Paper Butterfly

• Scrap paper, ruler and
  compass to trace a shape that is basically a square overlapped by a
  circle, and some scissors to cut it out. The smaller you make your
  pattern, the smaller your butterfly will be (and the harder to fold!)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Some patterned paper (I used double sided but you can use paper
  with a single printed side - the thinner the paper is the easier it is
  to get lots of little folds and the butterfly looks better)
  


• A bone folder helps to get the creases sharp
  


• A length of Ribbon - thinner is better
  

• Cut out your pattern, then trace it onto the patterned paper you chose
  


• Cut out the shape
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Pleat the butterfly shape up as finely as you can, using the bone folder to make the creases sharp. Keep going until the whole shape looks like an accordion
  
  
  
  
  
  


• Now take some ribbon and tie the shape in the middle. The ribbon ends will become the antennae and head
  


• Next,
  spread out the folds to make wings. I used my bone folder again to make
  the wings fold upward and downward the way I wanted them to