Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
How to Make a Toilet Paper Butterfly: Easy Origami Bathroom Decor
Problem Solution Girl has a new problem: I need more toilet paper origami in my life! 🦋
And you know what that means…it's time for a solution!
This adorable toilet paper origami butterfly is one of those ridiculously easy 5-minute crafts that makes me wonder why I didn't think of it sooner. With just a few folds, two pieces of toilet paper, and a pipe cleaner, you can turn an ordinary roll of toilet paper into a whimsical little butterfly for your bathroom.
I made mine using yellow and blue toilet paper paired with white, but you can absolutely make this butterfly using regular white toilet paper. The colorful version is just a fun way to add a little personality and color to your bathroom.
And if you've been following me for a while, you know I LOVE finding creative solutions using things you already have around the house!
You can put it on a holder or in a tank basket
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Why I Love Toilet Paper Origami
My love of toilet paper origami actually started when I saw this type of creative folding at an Airbnb. I was fascinated by how something as ordinary as a roll of toilet paper could be transformed into a cute little decoration for guests.
Since then, I've been having way too much fun experimenting with toilet paper crafts!
I've already created a toilet paper origami pumpkin and a toilet paper origami heart, and I have more ideas coming. I also have a butterfly money origami tutorial on my website (link list below in this article), so apparently butterflies have become a theme around here! I honestly love butterflies and have created many crafts around the beautiful creature. They always pop up in my crafts as I’m going through a life change or adjustment.
There is something so satisfying about these little projects. They're inexpensive, require very few supplies, and can often be completed in about five minutes. And honestly, creating is calming for me. I love those little creative projects where you can start with something simple and end up with something surprisingly beautiful.
See me make a toilet paper bow here or in my short video tutorial below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
How to Display Your Toilet Paper Butterfly
There are several cute ways to display your finished butterfly.
You can:
Hang it directly on your toilet paper holder
Place it in a decorative tank basket
Add it to a guest bathroom
Use it as a whimsical Airbnb or vacation rental bathroom decoration
Make several butterflies in different colors
Coordinate the colors with your bathroom decor
I especially love the idea of making a few in different colors and creating a whole little butterfly garden in your bathroom!
White or Colorful Toilet Paper?
The best part about this toilet paper butterfly craft is that you don't need colorful toilet paper to make it work. A white toilet paper butterfly would be beautiful and classic. But if you love color like I do, colorful toilet paper makes this little craft even more fun.
I made one with yellow and white and another with blue and white, and I love how the pops of color look against my black-and-white bathroom. It's such a simple way to bring in a little whimsy without spending much money on bathroom accessories.
And it coordinates perfectly with the colorful look of my Sproos shower head and filter, which has become another fun way I've added color to my bathroom.
Read about my colorful Sproos shower head and filter makeover here.
Colorful Toilet Paper Butterfly DIY for Bathroom Decor
More Toilet Paper Origami & Easy Crafts
If you love this toilet paper butterfly, you're definitely going to want to see my other toilet paper creations!
I've been building a whole collection of fun toilet paper origami and toilet paper crafts, including:
Toilet Paper Origami Pumpkin – A fun seasonal way to dress up your bathroom for fall and Halloween.
Toilet Paper Origami Heart – An easy little heart that's perfect for Valentine's Day, anniversaries, weddings, or just because.
Butterfly Money Origami Tutorial – If you love butterflies, here's another fun way to fold one using money!
I'm planning to keep experimenting with toilet paper origami, so check back for more creative bathroom transformations.
Why This Is Such a Great 5-Minute Craft
I think these are the kinds of crafts that make creativity so much fun. You don't need a craft room full of supplies. You don't need an expensive cutting machine. You don't need a complicated pattern.
You just need a roll of toilet paper, a pipe cleaner, a few minutes, and a willingness to fold something a little differently. And then suddenly…you have a butterfly!
That's exactly the kind of Problem Solution Girl solution I love sharing.
Problem: My bathroom needs a little more personality.
Solution: Turn the toilet paper into a butterfly! 🦋
It's affordable, easy, colorful, and completely unexpected. And if you have guests coming over, I guarantee this is the kind of tiny detail they'll notice and remember. It's also a fun idea for an Airbnb or vacation rental, where little touches can make a space feel more welcoming and cheerful.
👀Check out my 1-minute or less 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
5-Minute Toilet Paper Craft: Make a Butterfly!
Toilet Paper Butterfly Supplies
You don't need much to make this easy toilet paper origami butterfly.
🔗Links in this article go out to either the brand website, Amazon, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, or Lowe’s where we source our supplies based on discounts, budget and pricing.
You'll need:
2 attached squares of toilet paper
2 squares of toilet paper still attached to the roll
Scissors, if needed for trimming the pipe cleaner
Optional: Use colorful toilet paper for the wings or lower portion of your butterfly. You can also make the entire butterfly using white toilet paper.
How to Make a Toilet Paper Butterfly
Step 1: Tear Off Two Squares of Toilet Paper
Start by tearing off two attached squares of toilet paper and set them aside.
I used colorful toilet paper for this part because I wanted my butterfly to have a bright pop of color.
You can use white toilet paper instead if that's what you have on hand.
Folding the bottom wings
Step 2: Fold the Bottom Half of the Butterfly
Next, unroll two squares of toilet paper from the roll.
At the end of the toilet paper, fold the edge slightly inward to create a neat, finished-looking edge.
Now begin accordion folding the toilet paper.
Make approximately 10–12 folds, keeping your folds skinny and as even as possible.
Once you've finished folding, crease the folds well and set this section aside.
This will become the bottom half of your butterfly.
Pleated bottom wings and beginning the bottom wings
Step 3: Create the Top Wings
Now grab the two squares of toilet paper you tore off earlier.
Fold the two squares in half horizontally (length-wise)
Unfold them so you can see the crease down the center.
Forming the top wings
Next, fold the ends diagonally inward so they meet at that center crease.
You should now have four diagonal folds creating the shape of the butterfly's upper wings.
Prep to put it all together
Step 4: Accordion Fold the Top Wings
Flip the folded toilet paper over.
Now accordion fold this section, just as you did with the bottom portion.
Once it's folded, gently pinch the center.
You'll start to see the two top wings of your butterfly take shape!
Twist and curl the antennae
Step 5: Put the Butterfly Together
Place your newly folded top wings on top of the accordion-folded section that is still attached to the toilet paper roll.
Now it's starting to look like a butterfly!
The finished toilet paper origami butterfly
Step 6: Add the Pipe Cleaner
Take a pipe cleaner and poke it through the bottom underside of the folded section that's attached to the toilet paper roll.
Wrap the pipe cleaner around both folded sections, pulling it snug enough to hold the butterfly together.
This creates the butterfly's body while keeping all of those pretty folds in place.
On display in my bathroom
Step 7: Make the Antennae
Use your fingers to curl the ends of the pipe cleaner upward to create the butterfly's antennae.
Trim the pipe cleaner with scissors if you'd like shorter antennae or need to remove any excess.
Straighten or re-fold any folds as needed. And that's it!
You just made a toilet paper origami butterfly! 🦋
It looks super cute on a toilet paper holder…what a suprise for guests! Make sure they know they can take it apart!
Final Thoughts
I still can't get over how something this simple can look so cute.
My favorite DIYs are often the ones that don't require buying a bunch of new supplies. This toilet paper origami butterfly uses something that's already sitting in your bathroom and turns it into a little piece of temporary art.
Whether you make yours entirely from white toilet paper or add colorful toilet paper like I did, it's an easy way to add a little whimsy to your space.
So if you're like me and suddenly realize…
“I need more toilet paper origami in my life!”
Problem solved. 🦋
Now go make yourself a butterfly!
Happy creating!
Carolyn
Carolyn's Blooming Creations
Creative solutions to make life a little happier and craftier.
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If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
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Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.