How to Make Fairy Wings With Tights
Making fairy wings with tights and wire hangers is an inexpensive project to finish off a child's fairy costume. Making your own fairy wings is a far less expensive option than purchasing wings from a store, and you have the ability to customize your fairy wings in a variety of colors and styles to match your child's costume. Follow a few simple steps and you can create sturdy wings that will last through many wearings.
Things You'll Need
- Drop cloth
- 2 wire hangers
- White duct tape
- Pair of adult tights
- Silk flowers
- Glue gun
- Paint brush
- Water-based glue
- Glitter
Instructions
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1
Prepare your workspace by placing a drop cloth over your table and laying out your supplies.
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2
Twist and bend the hanger hooks, applying pressure where the hook meets the twisted wire on the hanger, until they snap off.
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3
Place the two hangers side by side, overlapping the twisted wired section of both hangers on top of each other. Cut a piece of duct tape about 6 inches long, and wrap the duct tape several times around the twisted wires to attach the two hangers together.
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4
Bend the wires, on each side of the wings, into the shape of a butterfly wing. Refer to a photo of a butterfly for reference if necessary. Bend the shapes to match on each side.
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5
Cut the legs off of the tights. Pull the opening of one leg over the bottom of one wing, pulling it taut, with the foot of the tight covering the bottom of the wing. Pull the tights over the top of the wing, and down to meet in the middle where the wings are attached. Repeat this step for the other wing.
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6
Pull the tights snugly into the middle on both sides and cut off excess fabric, leaving about 3 inches of excess. Tie the pieces of excess fabric together twice to form a knot.
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7
Cut two pieces of the tights fabric, from the excess you cut off the legs, to about 3inches in width. Pull one loop of fabric over one wing, first over the top and then the bottom. Repeat this step for the other wing. This will create the arm loops for wearing.
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8
Cut back the stems on the silk flowers, and glue them on with the glue gun to cover the knots in the center.
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9
Paint swirl and dot patterns with water-soluble glue, and sprinkle glitter over the glue while it is still wet. Once glitter has been applied to both wings, tap the bottom edge of the wings onto a table to remove the excess glitter. Allow glue to dry thoroughly for at least four hours.
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Tips & Warnings
Dry cleaners use cheap and thin wire hangers, but if you do not have any dry cleaning, you can purchase them at a local discount department store.
Do not use heavy-duty wire hangers; look for hangers with a thin wire.
Any color tights can be used depending on your preference, including white and black.
These fairy wings are a suitable size for children up to 10 years of age.
Be careful when twisting the hooks off of the hangers; keep a tight grip on the hook with one hand and the hanger with the other hand to avoid injury.
