clothes pin butterfly

Smootch originally saw this idea on a video of crafty projects for kids and was completely enamored with it. Being sparkly, beady, and able to pinch, it's a very enticing project for a four year old. She had me digging out the beads I had been saving from her school projects for a year out just before bedtime last night (I actually do understand last minute inspirations, and how important it is to go with it and damn the toothbrushing.) Smootch has given me permission to share her project with everyone here.


To make a clothes pin butterfly, round yourself up some pipe cleaners, acrylic paint and brushes, beads with large enough holes for the pipecleaners, and sturdy glue (white or hot). Oh, and a clothes pin!


First up, paint your clothes pin in an acceptable butterfly colour.

While the paint is drying, load up two pipecleaners with beads, leaving an inch clear on each of the ends.

Twist the beaded pipecleaner into a figure 8 with the ends coming off the side in the middle. Twist the ends together to secure.

Cut a smaller length of pipecleaner for antenne. Finish the ends with a couple of beads.

Gather all of your butterfly elements and glue. Attach the antenne at mid point with a small pool in the dip on one side of the clothes pin mouth. If you want your clothes pin to open still, I suggest proping the mouth open with a bead until the glue is dry.


The wings are applied by globbing some glue inside of the spring and tucking in the twisted ends(you may need to trim the pipecleaner a bit).

Smootch's butterfly actually spent the night drying on the top of the refrigerator. Here it is the next day:

If you decide that your butterfly is still a bit too plain, as Smootch did, add some more paint to the clothes pin.

And then you have yourself one sparkly, pretty, pinchy butterfly ;)