Mini Canvas Butterfly Craft

This mini canvas butterfly craft is so fun, and it's a great way to introduce kids to symmetry in art. Each mini canvas butterfly is comprised of two mini canvas panels and a wooden craft stick that joins the two canvases together. The concept of this project is fairly simple, so this would make a great craft for preschool kids, elementary kids, and even tweens and teens! You can easily make this craft more simple for the younger age groups (simple color block art) and more ornate for the older age groups.

I made these mini canvas butterflies with my tween daughter and my toddler;  this past weekend, and both of them really enjoyed this butterfly craft project. My toddler kept it fairly basic (and colorful!) and my older daughter was pretty detailed with each  mini canvas butterfly, This mini canvas butterfly craft is perfect for making some really fun DIY room decor or for crafting up as a gift for someone special. It's also the perfect craft to kick off the new sunny summer season with the kids!

Ready to make this mini canvas butterfly craft with the kids? Read on for the simple supply list and step-by-step instructions, below.

Mini Canvas Butterfly Craft How-To

What you'll need: 

• A hot glue gun and hot glue sticks (or permanent adhesive that is meant to bond wood and canvas.) Note: only adults should handle the step that requires gluing / use of a hot glue gun.
• A paint brush 
• Paint (acrylic for older children and washable paint for younger children) in your choice of color(s).
• Black paint (acrylic for older children and washable paint for younger children.)
• Wooden craft sticks (we used 6" wood craft sticks and 12" wooden craft sticks for the pictured completed craft(s).
• Mini clothespins (2 for each mini canvas butterfly.)
• Mini canvas panels (we used 2" x 2" and 3" x 5" mini canvas panels to craft the pictured mini canvas butterflies.)

How to:

1. Using black paint and a paintbrush, start by creating symmetrical art / patterns on each canvas panel, to resemble butterfly wings.
2. Allow adequate time for paint to dry.
3. Fill your design in with color as a desired. Allow adequate time for paint to dry.
4. Paint your wood craft stick(s) as desired, allow adequate time for drying.
5. Using adhesive or hot glue, ad a thin line along the inside edge of each canvas panel. Press your wooden craft stick into the glue. Hold in place for a few moments until the glue has dried/set. 
6. Add two mini clothes pins to the top center of your wooden craft stick (to create the look of antennae) 

Hang your mini canvas butterfly DIY room decor and enjoy, or gift your mini canvas butterfly to someone special. 

Happy crafting, friends!