Make Butterfly Wings

Butterflies are one of nature's most beloved insects. The variety and colors attracts our attention and encourages us to use the butterfly design for our own clothing. Butterfly wings can be made for children and adults alike, for such purposes as party wear, costumes and clothing. This tutorial suggests a few different ways to make butterfly wings.

Steps

Finding Butterfly Wing Patterns

  1. Do an online search for butterfly wings. Use such terms as "butterfly wing pattern", "butterfly wings", "butterfly wing images", etc. There are quite a few free templates available for you to choose from, depending on the theme you're after.

Basic Cardboard Butterfly Wings

  1. Find a butterfly wing design you like. Trace around it on cardboard and enlarge if needed (see above.)
  2. Cut out the mirror image wings. If the design was not drawn onto a single piece of cardboard, you'll need to attach the wings at the middle; use either glue or staples to do this.
  3. Add any decorative effects. For example, paint on spots, stripes or a pattern using liquid glitter, puffy paint, markers, paint, or anything else you like decorating with.
    • Add embellishments such as sequins, buttons, ribbon bows, etc.
  4. Attach elastic to the wings for wearing. There are several ways to do this:
    • Staple two long pieces of thin elastic to the top of the wings, loop around the arms and staple back to the base of the wings.
    • Staple two long pieces of thin elastic to the middle of the wings. Bring to the front of the wearer and tie a knot and bow to keep in place.

Cellophane (No Wire) Butterfly Wings

  1. Design the butterfly wing shape. You can copy a real butterfly image or follow a design from a design book or website.
    • When creating the design, it is important to include areas that can be cut out, such as long shapes or dots on the design, to allow the cellophane to fill these holes. Long teardrop or curved linear shapes are ideal.
    • The inner edges of the wings that attach to the body piece must be substantial enough to be attached. Give them a decent width to enable gluing or stapling.
  2. Draw the design in actual size on a piece of strong card. The card should already be in the color you want it to be. Black makes a strong background for cellophane but you might want to use a color to match your costume.
    • Do two wings, mirror image.
  3. Cut out the wing shapes. Also cut out the holes in the design that have been allotted for the cellophane. Depending on how delicate the design is, you might need a craft knife to help with this.
  4. Make a middle piece from the cardboard. This is the butterfly's body and will join both wings together. It should be of a reasonable width and about half the length of the wings. Cut it out and put aside; you'll attach the wings to it shortly.
  5. Attach the cellophane to the wings. You have various options:
    • Use only one color of cellophane. Glue a large piece to the edges of what you consider the be the "back" of each wing. Trim excess away from the edges and it's done.
    • Use multiple colors of cellophane. Glue them over the holes in the wing design that you wish to match to each color.
    • You can also add glitter or puff paint designs to the cellophane but this is optional.
  6. Attach the wings to the butterfly body. Either glue or staple the wings to the body piece.
    • Adjust as needed to align properly.
  7. Attach elastic to the wings. There are several ways to do this:
    • Staple two long pieces of thin elastic to the top of the wings, loop around the arms and staple back to the base of the wings.
    • Staple two long pieces of thin elastic to the middle of the wings. Bring to the front of the wearer and tie a knot and bow to keep in place.
  8. Done! The wings are now ready for take off.

Cellophane (Wire) Butterfly Wings

This requires a little more effort than the previous cellophane method but the end result is amazing.

  1. Draw the wings onto the template board. You can be as fanciful as you like but remember that you need to feel competent about matching the wire to the design and bending it to fit.
    • The main frame of the design should be U shaped, from which you work the design.
    • The wing veins will flow out from this central frame.
  2. Prepare the wire.
    • Cut a long piece of wire for the central frame. Bend it into a U shape.
    • Cut small strips of wire and attach to the central frame. Wind onto the central frame, then cover with florist's tape to secure.
    • Bend the wire like wing veins, in the shape of your pattern.
    • When both wings are completed, wrap entirely in florist's tape. This prevents catching on sharp parts and gives the whole frame a smoother look.
  3. Cut out the cellophane design. Following the design you've mapped out for the wing shape, cut this shape in the sheets of cellophane. Cut 2 sheets of cellophane for each wing.
    • Depending on your design, the cellophane wings may extend over the wire veins.
  4. Attach the cellophane to the wings. This step requires patience and a willingness to try again if you don't like the result. For each wing, do as follows:
    • Lay down the first sheet of cellophane. Spray with the sprayable glue.
    • Lay down the wire frame.
    • Quickly and carefully lay down the second sheet of cellophane. Try to avoid making bubbles and wrinkles. If this does happen, lift it up and try it again.
    • Press down on the cellophane sandwich with your fingertips. Be especially careful where the cellophane comes into contact with the frame wires, to prevent tearing and to ensure adequate adhesion. Smooth as you go.
  5. Trim the cellophane along the central wire frame. Leave an edge about 1/4 to 1/2 inch (1-1.5cm). Carefully glue down this edge to join together neatly.
    • It is easy to burn yourself doing this, so take care and proceed slowly.
  6. Shrink the cellophane to fit the frame tightly. This step is optional, as it's fairly tricky to do and to get it to work without damaging the cellophane. You might like to practice on separate cellophane pieces first. This step applies only to the central frame edge of the cellophane.
    • On each side of the wings, hold either a heat gun a little over the cellophane to force heat onto it. This will cause it to shrink onto the frame. If you hold the heat source too closely though, the cellophane will warp, bubble and tear, so be careful!
    • Another alternative is to place something like a face washer over the cellophane, then apply the heat of an iron (set to low). Again, this can be tricky and if you notice damage to the cellophane, stop.
  7. Burn the wing edges. Again, this step is optional as it involves flames and careful judgment. But for a fancy edge, you might like to try this on the outer, cellophane-only edges of the wings:
    • Burn small holes or jagged edges using a long match or wood burning tool. Don't keep the flame or heat source in place too long, just long enough to create an interesting feature or shape.
    • If you'd rather not do this but still want a jagged edge, use fine scissors to make small fringe cuts or use scissors with decorative edges to make interesting edgings.
  8. Attach ribbon or cord for wearing. Loop ribbon or cord around the wings in a comfortable spot and tie in place. Check that they slip over your arms comfortably.
    • At the design stage, you could also choose to make the wings in such a way as to fit/slip into your costume top or corset, rather than having to use loops.
  9. Done. The wire cellophane wings are now ready to wear.

Wire Hanger and Stockings Butterfly Wings

  1. Push the hanger into a butterfly  shape. Hold the hanger with one hand at its center. Push the center of the hanger up toward the hanger hook but not too far in; there should still be a gap. This will narrow the hanger to a sort of sausage shape.
  2. Keep your hand positioned over the center top and bottom of the hanger. Use your other hand to reshape each end of the hanger into a butterfly wing shape.
    • Pull the wing parts out, then down.
    • Make adjustments as needed, to get a wing-like appearance to both ends of the hanger. (The shape is up to you; be creative or imitate an exact butterfly wing shape.)
  3. Bend the hook back on itself to create a circle. Try to avoid the hook end poking out––tuck it in as neatly as you can.
  4. Repeat the exact same wing design for the other coat hanger.
  5. Pull on the knee-high stocking. (Do the same for both hangers.)
    • Pull right over the wing. Be careful when pulling over the hook part and try not to rip a hole in it. If it does rip, don't worry too much, just don't let it keep ripping––dab a bit of nail polish on it to stop this from happening.
    • Knot each end of the stocking onto the hanger. Be sure that the stocking is pulled nice and tight; this makes painting it easier later. When tying the knot, knot before each of stocking ends so as to avoid the blocked part of the stocking from forming part of the wings (these will be snipped off shortly).
    • Pull the stocking tight from the hook in the center, to even up the edges and to prevent any loose stocking from amassing in the center curve. Then gather this bit tightly with string or ribbon.
    • The stocking should now sit snugly on the hanger. Repeat for the next hanger.
  6. Trim off the excess from each end of the stocking. Trim close to the knot and discard the trimmed parts of the stocking.
  7. Lay the wings down flat. Bend up at a sharp angle to create an opened effect to the wings. They should stand out when worn.
    • Do any additional reshaping as required, to ensure that they look like butterfly wings.
  8. Bring the wings together. Using the folded hooks to create the center, wrap around the hooks with tape to keep in place.
  9. Wrap around the center with ribbon to cover the taped portion. Glue the ribbon end to the wrapped tape.
  10. Paint the wings. There are several choices here:
    • Use fabric paint. Use stripes, dots, patterns, etc. that copy those of real butterflies. Or do random colors and shapes.
    • Dip the stockings in food coloring.
  11. Attach embellishments. This can be anything you like, from glitter and artificial gems to buttons, sequins and other bits and bobs from the craft box.
    • Artificial flowers are another nice choice, especially added to the center part of the wings.
  12. Add elastic. You may wish to color or match the elastic to the color of the wings, although this is not necessary. The width of the elastic is also up to you––just make sure it is comfortable and won't cut into the wearer.
    • Make two large enough circles of elastic to go over the wearer's arms. Knot the circles to keep them intact; trim off any excess.
    • Slide the knotted circles over a wing each side.
  13. Use the elastic circles to slide onto the wearer's arms. Adjust to hide the knot, as needed.

Tips

  • Elastic hairbands might work in place of elastic circles, if large enough and comfortable.

Things You'll Need

Cardboard butterfly wings:

  • Strong card/cardboard in color of choice
  • Marker or pencil
  • Butterfly wing pattern
  • Paint, puffy paint, liquid glitter, etc., for decorating
  • Embellishments

Cellophane (no wire) butterfly wings:

  • Strong card/cardboard in color of choice
  • Marker or pencil
  • Butterfly wing pattern
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Cellophane in colors of choice

Cellophane (wire) butterfly wings:

  • Galvanized steel wire, 10, 12 or 14 gauge; it needs to be stiff but easy to cut and bend
  • Wire cutters
  • Florist's tape, match color to the wings
  • Hot glue gun
  • Sprayable glue
  • Cellophane sheets (large, a roll might work best), in colors of choice
  • Heat gun or iron
  • Long matches or wood burning tool

Wire hanger and stockings butterfly wings:

  • 2 wire coat hangers, both exactly the same (ask your local dry cleaners or a dress shop, they often have spares)
  • Elastic
  • Knee high stockings, white, neutral or color of choice
  • Ribbon for wrapping
  • Fabric paint, glitter and other pretty embellishments as liked
  • Strong tape
  • Paintbrush
  • String or twine, preferably in same color as wings or as close as possible
  • Scissors
  • Hot glue gun
  • Food coloring (optional)

Related Articles

  • Make a Butterfly Fairy
  • Make a Cardboard Butterfly

Sources and Citations

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