Even if you have procrastinated on any and all Easter decorations, there is still time to make some simple, but beautiful, origami butterflies. Don’t be scared off if you have never done origami before, this is a very simple tutorial that doesn’t take long to master. You can hang the simple origami butterflies from an Easter tree, use them as pretty Easter dinner place cards, or put them on an Easter wreath like I did.

pastel origami butterflies on a wood table

SIMPLE ORIGAMI BUTTERFLIES

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE ORIGAMI BUTTERFLIES?

folded origami butterfly with scrapbook paper

The only supplies you need for this project are squares of paper and your two hands. I used scrapbook paper because I didn’t have origami paper on hand. Origami paper is MUCH easier to fold, but the butterflies will be more delicate when they are finished. Use the type of paper that will work best for your project.

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origami paper or scrapbook paper
paper trimmer

flat lay of craft supplies on a white table

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HOW TO MAKE ORIGAMI BUTTERFLIES

The finished butterflies aren’t flat, but have a pretty, dimensional shape because of the curved wings.

I am sharing the step-out of folding the origami butterfly below, but I know written origami tutorials can be hard to understand. If you think so too, just watch the video above to see how the folds work in action. At any point in the tutorial, you can pause the video to complete each step and restart the video to move on. Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, if you haven’t already, so you don’t miss any of my fun video tutorials.

Origami Butterfly Instructions

If needed, cut the paper into a square.
Keep in mind that the larger your paper square is, the larger your finished butterfly will be. My paper was 5″ square.
Place the paper printed side up. Fold the paper in half horizontally and vertically using a mountain fold and crease these folds. Open the paper again.
Mountain folds mean you fold the paper away from you, so the crease is on the top side of the paper.
Fold the paper in half diagonally in both directions using a mountain fold and crease these folds. Open the paper again.
Collapse the horizontal folds and flatten the paper into a triangle pointing up.
This is called an origami waterbomb base.
Grab the left side of the top layer of the triangle (waterbomb base), and fold it up to touch the top point of the triangle and crease these folds. Repeat this on the right side.
It should look like there is a diamond shape in the middle of the triangle now.
Flip the paper over so that the diamond is facing the table and the triangle is now pointing down.
Fold the bottom point of the triangle up past the top edge of the long side of the triangle (at the top). Do not crease this fold.
Flip the paper over again. Fold the small flap of the point that is past the edge of the long side of the triangle down over the edge towards you. Crease this fold.
Gently fold the paper along the midline of the butterfly.

HOW CAN YOU USE ORIGAMI BUTTERFLIES?

These dimensional paper butterflies are pretty additions to lots of craft projects. Add a small butterfly to scrapbooks or handmade cards. You can use larger versions on wreaths, bulletin boards, or party decorations. If you make your own origami butterflies share them on Instagram and tag me so I can see them!