME! I shared the link to this post in my bug round up today!! Love it http://www.toddlerapproved.com/2013/06/14-book-inspired-bug-week-activities-2.html
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kristina! :) And thank you for including us! :)
DeleteThese are so pretty! Your photos are filled with such joy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, JDaniel4's Mom! And what a sweet compliment. :) :) :)
DeleteHi Angela! Thank you so much and I adore your fairy wings. That was so kind of you to include a link to us!!!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for posting this! I'm in Early Childhood Education and needed something for the kids and this was the perfect idea! I decided to make my own using your instructions and it turned out perfectly! Instead of using paper on both sides though I used colourful Duct Tape on one side of the wings and on the other I used two coloured construction paper. Turned out perfectly and am so happy of the results!
Thanks again,
Amanda
Oh I'm so glad to hear it! The wings sound so awesome!!! I'm sure the little ones are having a blast with them!
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