How to Make a Toilet Paper Origami Butterfly for Guest Bathroom Decor

Fold toilet paper into a butterfly on the roll: reserve two squares for upper wings, accordion two on-roll squares for lower wings, then wrap a pipe cleaner for the body and antennae.

What You'll Need

  • Standard toilet paper (white OK; optional color)
  • 1 pipe cleaner (chenille stem)
  • Scissors (optional, for trimming the pipe cleaner)

White toilet paper works. Colored paper makes the wing layers easier to see. No glue and no specialty origami paper.

You fold toilet paper into a butterfly that sits on the roll or in a tank basket. Two reserved squares become the upper wings. Two squares still on the roll become the lower wings. A pipe cleaner wraps both stacks for the body and curls into antennae.

1

Tear and reserve the top wings

Tear off two attached toilet paper squares and set them aside. Leave the roll with at least two more squares still attached.

2

Accordion the lower wings on the roll

From the free end still on the roll, fold a neat finished edge. Accordion-fold about 10 to 12 even skinny pleats across two squares. Crease firmly. Keep this section attached to the roll.

3

Form the upper wings off the roll

Take the reserved two squares. Fold in half horizontally, then unfold to mark the center crease. Fold both ends diagonally inward to that crease so four diagonal panels form the upper-wing shape. Flip the piece, accordion-fold it, and pinch the center.

4

Assemble

Stack the pinched upper-wing accordion on top of the on-roll lower accordion. Align the centers.

5

Add the body and antennae

Thread a pipe cleaner up through the underside of the on-roll section. Wrap it snugly around both stacks to lock the body. Curl the ends upward for antennae and trim any excess. Neaten loose pleats. Set the finished butterfly on the holder or in a tank basket. Guests can unfold it if they need the paper.

If a pleat loosens, pinch the center again before you wrap the pipe cleaner. Trim the antennae so they clear the wall or tank lid.