Butterfly Surprise Letters

Since I have been spending a lot of time at home these days, I have been looking for something cute and exciting to do with my three kids. I’ve also been searching for something we could share with those loved ones who don’t live with us. Sending mail to our friends and family has been a great way for us to get back to the basics and let those people know that even though we are far apart, we still love them and we are thinking of them. Adding these handmade butterflies is a surprise for two reasons: 1) Getting any mail that isn’t junk mail is pretty special in these computer-heavy days and 2) These butterflies will pop out of a card or box when opened and “fly” around! So, here’s how to put a smile on the face of someone far away by including these in the next letter or care package you send!

Supplies Needed

Pliers
One large paperclip
One small paperclip
A small rubber band or extra small hair tie
Scissors
Tape
Paper
Pens, pencils, etc. for decorating your butterfly

Steps

Straighten out the large paperclip by hand or with pliers.
Bend the large paperclip in half.
Wrap the center of the paperclip around a pencil end to create a loop.
Fold the "legs" of the paperclip vertically down, twist the center loop to close and cross it so it is perpendicular to the legs.
Bend the ends of the large paperclip up with the pliers.
At the end of these hooks, make smaller “U” shaped hooks.
Straighten the smaller paperclip and make a loop following steps 3 and 4 above.
Now thread your hair tie or rubber band through the circle of the smaller paperclip, leaving the small paperclip in the middle of the rubber band. Then thread one end of the rubber band through the other, pulling it tight to tie a “knot” around the paperclip’s loop.
Insert the circle of the small paperclip through the loop of the bigger paperclip.
Line up the small “U” shaped ends of the bigger paperclip with one another, overlapping them.
Hook rubber band onto the “U” shaped ends of the big paperclip.
You may need to loop the rubber band a few extra times around the “U” shaped ends in order to make it short enough to stretch tightly. You want a rather small rubber band for this project to work.
Trace wings onto paper and cut out.
Decorate the wings and tape them to your paperclip body.
Last step! Holding the smaller paperclip, spin the larger paperclip in circles until the rubber band is tightly wound.

Place between a card, envelope, etc. to keep the butterfly flat while the rubber band is wound. When the card opens, the rubber band will untwist causing the wings to flap and the butterfly to dance around.

If you are looking for other creative ways to send love to friends and family through the mail, feel free to check out these books: