Easter Art - 3D Butterfly Cross

I have loved all the pictures everyone has been making with punch outs and wanted to design an Easter craft to do with Josiah. I wanted this craft to have a lesson intertwined so I chose to design a cross made out of 3D butterflies, both symbols of new life. 

{1/3 of the way done}

We used the leftover scrap paper from our Lenten Chain to punch out little butterflies. After we had a pile of paper punches, I took the background paper and drew out the shape of the cross with Elmer’s glue. Fill in the outline with glue and then place a collage of flat butterflies on top. Let that layer dry. 

{ Two layers of flat punch outs}

Repeat flat layers until the background of your cross is full. For the last layer I folded the wings of the butterfly punch outs upward and then filled in the cross with these 3D butterflies. Let Dry. Take the glass out of your frame (or else place in a shadowbox) so your art won’t be squished. Ta-Da! This project was so simple, but took about an hour due to letting the layers dry.

{I love the shadows of the butterflies wings}

Frame- $0.60

Butterfly Punch- $1.99

Scrap Paper- Free

Elmer’s Glue - $0.25

Total Cost - $2.84

Daily Inspiration -

But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; 

He will surely take me to Himself. -Psalm 49:15

Lenten Paper Chain

Last year at Lent, I not only wanted to grow closer to Christ, I wanted to build stronger relationships with my family members. So I came up with the Lenten Paper Chain...

Pick out a few pieces of coordinating scrapbook paper. 

Cut out 40 pieces. (1 inch wide by 12 inches for a big chain or 1 inch by 6 inches for a little chain.) I opted for a smaller chain this year so I could easily take it down when someone comes to view the house. We've had people come about 2x a week lately! Praise God!

On the inside of each strip write down activities that your whole family can do together. Here's my list. Since I have kids that are 9 months and 2 1/2 years old you might have to alter some activities to be more age appropriate. 


-Try a new recipe
-Enjoy each others company, and tell each other why you do!
-No TV or internet!
-Write love letters to your kids and spouse.
-Read the Bible
-Make dinner together
-Build a puzzle
-Have a rodeo!
-Call or visit a friend who might be lonely
-Go to a nearby school, play on the playground
-Plan your next family vacation
-Everyone draw/paint a family picture
-Look at photo albums/ scrapbooks
-Go for a walk
-Scavenger hunt!
-Cook dinner together
-Make and send  a card to a friend
-Start a prayer list (others who could use our daily prayers!)
-Take non perishable food items to a pantry
-Take a family picture, make it goofy!
-Play in the kitchen sink with soapy water
-Make a pine cone bird feeder
-Go on a rock hunt
-Read stories in the dark by flashlight
-Play hide n seek
-Go to the library
-Make macaroni necklaces
-Start a marching band (make cardboard drums, shakers, and guitars)
-Make and play with homemade play dough
-Bake cookies
-"Pillow Crash" Make a pile of all the pillows in your house; jump and fall to your hearts delight!
-Sing together
-Plant a windowsill garden
-Make a paper hat
-Make a collage of the things you are thankful for
-Make sock or lunch bag puppets
-Go outside, throw a ball!
-Get out the coloring books and crayons, color as a family!
-Finger paint with shaving cream
-Build a tent in the living room, camp out!

Using glue dots, staples, or tape, hook together the chains. Hang the chain in a main living area. Every day remove one chain and complete that activity. Sometimes its soo easy to just sit around watching TV or everyone doing their own thing at night, so this is a simple and easy way to foster family bonding! 

Daily inspiration-
Why 40 days for Lent? (taken from the Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren) 


The Bible is clear that God considers 40 days a spiritually significant time period. Whenever God wanted to prepare someone for His purposes, he took 40 days:


-Noah's life was transformed by 40 days of rain
-Moses was transformed by 40 days on Mount Sinai
-David was transformed by Goliath's 40 day challenge
-Elijah was transformed when God gave him 40 days of strength from a single meal
-The entire city of Nineveh was transformed when God gave the people 40 days to change
-Jesus was empowered by 40 days in the wilderness
-The disciples were transformed by 40 days with Jesus after his resurrection.


Take 40 days to read The Purpose Driven Life this Lent. It's definitely life changing!