How to Build a Butterfly House

Purchase a triangular mailing tube at your local pack-and-ship store. These tubes are made from corrugated cardboard and are quite sturdy. Usually, they are no wider than about 3 inches, but their lengths vary from 18 1/4 inches all the way to 48 1/4 inches. Pick the size that works best with your landscape.

Wait on assembling the tube! Usually they are sold flat and need to be assembled simply by folding over the precreased sides and then securing the joint with a strip of tape that is also supplied in the package. Instead, place the unassembled tube onto a table, with the inside of the tube facing up.

Collect flat, narrow pieces of tree bark from your yard. Allow your children to help you, but make sure that the bark they give you is reasonably dry and free from other inhabitants that might have set up their homes in it already. If possible, look for bark from a variety of trees.

Determine which pane of the triangular tube is the back. Usually, this is the pane to which the two fold-over panes are attached. Use the one-hole punch and make two holes, one right next to the other. Feed the plastic security tie through these holes--so that you may tie the butterfly house to a branch or fence post once it is completed--but keep it open. Keeping it in place with a small bit of packing tape is a good idea.

Affix the narrow bits and pieces of tree back to the back pane of the triangular mailing tube. Use small dots of Liquid Nails glue to accomplish this. If necessary, trim the bark to fit with utility scissors. It is best if an adult does the trimming of the bark. Allow the glue to dry completely.

Measure the openings for slits, and mark them onto the remaining two panels of the triangular tube. Each slit should be 1/2 inch wide and 3 1/4 inches long. The numbers of slits you make depends on the length of the tube you are working with, but usually six slits—three on each of the fold-over panes—is quite sufficient. Your children can trace the slits with a pencil.

Cut out the slits the children traced onto the panes of the tube with a utility knife. This is not a safe activity for kids, and it is best to have an adult do the cutting.

Assemble the triangular tube by carefully folding the two panes until they meet and make that distinct triangle shape. Secure the seam with the tape that is supplied by the manufacturer.

Allow your children to decorate the outside of the butterfly house. Depending on their ages, they may want to draw flowers or use stickers. Waterproof their creations with the clear packing tape. Remember not to place any tape over the entrance slits you created!

Stretch one of the swatches of tulle over the bottom of the triangular butterfly house, and secure it on the outside with packing tape. Do the same with the other swatch on the top. This has the advantage of providing some ventilation and light while still giving the butterflies that feeling of cozy safety.

Secure the butterfly house to a branch or fence post with the help of the security tie you set up through the back pane. Let your children pick out the location for the house, but make sure it is away from sprinklers, air conditioners and windy spots. The best location--bar none--is at eye level in a butterfly bush!