How To Make A Butterfly Sponge Painting For Spring

April 10, 2026

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butterfly sponge painting that has different colored butterflies

This butterfly sponge painting is an easy spring craft for kids that uses sponges, rubber bands, and paint to create beautiful butterflies. This sponge painting is a great spring activity for kids to do on rainy days or outdoors on sunny days.

If you know me, you know I loved themed-days. I always pair this butterfly sponge painting with other butterfly activities, like this coffee filter butterfly craft, this backyard butterfly hunt, or this butterfly nature collage. I also love feeding the kids butterfly-themed food, like these butterfly garden waffles or these spring fruit kabobs.

supplies for the butterfly sponge painting

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What you’ll need for this recipe:

Sponges
Rubber bands
Paint
Paper plate or paint tray
White paper or cardstock
Paint pen or marker

How To Make A Butterfly Sponge Painting

1. Wrap a rubber band tightly around the middle of a sponge to create a butterfly shape.

sponges with rubber bands around the middle to look like a butterfly

2. Pour different colors of paint onto a paper plate or tray.

a tray with sponges that have rubber bands around the middle and different colored paint

3. Dip the sponge into the paint. If using colored sponges, match the color sponge to the color of paint to make it easier for kids.

4. Press the sponge onto paper to stamp a butterfly shape.

a kid stamping down a sponge with paint on it

5. Repeat with different colors to create a whole collection of butterflies.

6. Let the paint dry, then use a paint pen or marker to draw antennae on each butterfly.

a sponge stamped butterfly with an antennae drawn on

Variations For This Butterfly Sponge Painting

Get creative. Use markers or paint to add polka dots, stripes, or other designs to your butterfly after it has dried. This will make the butterfly sponge painting even more unique.

Add a background. Before sponge painting, paint or draw a flower background and stamp the butterflies on flowers. Or, paint a sky blue background with clouds to make the butterflies look like they are in flight.

Change the colors. Keep the pastel paint colors for spring or use black, white, and orange paint for monarchs.

Add more details. Use glitter while the paint is still wet (or mix it in your paint) for a sparkly butterfly. Use pipe cleaners for 3D antennae or add googly eyes for a fun and unexpected detail.

Butterfly Books To Read

Caterpillar to Butterfly (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1)

$5.57