This paper butterfly terrarium is such a charming way to create a little piece of spring and summer that you can enjoy all year round! Tucked inside a mason jar, these delicate paper butterflies look like they’re fluttering through their very own miniature habitat. It’s a super fun project for kids and adults alike, and a lovely way to get creative with nature-inspired crafting.
With paper butterflies, a few simple supplies, and a little hot glue magic, you can build your own butterfly jar. It’s like capturing a bit of garden wonder under glass — no watering required! Display it on a shelf, give it as a gift, or use it as a whimsical centerpiece that brings a touch of nature indoors.
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How to Make a Paper Butterfly Terrarium
Materials:
- FREE Printable Butterfly Outline (printed at 35, 40, and 50%)
- Alcohol markers (or regular markers)
- Mason jar(s) (32 oz)
- Floral foam
- Twigs (small, dry branches)
- Moss
- Faux flowers and greenery
- Floral wire
Equipment:
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Create your butterflies
- Print one of our butterfly coloring pages at a smaller scale. (Find the link in the materials list above.)We printed our butterflies at 35, 40, and 50%.
- Colour butterflies of different sizes and cut them out.
Step 3: Prepare the lid
- We’ll be building our butterfly habitat on the lid of a 32 ounce mason jar. Make sure you have the jar and ring as well.
- Cut a piece of floral foam at least 1-1/2 inches tall to fit in the center of the lid.Since you’ll be adding things to the foam, it should be quite a bit smaller than the lid, so it’ll fit back in the jar.
- Add hot glue to the center of the lid and attach the foam.
Step 4: Create a display
- Gather a small fallen branch (or two) from outside and push it into the foam.Make sure your branch is short enough to fit inside the jar (5 inches maximum).
- Apply more hot glue around the outside of the foam and cover it with moss.
- Poke faux flower stems into the foam. You can twist or bend the stems so they fit how you’d like.Secure the flowers to the side of the foam with more hot glue and cover the glue with moss.
- Cut a piece of thin floral wire to be about 4 inches long.
- Stick the wire into the foam. Then glue one of the butterflies to the end, using a small amount of hot glue.
- Glue the other butterflies to the branch, placing them at different angles.
Step 5: Close the jar
- Once you’re happy with the habitat, carefully and slowly insert the lid into the jar.You’ll have to shuffle the lid a bit, pushing the flowers and greenery up into the jar as you go.
- Then twist the ring back onto the lid, securing it in place.
- Your paper butterfly terrarium is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- You can place the foam, branches, and flowers in the jar to see how they fit before gluing permanently. Make adjustments now so everything looks just right when you’re ready to seal it up!
- Use fine-tipped scissors for cutting butterflies. This makes it easier to follow the lines, especially around antennae and delicate wing tips.
What size jar works best for this paper butterfly terrarium?
We used a 32 oz mason jar for our butterfly in a jar craft, and it worked really well. It gives you enough height for the branch and plenty of room to arrange flowers and butterflies.
But you can definitely try different sizes of jars. Just be sure to adjust the size of your butterflies and decorations accordingly. You can also make a paper butterfly terrarium in a decorative lantern or bell jar!
Can I use real flowers or branches in the butterfly jar?
Real branches are fine for this 3D butterfly craft, if they’re dry and clean.
However, we definitely recommend using faux flowers in the display. This will ensure everything stays fresh-looking, since real flowers will quickly wilt inside the jar without air or water.
How do I print the butterfly colouring pages at a smaller size for my DIY butterfly terrarium craft?
Start by opening one of the butterfly coloring pages or butterfly templates that have smaller butterflies. (We used butterfly coloring page #7, which has 4 butterflies to a page.)
In your printer settings, look for a scale option. Set the scale to 35%, 40%, and/or 50% to create butterflies in different sizes, perfect for this mason jar butterfly craft.
Alternatively, you can also find paper butterflies or butterfly stickers at your local dollar store or online.
This paper butterfly terrarium is such a fun way to bring a little outdoor beauty inside! With a handful of simple materials, you can create a fluttery little display that looks like something straight out of a storybook.
Whether you make just one or fashion a whole shelf of them, these butterfly jars are sure to brighten any space with a splash of colour and creativity.
Here’s even more DIY summer decor ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Amazon Canada
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