Materials

• You are going to need some type of wood for building the structure. A thin sheet of plywood, pine or any other type of wood is fine. You will also need a hammer, nails, a saw, ruler and a pencil. You may also want to collect some materials that would be found in the natural habitat of a butterfly like leaves, rocks, twigs and moss.
  
  

Building Tips

• Make your butterfly house unique by designing custom plans. For a basic butterfly house, you will need four sides, a bottom and a roof. It should look like the same basic shape as a bird house and rather tall. Design a peaked or slanted roof so rainwater can drain properly. Cut long, vertical slats out of the front of the butterfly house. They should be about 1/2 inch wide. This will provide a way for the butterflies to enter without allowing wind and water to get in.
  
  

Placement

• Mount your butterfly house on a pole or hang it from a tree in your garden. Choose a place that is pretty well protected from winds. You also have a better chance of attracting butterflies if you place the house near a plant that butterflies are naturally drawn to. Fill the butterfly house with material like twigs, bark, moss and leaves. Don't overcrowd the house with them, but make sure there is enough material that the butterflies can cling to.