Art-Making Activity: Tissue Paper Orchid and Butterfly

Introduction

Did you know that Colombia is home to several species of orchid flowers? Cattleya trianae is one of the most commonly found type of orchids throughout the country and was named after the Colombian naturalist, José Jerónimo Triana (1828-1890). It was selected as the national flower of Colombia because its lip petal colors – yellow, blue, and red – are the colors of the Colombian flag. Colombia’s wide diversity of natural habitats also makes it home to the largest variety of butterfly species.  

CREATE

Feeling inspired by the nature of Colombia?  Decorate the country national flower or butterfly species! When you are done decorating your orchid or butterfly, you can wear it on your wrist or on a headband!

Materials

• Orchid template & butterfly template 
• 1 – 2 sheets of printer paper (white)
• Scissors
• Tissue paper
• Glue stick
• Pipe cleaner
• Optional: Crayons; Colored pencils; Headband

Instructions 

Step 1: Decorate paper template

• Print templates and cut out the image of the orchid and butterfly.  
• Wad, crinkle, twist, and/or layer the tissue paper squares in anyway you like. Don’t cover up the two holes, you will use them later!
• Apply glue to area of the template you are decorating.
• Apply tissue paper to the glued area. 
• Press tissue paper into the glue for few seconds and repeat until your design is completed.

You can also decorate with crayons or colored pencils!

Step 2: Add pipe cleaner

Bring pipe cleaner from back of the template through the two holes so that the pipe cleaner lays flat.

Step 3: Make it wearable

There are 2 different ways you can wear your design – see the options below!  

Option 1: Wrist 

• Flip template over to the back.
• Tie ends of pipe cleaner together to fit your wrist. 

Option 2: Headband 

• Flip template over to the back.
• Wrap each end of pipe cleaner around headband.

This activity was developed in conjunction with the VMFA Family Day Celebrate the Art of Latin America: Colombia. 

Flag of Colombia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Cattleya trianae, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Helenor blue morpho, MdelPVD, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons