I confess! I'm a bit of a pack-rat. (a lot!?) I NEVER throw away art
supplies! And, I love to find a creative use for things I already have.
Gather up your materials: clothes pins (any kind will do), coffee filters,
pipe cleaners or chenille stems, glue, fine-point and regular markers, and
~the recycle part~ your left-over Easter egg dye!
After the eggs are drying and the table is still covered, let's have a
little more fun, shall we? You can dye your butterfly bodies (clothes pins)
in the color of your choice. They'll take longest to dry so start with
them. Lay them onto plastic to dry.
Next, the wings. You can color the coffee filters by folding again and
again into a small triangle. Dip the entire thing in a primary color
(yellow, red or blue). Then, dip just the point into another primary color.
The colors will bleed together some. Control it by squeezing out after
the first color so it isn't as wet, for less blending.
Or, hold it in the second dye longer, for more color blending. Note*
This is a really nice beginner art lesson-which colors make which secondary
colors.
Experiment with the wings some for color combinations you like and folding
different to create other patterns. Unfold and lay flat to dry (over
plastic). If you don't love them once they're dry, use markers to pretty
them up some more.
Decorate the head (top of clothes pin) by forming antennae out of pipe
cleaner or chenille stems. Attach at top of head with a thumbtack or tape.
Glue eyes on, and draw a smile beneath it with the fine-point marker.
Scrunch the wings, or fanfold if you prefer. Insert between the prongs of
the clothes pin (or clip, if you have that kind of clothes pin).
Decorate with these any way you'll enjoy seeing them:
Clipped to a curtain
Hung from the ceiling from fishing line
Clipped to a chopstick and inserted in a potted plant
Clipped to place cards at your holiday table
Tossed in the breeze for HOURS of entertainment
-Have fun! And, Happy Easter! Rose
