How to Make a Pleated Paper Butterfly

Total Time: 5 - 10 minutes

Supplies:

• 1 square of paper
• 1 piece of cord or ribbon for hanging
• scissors

Steps:

1. Fold the paper in half and cut along the fold.

 
2. Make concertina folds all along the length of one piece. Don't worry too much about accuracy as long as you have them reasonably straight.

 

 

 
3. Fold the second piece in half lengthways.

 

 
4. Turn the four corners in to the centre fold on the wrong side.

 
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5. Turn back to the right side.

 
6. Concertina fold one side then the other.

 

 
7. So now you have 2 pieces that look like this.

 
8. Bend them both in half.

 
9. Place one above the other to make a butterfly and tie the cord around the middle.

 

 
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10. Stretch out the pleats.

 
11. Some ideas for your butterfly are to hang it around the home, on a cupboard handle, over a mirror, in your car or on your handbag. You can also use it to decorate a wrapped gift or put it in your hair.