Bead and Safety Pin Butterfly Craft
This Bead and Safety Pin Butterfly Craft is a bright and festive project for patriotic holidays like the Fourth of July, Memorial Day, or Veterans Day. Made with red, white, and blue pony beads, this sparkling butterfly pin is fun for older kids to create and wear. You can also switch the bead colors to match your own flag or favorite color combination, which makes this a fun craft for kids all year long.
This bead craft is a creative way to practice patterns, fine motor skills, and careful assembly. The finished butterfly also makes a sweet handmade gift.
Supplies
- 10 gold safety pins, size 2
- 1 gold coiless safety pin, 2 1/4 inches
- 17 metallic pony beads
- 10 red pony beads
- 8 white pony beads
- 20 blue pony beads
- 2 white star pony beads
- White glue
- 30 inches metallic cord
Instructions
- Cut the metallic cord to 30 inches. Stiffen the ends with a little white glue and let them dry completely before threading.
- Open the ten size 2 safety pins and add the beads as shown in the printable diagram.
- Thread the cord through the head of the large coiless safety pin and center it so both cord ends are even. Open the large pin. Thread one gold pony bead onto both ends of the cord and slide it onto the large pin to form the butterfly’s head.
- Add the six upper wing safety pins onto the large pin, alternating left and right sides as you go.
- Take the cord on the right side and thread it through the bead on the top right wing safety pin. Add one bead, then thread through the head of that safety pin. Add another bead and thread through the head of the second safety pin. Add another bead and thread through the head of the third safety pin and through the beads on that third pin. Repeat the same steps with the cord on the left side.
- Thread one bead onto both ends of the cord and onto the large pin.
- Add the four lower wing safety pins onto the large pin, alternating left and right sides again.
- Take the right cord and thread it through the beads on the first lower wing safety pin, then through the head of that pin. Add one bead and thread through the head of the second lower wing safety pin. Add three metallic beads and thread through the beads of the last safety pin. Repeat on the left side with the other cord.
- Thread one bead onto both cord ends and onto the large pin. Close the pin securely.
- Add two beads to each cord end. Tie the cords with a double knot and trim the excess.
Fun Facts
Pins have been used for both practical and decorative purposes for centuries. People originally used them to fasten clothing, but they also became a stylish way to show personality, fashion, and even social status.
Butterflies are often used in crafts because they symbolize beauty, change, and creativity. That makes this butterfly pin a fun project to wear or give as a gift.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on the printable diagram to open it in a new window. Use it as a guide for placing the beads on each safety pin and assembling the butterfly shape.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This butterfly craft works well for older kids in classrooms, camps, and homeschool settings because it encourages careful sequencing and pattern building.
You can extend the activity by asking kids to:
- Create color patterns with beads
- Design a butterfly using school colors or holiday colors
- Compare butterfly wing symmetry
- Write a short paragraph about what butterflies symbolize
- Make matching beaded insects or nature-themed pins for a display
This is also a nice activity for practicing fine motor control and following multi-step directions.
Supplies
Instructions
Other Images
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Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
