How to Make Cellophane Fairy Wings
While you can probably purchase a pair of fairy wings from a costume shop, you can also learn how to make your own custom wings. Cellophane fairy wings have a delicate, insect-wing-like quality. Purchase iridescent cellophane or colored cellophane in the gift-wrap section of a craft or party store. Consider layering cellophane to achieve the exact color you want.
Things You'll Need
- Paper
- Pencil
- Galvanized steel wire, 14 gauge (12- or 16-gauge optional)
- Wire cutters
- Pliers
- Work gloves
- Floral tape
- Sheet or towel
- Cellophane
- White glue
- Iron
- Thin dish towel
- Candle or incense and holder
- Ribbon or elastic
Instructions
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Sketch the style of fairy wings you want to create. Once you have a design you like, draw a full-size outline on a large sheet of paper to use as a guide.
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Lay the full-size sketch on your work surface. Using the sketch as a guide, bend the wire to match the design using pliers and your fingers. You may need to add a thinner gauge of wire for smaller sections. Add more wire by wrapping it on the existing basic framework that you made.
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Wrap all the wire with floral tape. Start wrapping from the center of the wire frame. Be sure to completely cover the entire surface, including any sharp ends. If the wire seems flimsy in a certain area, wrap it with electrical tape and then cover it with floral tape. The tape will give the framework a uniform appearance and stabilize the frame.
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Set the frame aside and lay a clean sheet or towel on your work surface. Cut two pieces of cellophane slightly larger than the area of the frame. Place one of the sheets of cellophane on the sheet. Brush on a layer of clear-drying white glue. Set the frame on top. Let the glue dry until it is tacky. Set the second piece of cellophane over top.
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Continue cutting out pieces of cellophane and covering the frame. Add several smaller sheets of cellophane to your structure, covering a section at a time. Allow the edges to overlap. Layer different colors of cellophane or use the same colors.
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Set the iron to a low setting. Place a thin dishcloth over the cellophane and press it with an iron. Constantly move the iron to prevent scorching, and push the iron to the very edge of the wire frame. The iron will give the cellophane a crinkly appearance.
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Singe the edges of the cellophane with a candle or a stick of incense. This takes care of the overhanging excess cellophane without trimming. It also give the wings a finished look. Use the heat to add other holes in the wings, if desired.
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Affix two pieces of ribbon or elastic long enough to go around your arm, approximately 2 feet long, to the middle of the wings. Poke them through the frame for a secure hold. Tie the ribbon around your shoulder to hold. You can also use longer ribbons as a tie around your chest. The elastic can be sewn into a loop for wings that can be slipped on.
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Tips & Warnings
Add embellishments to the wings, if desired. Consider using long trails of ribbons, small artificial flowers, glitter or gems.
If you are planning on making several pairs of fairy wings, make a jig. Draw the design on a large sheet of plywood. Hammer nails into the design every 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Bend wire around the nails to make identical sets of wings.
Instead of loops, you can add dowels to the underside of the wings to slip inside a corset when you are dressing as a fairy.
Wear work gloves when working with the wire to prevent injury.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit small fairy image by Alexander Potapov from Fotolia.com
