Butterflies are loved because of their glorious colours, and dainty characteristics. Because they flutter about they are seen to be delicate. They have been the instigator of paintings and verse.

10 Facts about Butterflies

* Butterflies have six legs

* It is believed that there are up to 24,000 species of butterflies

* Butterflies have four scale-covered wings

* Butterflies have not been found in Antarctica

* Butterflies have their skeletons on the outside

* Butterflies taste with their feet

* Butterflies can be sized from one eighth of an inch to almost 12 inches

* Butterflies are cold blooded creatures

* Butterflies cannot fly unless their body temperature is more than 86 degrees Fahrenheit

Making Digital Butterflies


Get your drawing things out and start off with drawing the head, antennae and body.


Draw a wing.

Scan your drawings into your graphics program.


Make a copy of the wing


Flip the wing horizontally


Add the body to the wings.

Try using different sizes of bodies and wings. Colour them and experiment. Try drawing a page of wings to be flipped and two or three different bodies, so you can mix and match them.

A long body and shorter wings will transform the butterflies into dragonflies.Here are a few butterflies made with the method above:







Use them as page borders or decorations on scrap tags or gift labels. Integrate them into other projects. Have fun!

Article and images Copyright Mina Keenan