Flapping Butterfly · Paper craft to colour, cut and make

A paper butterfly that really flaps. Colour it, cut it out, fold the middle and hold the two ends. Push them in and pull them out, and the wings open and close.

Your child colours a long strip with flowers, a butterfly body and four wings, then folds the middle of the strip into a little tent. The wings are glued above and below the fold, so every push and pull makes them flap.

What makes it special

• Four wings to colour: two big and two small, with spots and patterns to fill in any way your child likes.
• The pop-up middle: one straight fold and two slanted folds turn the strip into a tent that moves the wings.
• It moves: push the ends in and pull them out and the butterfly flaps, so the finished butterfly is something to play with, not just to look at.
• A how-to page: seven short steps with pictures, including how the middle folds.

How it works: download, print, make

1. Download the butterfly page and the how-to page straight after you pay.
2. Print the butterfly page on A4 thick paper or card (160–200 gsm).
3. Make it: colour, cut, fold, glue and flap.

You need

A printer and thick paper or card (160–200 gsm), scissors, a glue stick and colours. Cut and glue with a grown-up nearby.

Good to know

• Colours can print slightly differently depending on your printer.
• Print it as many times as your family or class needs. Please don't share or resell the files.